Last year, in my junior year, I got my first and only C. I have a few B’s and a lot of A’s (especially in math, since that’s close to what I want to study in college and is also my strong suit), but never in my life have I gotten a C before. I really want to go into the UMich college of engineering, and as early action decisions are coming out soon, I’m getting increasingly nervous that this C, which is pretty much my only weakness, will be the one reason I’ll get deferred and then rejected. I know chances from others here on CC won’t make much of a difference, but I just want to know what others think about me.
A few more things about me:
Freshman->Sophomore is an upward trend
Sophomore->Junior is downward (this C is the big cause obviously)
3.75 ish UW GPA and 4.05 ish W GPA
Won’t disclose my real New SAT score, but it’s between 1530 and 1580 (and an 800 on Math)
SAT IIs: 800 Math Level 2, 750 Chemistry
Asian in-state applicant
Strong results for MMPC (Michigan Math Prize Competition)
Qualifier for AIME
Essays, teacher recs, counselor recs are good
I have competed internationally in something (like literally, represented the USA) and also achieved many great results with this something (nationally and internationally) (prefer not to disclose what this “something” is since you might be able to search me up)
You look like a strong in-state applicant. If you are deferred it is not a rejection, a lot of in-state students are deferred and then accepted in Jan or Feb. Make sure to contact your rep to let him or her know that you are still very interested. Sometimes they ask for fall grades. For strong Michigan high schools, like Cranbrook, Greenhills, Huron, Seaholm, City, International Academy etc. you’d be a near certain admit. Good luck!
But what about that C? I’m worried that it will make an important difference, since I’m assuming a big majority of applicants who get in have at the minimum some B’s but no C’s. I’m pretty confident that if the C was magically changed to an A, I have great chances to get in, but I’m wondering how much a decision can be affected by such a glaring mark on my transcript. For more information, I do go to a strong Michigan high school.
What was your C in? Michigan defers most applicants in the EA phase, but if you hang in there and send in a letter of interest after the deferral and mid-year report is submitted, I like your chances.
@Alexandre I prefer not to disclose because of privacy reasons, but it was an AP class. The teacher has a horrible reputation (literally, around 2/5 on ratemyteachers.com with more than 50 reviews, with the majority of what I can pretty much agree with. One time, some student asked her a question, so she decided to search the answer up and found it on wikipedia. Seems legit) among the student body, but perhaps UMich won’t be able to notice that. The class isn’t really related to my intended major.
I’m not only worried about eventually getting rejected, perhaps my main worry atm is getting deferred and waiting several more months for my decision. I really want to just get in early so that I know I’ll be able to go to a fantastic school no matter what.
If you’re wondering, I already got accepted to MSU (which was my intended safety) within 6 days after my submission, rejected from MIT early (embarrassing obviously because of their high deferral rate, but it’s very clear this is all because of that C, and if that C was turned to an A I’m 99% sure I would get at least deferred. This rejection made me wonder what effect this C has), and going for several Ivy League reach schools(because why not :P). UMich is the only school I’m applying to that is more or less in the second tier of colleges (schools like CMU, Emory, Georgetown, UCs, etc. I won’t apply because I would rather just go to UMich, and my chances for those schools aren’t any better than for UMich either since I’m in-state for UMich).
It depends on the C. If that C in a science like Chemistry or Physics could be problematic. But id the C in a subject like History or English will not be as damaging. But since you say it is not related to your major, I will assume it is one of the latter, not former. As a resident enrolled at a top Michigan high school, you have a good chance of getting in EA.
my school is a top 5 feeder school in michigan with a 55%-60% acceptance rate of the students who apply. I think at least 75 students are accepted from my school every year so prob around 150 students out of 590 seniors apply?
One C can sometimes, but won’t always be the deal breaker. The admissions committee may expect you to explain somewhere on your application why you got a C.