<p>I'm aware that this question has probably been posed several times, but I would like to get a bit of personalized advice.</p>
<p>During the beginning of my junior year, I transferred to a pretty prestigious private school with one of the most rigorous curricula in the country. Despite that, from 9th to 11th grade, I was a dedicated and reasonably talented student - 4.0 GPA, 10 5's on AP exams (4 achieved during sophomore year), 2370 SAT, etc. </p>
<p>But my world completely fell apart during the first semester of senior year, where I "suffered" from a really terrible malaise (similar to senioritis). School just didn't seem so important to me anymore and I completely slacked off.</p>
<p>So I ended up with 4 A's (mostly in less rigorous classes), 2 B's, and a C in AP Calculus, dragging my GPA down to a 3.65.</p>
<p>Through much personal reflection, I've seen the error of my ways and I'm more determined than I ever have been before to excel rather than slide by academically. I'm not going to pretend like it's the end of the world, because it truly isn't. I've already been accepted into a couple of safety schools that I wouldn't mind attending and the transfer option is still very much open. But is it too much of a stretch for me to still have a chance at some of the prestigious schools that I have applied to? (Dartmouth, Johns Hopkins, Duke, Rice) And would a C on a midyear report likely change an acceptance into a waitlist? </p>
<p>Columbia_Student, I applied SCEA to Stanford. Was deferred.</p>
<p>And, if it helps, the rest of my application is decidedly above average and I'm a very strong writer. My counselor also likes me very much and will probably try to give the fiasco as much of a positive bent as possible (i.e. detailing my renewed sense of purpose).</p>
<p>You're obviously quite talented but GPA matters most. Even at a top schools, a less rigorous course load and B's and C's in tough classes are unlikely to cut it for top schools. You may get lucky at Rice or Hopkins if you provide geographic diversity.</p>
<p>Yet you will be an excellent candidate for transfer to a top school if you finish out senior year well and do well for 2 years at a good college, many of which you can get into just based on your SAT score.</p>
<p>I'm inclined to agree with you, hmom5, but does it matter at all that the rest of my academic record is pretty much spotless?</p>
<p>Also, I've heard that deferral at Stanford is almost considered an achievement considering its propensity to reject most SCEA applicants. Does this mean that my application sans the midyear grades would be fairly competitive at other top schools?</p>
<p>I'm sorry if some of my questions are dumb, but I've only just found this site and my parents can't provide much help.</p>
<p>Honestly, no, I don't believe there is anything to having a spotless record except GPA. The GPA is the single most important stat for predicting college success.</p>
<p>Why have your holiday's been a nightmare? The reality is that you can get into the vast, vast majority of schools in this Country. There are many great schools. You have a heck of a lot going for you, make the most of it. Not getting into the very top schools, if that's the outcome, is but a small detour on your way to where you want to be.</p>
<p>I can put you in touch with DS1 if you like, one of those brilliant kids who just didn't get it together in time for his dream college. Yet he's there now for grad school.</p>
<p>I do find it interesting that Stanford deferred you, but it could be many things. Maybe they loved something in your essays that another school may love enough to accept you. Maybe they have a relationship with your school and defer most they don't accept. There's no way to know if your counselor doesn't know. Have her call.</p>
<p>Realistically, you are probably right, hmom5. I might be able to sneak into a couple of the schools listed above if somebody really likes my essays. I guess it's just so hard to believe that one semester is weighted so much more heavily than 3 years of solid work. But that's just how the cookie crumbles from the other threads that I have now read. </p>
<p>As far as the "nightmare" goes - I suppose it was just the idea that I let my dreams slip through my fingers so easily. And my parents have been less than understanding about the whole affair (justifiably so, but I'm just so scared that our relationship has deteriorated because of my stupidity).</p>
<p>Based on what you wrote, it's not just one semester's grades. You say you were not taking your schools hardest classes which weighs in too. And who knows, for all we know you could be a one armed, urm tight rope walker from North Dakota who plays a rare ancient instrument, making you in great demand.</p>
<p>Talk to your parents. This is hardly the end of the road for your academic dreams and you and they need to get perspective!</p>
<p>To address aigiqinf's point, here's another CC thread that certainly taught me a few things. Read the article about Middlebury, and what a single C meant there:</p>
<p>Oh, I am in the most rigorous classes. What I meant is that I'm thinking of majoring in the sciences and my A's were in classes like English, Economy, Government, etc. (all AP's). I also took a college level organic chemistry course. Ironically enough, I managed an A in that <em>smiles weakly</em></p>
<p>well I can personally speak for Rice as I was just admitted ED there. I had two C's when I applied. One C in French my sophomore year and a C in pre-cal my junior year. It's not the end of the world. You have a TON of things going for you and they will definitely consider the re-adjustment that you had to make in moving which probably resulted in the C anyway (at least it was like that for me in pre-cal). I think you are an excellent candidate and I honestly encourage you not to worry because 1, you have a great shot, and 2, there isnt anything you can do about it anyway. Good luck though!</p>
<p>I personally think that it won't matter too much. You have proven that you are an excellent student already. Colleges know that senior year is stressful, with all the apps and senioritis coming in. I am in the same boat as you are. I also have malaise, not particularly from school, but from personal issues. My friend got into UCLA last year with 2 C's, 2 B's and 1 A. UC's usually don't look at midyear reports, but if they are stuck between two people they will. My friend did not have good grades his senior year, but the essays he wrote sealed the deal. So, if you really stood out in your application, you should not worry too much. I congratulate you on being deferred from Stanford, that is impressive, since people with amazing stats were flat out rejected.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the kind wishes. I have a tiny glimmer of hope after reading the last two posts... it probably won't work out for me (I'm trying not to set myself up for disappointment), but who knows? Less likely things have happened :)</p>
<p>You have good chances at the non-tippy top colleges but I thought you were posing your question for schools like HYPM. My daughter's friend got a few Cs and was accepted to WSTUL and a few other top 30 LACs.</p>
<p>Dartmouth and Cornell were the only Ivy League schools that I applied to. Most of the schools on my list are not at the very tippy top... I was just wondering if schools like Rice, Johns Hopkins, WUSTL were also out of my reach.</p>
<p>Have you asked your college counselor? At good private schools that send lots of candidates to these schools, your counselor will know best. A lot depends on the competition from within your school. Where you rank, even if there are no official rankings, is key. Most schools such as what you've described have very detailed scattergrams that show historically what it took to get in.</p>
<p>Yes, I have checked the scattergrams. I am decidedly above average in the SAT department and below average in the GPA department (not obscenely so, though). I think my counselor is trying to shield me from the full impact of my C and so it's been very hard to get a decent response from her.</p>
<p>P.S. Thank you for referring me to the Middlebury admissions practices thread. I assume I'll probably fall into the "slacker" category there!</p>