Will getting a C in an elective (science research) ruin my college chances?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>Hey everyone, I'm just finishing up my sophomore year, and these are my final grades.</p>

<p>Honors Spanish - B/A
AP Psych - A/A
Honors Geometry - B/A
Chemistry - A/A
Honors English - A/A</p>

<p>and finally,
Science Research - A/C </p>

<p>I got a 79.7 second semester, and the teacher will not bump me up, unfortunately. I did not really put a lot of effort into the course because I was more focused on my real classes. Well, anyways, my main question is this: will this poor grade affect my chances at getting into colleges? I'm mostly interested in LACs like Occidental, Colorado College, Grinnell, etc., but this worries me. It's an elective, but it's weighted as a 5, meaning that it's like getting a B in a regular elective. I don't regret taking the class, though, even though I did so badly.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>One C will not ruin your chances. Take a look at these threads:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/853613-ever-gotten-c.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/853613-ever-gotten-c.html&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/854051-ever-gotten-b-accepted.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/854051-ever-gotten-b-accepted.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>So, it’s okay?</p>

4

<p>Depends on your definition of “okay”, but it’s not a big deal. Colleges weigh GPAs much less than things like essays or recs.</p>

5

<p>Colleges weigh GPAs much less than things like essays or recs. </p>

<p>that is just blatenly wrong and stupid. I feel dumber just reading that.</p>

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<p>Urm is right. GPA is important. But one C won’t ruin your chances. I got into a really nice LAC (Beloit–not quite as prestigious as Grinnell, but it’s awesome and I adore it), and I had… four Cs and a D, I think (although they were all in honors/AP classes). If you have excellent test scores, a good extra-curricular record, and a good essay, you’ll be fine.</p>

<p>And sorry to hear about the borderline grad! I hate when that happens. I had an 89.8 last semester in Psychology–if my teacher would have bumped me up, I’d have had straight As that semester.</p>

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<p>It probably won’t help if you want to be a science researcher.</p>

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<p>I’ll just say this much: I was wait listed at Occidental and I felt my GPA and test scores were above average (I also think my essays were excellent.) I don’t think your chances are ruined by any means, but I believe Oxy is getting more competitive since Obama became president.</p>

9

<p>Jesuis why did you say that Oxy became more competitive since obama became president. I am not being my normal sarcastic obnoxious self but I am actually really curious on that comment you made. Obama went to Uchicago and Harvard. what does Oxy have anything to do with?</p>

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</p>

<p>You’re right–it is blatantly wrong. It’s actually impossible to predict the grounds on which an adcom will deny or permit you acceptance. So in either case, a C is a C and it’s not changeable, so it’s best to focus on your strengths rather than past problems.</p>