Poor Grades in Honors Math

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US21

Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2018
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33
Hey folks,
I am worried about my Honors math grade. This semester I got a C- (junior)... I am great in other areas (except for understandable difficulty in AP chem).
Can someone pls give me input on if my chances to academy are decreased significantly? And any suggestions to make up for this poor subject with other classes/activities?

Thank you.
 
US21 said:
Hey folks,
I am worried about my Honors math grade. This semester I got a C- (junior)... I am great in other areas (except for understandable difficulty in AP chem).
Can someone pls give me input on if my chances to academy are decreased significantly? And any suggestions to make up for this poor subject with other classes/activities?

Thank you.
Click to expand...
All of the Service Academies emphasize a strong foundation in STEM so that adjusting to the academic lifestyle is easier. Will one bad quarter grade kill your chances? Probably not but you do want to make sure you constantly improve thoughout the quarters because every college loves to see an upward trend. Keep studying hard and putting in the time and that effort will soon start to increase your overall grade.
 
I was in a similar boat as you. The Academy wants to see you challenging youself. Personally for me, getting that C in honors math had a few advantages:
1) I learned more math and increased in my math skills moreso than if I were in the non-honors course
2) That was reflected in my ACT math score
3) Other grades were fine, except for math on a consistent basic. In interviews/on the application, I was able to discuss how I was able to work hard and not quit in challenging situations, a mindset that is very useful here at USAFA.

Bottom line: You can't change your grade, don't sweat it. You have a 0% chance if you don't apply. No one on this forum can give you a completely accurate analysis on how that affects your application. Work on the ACT/SAT math test to show your proficiency. Keep working hard, don't let that get you down. Things had a good ending for myself and many other applicants who were once in your shoes. Best of luck!!
 
AF22SIS said:
I was in a similar boat as you. The Academy wants to see you challenging youself. Personally for me, getting that C in honors math had a few advantages:
1) I learned more math and increased in my math skills moreso than if I were in the non-honors course
2) That was reflected in my ACT math score
3) Other grades were fine, except for math on a consistent basic. In interviews/on the application, I was able to discuss how I was able to work hard and not quit in challenging situations, a mindset that is very useful here at USAFA.

Bottom line: You can't change your grade, don't sweat it. You have a 0% chance if you don't apply. No one on this forum can give you a completely accurate analysis on how that affects your application. Work on the ACT/SAT math test to show your proficiency. Keep working hard, don't let that get you down. Things had a good ending for myself and many other applicants who were once in your shoes. Best of luck!!
Click to expand...

Thanks so much- this was such a positive and helpful response! :)
 
HB2019 said:
US21 said:
Hey folks,
I am worried about my Honors math grade. This semester I got a C- (junior)... I am great in other areas (except for understandable difficulty in AP chem).
Can someone pls give me input on if my chances to academy are decreased significantly? And any suggestions to make up for this poor subject with other classes/activities?

Thank you.
Click to expand...
All of the Service Academies emphasize a strong foundation in STEM so that adjusting to the academic lifestyle is easier. Will one bad quarter grade kill your chances? Probably not but you do want to make sure you constantly improve thoughout the quarters because every college loves to see an upward trend. Keep studying hard and putting in the time and that effort will soon start to increase your overall grade.
Click to expand...

Thank you for time and info. towards writing this input!!
 
As others stated, you want to continue to improve.
I would also address this in the essay/personal statement of your application to talk about "how you overcame a struggle" or "how you learned from a past experience"
It's no certainty but it gives you a chance to "speak" to the selection committee about it.
 
Right now, I would say that figuring out why you are not doing well and changing your strategy is the most important thing. If you go to a SA or regular college, you will need the skill to know "I am not doing as well as I would like" and "I must change things"

Here are ideas:

0) GO TO CLASS, READ THE CHAPTERS, AND DO THE HOMEWORK!

1) Go to Teacher's office hours early in the semester and Ask this question: "I know this is a really difficult class-- what are some of the common mistakes students make and how can I avoid them?"

2) If you have problems with the homework, go to Teacher's office hours. If they have any "help sessions" or "study sessions" or any thing extra, go to them.

3) Form a study group with other kids in your class.

4) Don't do the minimum...for STEM classes do extra problems. You can buy books that just have problems for calculus or physics or chemistry whatever. Watch online videos (e.g., Khan Academy) about the topic you are studying.

5) If things still are not going well, get a tutor. Your National Honor Society will have some. Or ask a teacher for a referral.

6) Read this book: How to Become a Straight-A Student: The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use to Score High While Studying Less by Cal Newport. It helps you with things like time management and how to figure out what to write about for a paper, etc.

7) For tests that you didn't do well on, can you evaluate what went wrong? Did you never read that topic? Did you not do the homework for it? Do you kind of remember it but forgot what to do? Did you do the straightfoward type questions but not any complicated ones?
Then next time change the way you study...there may be a study skill center at your guidance office.

8) How much time outside of class do you spend studying/doing homework? Is it enough?

9) If you run into any social/health/family troubles (you are sick, your parents are sick, someone died, broke up with boy/girlfriend, suddenly depressed/anxiety etcetc) then immediately go to the guidance counselor and talk to them.

10) At the beginning of the semester, read the syllabus for each class. It tells you what you will be doing and when tests/HW/papers are due. Put all of that in your calendar. The teacher may remind you of things, but it is all there for you to see so take initiative and look at it.

11) Make sure you understand how to use your online class system...Login to it, read what there is for your classes, know how to upload assignments (if that is what the teacher wants).

12) If you get an assignment...make sure to read the instructions and do all the tasks on the assignment. Look at the rubric and make sure you have covered everything.

13) If you are not sure what to do, go EARLY to the teacher's office hours...not the day before the assignment is due.

14) Take advantage of any "re-do" tests you may be able to take..your teacher wants you to learn the material. Future material depends on it so you need to have the foundation. By explaining what went wrong you really understand it. Take advantage of this.
 
I also would point out that these topics are foundations for future harder subjects. More important to me would be learning the topics before moving forward.

Find a tutor and master the subject matter. There will be a way to demonstrate mastery of the topics ... to demonstrate your want and willingness to improve and your ability to handle stem subjects.
 
While I give some leeway for students learning new branches of Math, it is important if you seek a slot at an SA that you are competent in Math. I will not go so far as to say STEM is emphasized at the high school level, as the best student is the very well rounded one, but it is important to realize that you will be earning a Bachelor of SCIENCE degree, not one of ARTS, at USAFA. So, even the English major earns a BS, which means lots of math, science, and even the humanities majors take Engineering (and learn to love it).

So, figure out with the help of a tutor or other: is this developmental (just need more time to work your brain around it)? Are you lax in your study habits? Have you really put the time in, without TV, WITHOUT YOUR PHONE, without distraction (how about at the library?)? Have you looked to different sources for another pathway? Other textbooks? Online helps?

I almost never recommend study groups with other students. Study groups under a teacher or perhaps a college student studying Math might be better, but really, what can other struggling juniors teach you?

Get to your teacher right away, and get some help.

For those struggling at an SA with Math or other subject now, know when you are needing EI. Don't wait till you are actually behind the curve.
 
fencersmother said:
Are you lax in your study habits? Have you really put the time in, without TV, WITHOUT YOUR PHONE, without distraction (how about at the library?)?
Click to expand...
My DD goes so far as to delete some of the apps from her phone during the week: Netflix, Amazon video, etc. Her idea after she constantly found her way around lesser measures. Do what you need to to do what you must.
 
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