My math grade slipped.. Academy's thoughts?

JustDoIt

JustDoIt

5-Year Member
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Jun 7, 2010
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I'm wrapping up my sophomore year, and I was wondering how will USNA, or any Service Academy, view a lower grade in honors Alg. 2? All my other grades are great but my math grade slipped down to a 74. I've had a tough spring, but that's no excuse. If I keep my pre-calc grade next year up, what will be the Academy's reaction to the 74 when I apply? :confused:
Thanks!
 
AFAIK GPAs are not THAT important - Class Rank is MUCH more important.

I'll let someone more knowleadgeable than me answer this for you, though. Good luck!
 
I can't say a 74 in Alg. II will be looked on with "favor". I also have no idea what that is as a letter grade. Don't under-estimate the value of GPAs in the application process.

Have you taken, or will you take any kind of calculus?
 
a 74 would be a C...

and in question of a previous response... my school does not rank its students and so would in that case GPA be a greater factor?

In addition, my unweighted GPA is quite horrible (3.55) but I have taken 5 honors classes and 5 AP classes and next year I'm taking another 4 AP classes and determined to raise my GPA to a 3.74 at the end of the year in 2012. Will this be taken into account?
 
The difficulty of the courses are taken into account. A C in Calc is certainly looked at differently than a C in Pre-Algebra. A nice heavy load is better than a light load as well.
 
ctuma2,

You can't change what has already happened. Look at what you can correct and improve yourself for down-the-road.
I'd recommend you work your tail off for the next two semesters before a transcript is mailed off. You have plenty of time to prove yourself. One grade of a C from your sophomore year on isn't going to be a tragedy.

As much as USNA (can't speak for other SA's, but probably assume they do the same) looks at GPA, they also look at rigor -- that is what were the grades in the challenging (Honors, AP/IB) or non-challenging courses you earned.

Also, as I mentioned in a previous post, if you are shooting for A's and B's (which you should be shooting for), then get help from your teacher as soon as you have the slightest indication your falling behind (either homework, quiz, test) and make sure you understand how to improve yourself. This does two things, one, helps you get better grades and two, normally gives the teacher more discretion in grading based on your "outside the classroom" efforts.
 
jadler03 said:
As much as USNA (can't speak for other SA's, but probably assume they do the same) looks at GPA.....................
Click to expand...

Is this a recent change? USNA has always advertised that they rely on class standing exclusively in lieu of GPA. The only time they will use GPA is for a school that does not rank and then they will 'manufacture' a class standing from the GPA.
 
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jadler03,

Thank you for your comment however I have just finished my junior year so the road to try and improve before transcripts are sent is pretty much over. I have never had a C in any class and the only thing bringing my GPA down is the Bs I received in my AP/Honor classes. In all my regular classes, I have always earned an A. My weighted GPA, as a result of that, is a 4.13.
 
ctuma2, mongo,

Apologize. I was doing a cursory look over a few different posts and erroneously mixed/matched. The post should have been addressed to JustDoIt.

Yes, class ranking is one of the predominant factors in the academic side of the house. GPA (the numerical value) is less used in the process by itself, the transcript really tells the story because it shows the rigor of the courses a candidate took. Having a 4.0 and in no challenging courses might not be looked as favorbly upon a 3.75 in 3 honors, and 2 APs (for example).

ctuma2, I really wouldn't worry too much....class rankings, transcript, SAT/ACT scores, among the whole person concept will all be considered. Do well in your senior year, you don't know if USNA will defer to your first semester grades. Best of luck.
 
jadler03 said:
ctuma2,

You can't change what has already happened. Look at what you can correct and improve yourself for down-the-road.
I'd recommend you work your tail off for the next two semesters before a transcript is mailed off. You have plenty of time to prove yourself. One grade of a C from your sophomore year on isn't going to be a tragedy.

As much as USNA (can't speak for other SA's, but probably assume they do the same) looks at GPA, they also look at rigor -- that is what were the grades in the challenging (Honors, AP/IB) or non-challenging courses you earned.

Also, as I mentioned in a previous post, if you are shooting for A's and B's (which you should be shooting for), then get help from your teacher as soon as you have the slightest indication your falling behind (either homework, quiz, test) and make sure you understand how to improve yourself. This does two things, one, helps you get better grades and two, normally gives the teacher more discretion in grading based on your "outside the classroom" efforts.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply, as well as everyone else.
 
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