5-6 weeks into my second semester senior year, I have realized that my Physics C E&M class is too challenging for me and I am worried I will be receiving a C even if I work my butt off. I would very much like to drop this class but I am afraid this will hurt my college admissions.
I have only heard back from two college (accepted to UIUC for CS, denied from CMU CS).
My top choices for college are USC, UC Berkeley, UC LA, Cornell all for CS (the results have not yet been released). Would it be better to receive a C or drop the course now?
If you do, you will have to notify all your colleges that you’ve dropped the course. Since you’re applying for CS, it might hurt you, as CS is particularly competitive at all these schools.
I suggest staying in it because of the competition at the schools you applied to and the knowledge itself. I am biased because I love physics, but putting in some more quality effort (perhaps you’re not putting in as much as you think you are) could really make a difference. Thoroughly read your textbook, study the many examples it provides within each chapter, and practice practice practice problems in the book and AP problems as well.
As a practical matter your second semester in senior year will not make a difference in your admission. So if you get a C it doesnt matter. UIUC has a great reputation for CS. So dont worry you already have one great admission
And FWIW my friend’s D was accepted ED at a very good schools she was excited to attend. After the acceptance she wanted to drop out of AP Calc to a lower level of Calc. She was a non-STEM major. Her admissions officer told her that her acceptance would be “revisited” if she dropped AP Calc. so she got extra help from the teacher and stuck the course out.
The OP can always contact admissions at UIUC to see if dropping the course will impact his/her admission decision. Best to do it in writing in case anything has to be documented later on. And the OP would need to notify other colleges he/she applied to about the change in schedule.
If the OP can keep up a C I’d keep the course. (getting below a C could be a problem).
You never know what would be your final grade. You have a lot of time, ask for help find tutors in your local state college. It’s better to take AP physics E&M in high school. take the AP exam test so hopefully you can get a 4 or 5. if you drop it, E&M at UIUC will be much faster and harder. What did you get in AP physics mechanics?
I barely managed to get a B (83) in AP physics mechanics. I had taken AP Physics 2 before (4 on AP, A- and A for the two semesters) which helped me pull off the B in AP physics mechanics due to the overlapping material. However, a lot of the new material in AP physics e&m are new to me and I am having much trouble grasping the concepts.
Would a top college like UC Berkeley rescind a student for getting, say, 1 C, 2 B, 3 As?
@AzianGuy Dude, a lot of the electricity and magnetism material in AP2 is the same as the material in APC E&M. Yes, in APC, you have to go a bit deeper with all the concepts and utilize calculus to develop a deeper understanding of things, but a lot of the material is very similar. You’re introduced to electric field and potential in AP2, you should know how to work circuits from that class, and you already have a basic understanding of magnetic fields. You just have to take it a bit deeper in APC and use the concepts in different situations.
I don’t think UCB rescinds for having those grades. But to reiterate, don’t drop the course, as it could harm your current admissions status and acceptance to UIUC. Just stick with it and practice more. It’ll work out man.
Family member was accepted to a national university. Acceptance letter was clear and direct that a change in senior year schedule would be grounds for a review of the acceptance. This may or may not be the case at your school(s), but I advise you find out their policies regarding a schedule change before making one. Buckling down and working very hard for the next few months (and in college) would be the best way to go. Also, seek help from your teacher. Good luck.
^^ “but I advise you find out their policies regarding a schedule change before making one.” Excellent advice with the key word in that sentence being BEFORE.
@AzianGuy Try to stick it out. Get help from the teachers, friends, tutors, online.
Hey guys, update on my situation. I was accepted at UC Berkeley and I am ecstatic to (hopefully) attend . However, at the moment I have a C (may become a C- by the end of the semester) in Physics C. Will a C- get me rescinded?
Another question: When UC Berkeley said that they require a 3.0 gpa, does that mean for both semester combined or individually?