How will C's affect my application?

USMA2026Cadet

USMA '26
Joined
Apr 1, 2019
Messages
252
It's the end of Sophomore year in HS, and it's looking like I'm going to finish with a C in Honors Chemistry and a C in AP Microeconomics. Not grades I'm proud of for sure, but I can't change them now. Most other things are going my way... high standardized test scores, two varsity sports (captain in one), and a lot of leadership positions in extra-circulars (one even on the state level, and hopefully national senior year).

I have a deep attraction and desire to become an officer in the Army first off, but to attend USMA is a dream of mine. I was wondering what you all would think about how reciving two C's would affect my chances of admission? They are in higher level classes, and next year I will be entering the IB Diploma Programme, but nevertheless, they are C's. Thank you for any and all replies in advance.

(And trust me, I'm going to make sure I never let something like this happen again, especially as I become an upperclassman).
 
Varsity captain as a sophomore. Wow. Good for you.
Next year I'll be Captain, we determined the Junior Captain this year and they also automatically become the Senior Capitan, but still, it's two years of being Capitan under my belt come time to submit apps.
 
I was admitted into the class of 2023 with C’s in AP calculus AB and 1 C in AP calculus BC. I also did not do any sort of athletics. For you I would suggest keeping up your GPA and class rank as much as possible. It looks good to take many difficult classes and maybe struggle in a few of them rather than sailing through with easy classes. You said you had high standardized test scores. I would recommend taking the SAT and ACT multiple times each to see if you can do better. If you have more questions feel free to ask.
 
A couple Cs are not fatal. SAs want candidates who take the hardest classes their school has to offer, especially in STEM, and excel at them. They care most about the overall quality of your transcript and your class rank, far more than GPA. Academics count the most in your application package but can be balanced out by test scores, leadership, athletics and CFA. And that's why a couple Cs don't have to sink your candidacy.
 
Are you spending more time on ECs than your academics?
Are you getting tutoring or asking your teacher for help?
Are you looking at extra problems/reading on Khan academy or the like?
 
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