Are one or two relatively low grades going to ruin my chances at acceptance?

T

tearppitkins

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Jun 10, 2016
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So, I am likely finishing my junior year with a C in AP chemistry and possibly a B in my honors Spanish class. I have two other B's on my record, one from freshman year and one from sophomore. Even with all this, my GPA is still going to be around a 4.3, weighted. My SAT scores are a 690 in both math and reading, and I retook them and am expecting a higher score- maybe around a 720 for both.
My extracurricular is alright, as well. Here's a list.
-4 year varsity track and field, including being a captain in junior and senior year.
-4 years of Key Club
-4 years of Environmental Club
-4 years of 4.0 Club
-4 years of Bible Club
-2 years of Varsity Club
-2 years of the multicultural club
-2 years of the co-ed special needs club
-2 years of the March of Dimes club
-2 years of Drama Club
-1 year of football (senior year)
-1 year of Students Against Destructive Decisions Club
-Senior Class Secretary
-I also have over 20 volunteer hours with a local group that cleans up lakes and greenbelts in the local area
-I've volunteered in five blood drives
-I volunteered at the 2016 March of Dimes walk at the local community college
-I've helped with the school sponsored food drive this year
-I've helped box up and organize military donations given to our school
-I helped set up and coordinate our school township's annual 6th grade spirit day
-I raised money for the school by selling candy at our school's annual bonfire event
-I broadcast one of our school's basketball games (providing commentary)
-I helped set up and organize our school's annual MLK Night
-I'm expecting to be in the National Honor Society next year; my school only let's seniors be a part of the NHS for some reason
-I've also been holding a job at Five Below for a couple months now, and plan on keeping that job until graduation, unless I get another job with better pay
-I guess it's to be noted that I hit the gym nearly every day

It's also worth noting that I have two older brothers who went to USAFA and have had some decent success there.
So, how much is that C going to effect my chances of being accepted??
 
Well, that C in an AP course isn't going to help you, that's for sure. "Hurt" might be a relative term there. Nothing you can do about it now. Push forward and do your best in the coming school year.
 
While getting a C isn't great, it could provide you with fodder for an essay, or in your interviews. Were there things you could have done differently in the class and you've learned a lot from that?
I assume you took the AP exam, and I know you won't get that score til later this summer -- but if you happen to score well on the exam it would show you understand the material, and that the C is perhaps a "blip"
As Fencersmother said, nothing you can do about it now, other than learn from it and press on. Use it as a positive to motivate you this year.
Best of luck
 
tearppitkins said:
So, I am likely finishing my junior year with a C in AP chemistry and possibly a B in my honors Spanish class. I have two other B's on my record, one from freshman year and one from sophomore. Even with all this, my GPA is still going to be around a 4.3, weighted. My SAT scores are a 690 in both math and reading, and I retook them and am expecting a higher score- maybe around a 720 for both.
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My free advice is to focus on three things: grades, grades, and grades. Maybe you need to go to the instructor for help, do extra problems, clear your schedule (other than being a captain of your sports). Make sure you nail the grades. You have way more than enough extra curricular activities. Throttle back on those 50 other commitments and focus on getting A's. Backing up 3 years, it is better to focus and become a leader on a few things even if it is one volunteer topic and versus being involved than 50 diluted topics. Also, spend the summer figuring out how to boost your ACT/SAT score. That standardized score is very visible to admissions.

Basically you need to question why are are you struggling with AP chem and falling short to your own expectations in Spanish. Then fix that. What could you have done differently.
 
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And really, what is the point of ONE YEAR of football in your senior year? Is your school so tiny that there is not one other person who can play left tackle, or kick a field goal? Forget the football.
 
Not playing out of necessity, although I don't see how it would hurt anything. An injury prevented me from playing last year and I know when I'm older I'll regret not playing at least one year of the greatest sport on earth
 
As a card-carrying and devoted member of the Steeler Nation (and there is no other football nation,don't even start with that nonsense), I totally get your devotion to the sport. However, the 2-a-days, and 2 hour practices might be better put to your chemistry tutoring sessions.

Forget the football and just watch the black and gold on TV. (I would never suggest or even hint that you would not watch the Steelers in lieu of studying. Some things, like Mass and the Steelers: not optional. :) ).
 
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