Will a C in Dual Enrollment Chemistry Junior Year keep me out of top schools?

Applying to College
1

I understand that students who attend top schools typically have spotless transcripts. Up until this point, my grades were almost perfect (primarily -As to high As. During my Junior Fall, my high school required us to take Introduction to Honors College Chemistry which is a fully online course with a lab. I ended the course with a 73 and the rest of my courses were in the 95-100 range and they were still at a similar rigor. The only other red flag here was that I have three other dropped courses in classes on my community college transcript for that same semester. The only explanation that I have is that I had sprained my ankle in the fall which led to a decline in my grades because I had to miss three weeks of school and was not able to focus on the online course since I was in and out of Doctor’s appointments and barely able to function. In addition, I dropped those courses because two of them I would take at Senate Page School then the other one just proved to be too much at the moment with the injury.

Now, in the spring, I kept Straight A’s. Keep in mind, I was going to Senate Page School for the spring where I took Honors Physics, Honors, Precalculus, Honors English Composition, and Honors US History II, Elementary Spanish I (Dual Enrollment). In those courses, I earned 95-100 grades. Plus, I earned A’s in three Dual Enrollment courses the following summer. Keep in mind, the Chemistry course was my first Dual Enrollment class.

Should that discourage me from the Ivy League (or any top schools) given my circumstances in my Junior Fall? Also, how would I go about putting this on the additional information? I’m not exactly sure if it being my first dual enrollment course or the injury keeping me out of school for three weeks would be better for my additional information.

Stats:

94 GPA UW

5 Dual Enrollments

1 AP Sophomore Year (school does not offer exam) but taking 4 APs Senior Year with Exam

35 ACT

1580 SAT

Personal:

Catholic School In MD

Lives in WV

Hispanic

Jewish

100k Household

ECs:

National Executive Director of Organization (9,10,11,12)

4 Campaign Internships (10,11,12)

Contributing Writer (10,11,12)

Editor-in-Chief for Youth-led Publication (10,11,12)

State Ambassador for National Organization (10,11,12)

Leader of Caucus within National Organization (12)

1 Summer Internship (2 summers in a row) (11,12)

Tutoring (9,10,11,12)

Executive Position in State Organization (12)

Theater (9,10,11,12)

Research Assistant at UChicago (11,12)

Senate Page Student Body President (11)

Intended Major:

Public Policy, English

2

From what you have posted, it appears you can get into a top-notch school, your C in chemistry notwithstanding. Nevertheless, your success, as with other college applicants, will depend on your college choices as much as on your achievements. Based on the less common of your intended majors, you may want to consider this site for potential refinements to your current list:

1 Like
3

One bad grade won’t kill your chances. But… please don’t try to blame it on a sprained ankle. You missed three weeks of school and had to drop three classes because of a sprained ankle? That’s kind of unbelievable. You wrap it up or use an air cast and then use crutches. My daughter broke her ankle twice and never missed more than two days each time - one day to put the cast on and one to get it off.

3 Likes
4

There’s lots of great schools and not just what you seem too. You may get in but there’s also fantastic LACs, public Honirs colleges and more. In fact, more NMFs go to a public (Alabama) than any school.

The point is…fuming the right fit, a place you can excel….especially given those two majors which are both typically leading to low paid careers or more likely grad school. Since you are a great standardized test taker, grad school is a better place to hit your ‘name’ mark.

My daughters BFF at College of Charleston got into Rice. My daughter got into W&L. Alabama, Sputh Carolina, Arizona State and more are loaded with top notch kids…hence the Honirs Colleges.

If you just seek out a brand name for brand name sake, you are missing the bigger picture.

One C will not kill you…but choosing a school based on pedigree alone could create a disastrous collegiate experience.

If there’s a right school with pedigree it’s great…I hope you find the right school for you and not US News, etc.

Good luck