What to do about HS Class?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Having major problems here, please help.</p>

<p>I will only give major overview details and math details in this because it is the only thing that pertains to the problem. I know I am new here and parts of this may not be believable, but I swear that this is 100% truthful.</p>

<p>These stats are with the assistance of my projected 6th semester grades...</p>

<p>GPA: 3.46
ACT: 32 English, 30 Math, 26 Reading, 23 Science, 8 Essay -- 28 Composite (first time scores, retaking in June and September)
Rank: 55/414 (13%, public high school)</p>

<p>Math courses as of yet</p>

<p>Algebra I (8th grade) -- A, A
Honors Geometry -- B+, B+
Honors Algebra II** -- C, D
Precalculus Semester 1** -- D
Precalculus Semester 2 -- A-</p>

<p>Classes marked with ** indicates teacher in question</p>

<p>I am decent at math. Not fantastic, but decent... I was cruising along as far as math goes until I ran into this particular teacher... This teacher absolutely despised me. I couldn't ask her a question without her screaming at me, and I know it sounds like a joke, but I was terrified of her... There were times she continued the intimidation onto my homework, writing in massive red letters "What is this?", "Are you serious?", and "Really?!"... There was even one instance where I walked home crying after she yelled at me.</p>

<p>She was able to exert this on my grade as well, because everything she assaigned was graded, and everything she assaigned was open-ended... SHE was the sole judge of right and wrong. And I was always wrong.</p>

<p>My mom saw my homework once and brought it to the assistant principal. He told her to call this teacher and ask her about it so that there didn't have to be a "middle man" of sorts. She did, the teacher laid on the apologetic tone, apologized to me (a load of BS btw), and, while stopping the writings, continued her lashing at school.</p>

<p>I am not the only one. Multiple classmates have told me similar stories (minus the assistant principal's involvement), and multiple others absolutely adore her as awesome because she loves them (betcha couldn't guess what grades they get).</p>

<p>At the end of the semester this year, I was lucky enough to switch out of her class into another Precalculus class with a different teacher... I am currently earning an A- in that class.</p>

<p>I crunched the numbers. The three grades earned in my three semesters in her class are costing me roughly 0.25 on my GPA if they were completely exempted. I would have a 3.7!</p>

<p>I got a <em>30</em> on my first time taking the math portion of the ACT... I got A's and B's in every other math class ever... Are those marks idicative of a student who earns D's in Honors Algebra II?</p>

<p>I want to go to the University of Michigan to study Sports Management with an eventual Dual Degree with the Ross School of Business... But I am being dragged down by this teacher.</p>

<p>What do I do?</p>

<p>Thank you much.</p>

<ul>
<li>Matt</li>
</ul>

2

<p>Check whether D grades disqualify counting the high school courses to requirements for admission to the universities. Michigan’s web site does not mention whether D grades will disqualify those courses, but you probably want to ask to be sure.</p>

<p>If the universities you want to attend will reject you immediately for the D grades, you may have to go to community college for two years, do well there, and then transfer as a junior.</p>

3

<p>Community college with a 28 on the ACT?</p>

<p>I don’t think so… Is it possible I could take it up with HS administration and get the grade changed to an “S” that indicates a passing grade that doesn’t change my GPA? Or is that something they just can’t do?</p>

4

<p>Start by reading your high school handbook.<br>
Is that even a possible grading option?
What is your high school’s policy on grade replacement?</p>

5

<p>Policies are different from HS to HS so you need to talk to your guidance counselor to see what the options are. Get your parents involved. See if you can take the class over the summer or something and replace the grade, get it changed to P/F (I know our HS won’t do this after the first quarter), or if there are any other options. At this point I’m not sure there is anything else you can do except maybe address it directly on the application in a very diplomatic manner discussing the issue and what you learned from it (keeping in mind that no school wants a complainer)</p>

6

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<p>Last I checked, community colleges did not have any ACT minimums, so a student with a 28 ACT can attend one for two years, then be judged on his/her performance there for transfer admissions instead of a poor high school record for freshman admissions.</p>

<p>And community college is not just for losers; some students who did not get into the four year colleges of their choice as freshmen, or who could not afford all four years at a four year college, start at community college, transfer to four year colleges as juniors, graduate with excellent academic records, and go on to top PhD programs in their majors.</p>

7

<p>siliconvalley - I know that the “S” grade is possible. It is usually given to students who take an assessment for credit for a class in order to avoid taking it. Grade replacement however, I do not know. While I know many of my classmates have had the same problem with the same teacher, I don’t know of any who have taken the steps towards getting the grade changed.</p>

<p>happy1 - At this point I believe that is what I will do. I will make an appointment with my parents, principal/assistant principal, and counselor to discuss my options.</p>

<p>ucbalumnus - The CC’s near me do not, they are OA. You’re post did change my tune though, it is something I will look into for sure. I’m looking to get into Sports Management, and UM is really the only well known SM program in the state, plus it is a bit of a dream college for me.</p>