Received appointment... and an F+ in calculus

[cajunrouge2021]

Any follow up on this? I bet everything turned out fine

 

[LineInTheSand]

His are there F+s?

"You failed, but there's a plus side to it..."

 

[time2]

The OP hasn't posted since June, 2009 so I assume long gone from this forum by now. Would have also graduated from USMA several years ago. Most of the other people offering advice back then don't look familiar as current members either.

 

[brovol]

My son was told by two RCs at West Point that failing a class in the last semester will likely cause an appointment to be withdrawn. My son had a strong application, and was admitted pretty early, so he was not a borderline candidate. He did get a C in AP English, and kind of had to scramble to get that. He was worried about a possible D, so he called. I suppose if you are so far above the curve, and are an all star applicant, then it may not matter. Otherwise it does.

 

[kinnem]

Don't trust to luck. Make sure it's a D and not an F+, regardless of whether or not an F+ would not be a problem. You cannot control whether or not it's a problem. You can control, at least to some degree, your grade.

EDIT: Whoa! Just noticed how old this thread is. I'm sre the OP has left the building.

 

[cajunrouge2021]

Don't trust to luck. Make sure it's a D and not an F+, regardless of whether or not an F+ would not be a problem. You cannot control whether or not it's a problem. You can control, at least to some degree, your grade.

EDIT: Whoa! Just noticed how old this thread is. I'm sre the OP has left the building.

Ha yes my bad. I was hoping for the shred of hope they would still be around to talk about how it all turned out. I'm dealing with an 83 in AP Calc this semester that I need to send to USMA. 93 in Algebra 1, 93 in Geometry 85 in Algebra 2, 92 in Trig Pre-Calc. 27 in ACT Math. I'm great everywhere else: leadership extracurriculars, Spanish and French Honor Societies, A's in AP lots of stuff, and 36 ACT English and Reading. Finished my app in September so the growing anticipation has been killing me. I'm disappointed at my 83 and think I could have done better. I hope it doesn't cost me an appointment, though.

 

[kinnem]

You're fine with an 83 in AP Calc. Trust me.

 

[buff81]

Ha yes my bad. I was hoping for the shred of hope they would still be around to talk about how it all turned out. I'm dealing with an 83 in AP Calc this semester that I need to send to USMA. 93 in Algebra 1, 93 in Geometry 85 in Algebra 2, 92 in Trig Pre-Calc. 27 in ACT Math. I'm great everywhere else: leadership extracurriculars, Spanish and French Honor Societies, A's in AP lots of stuff, and 36 ACT English and Reading. Finished my app in September so the growing anticipation has been killing me. I'm disappointed at my 83 and think I could have done better. I hope it doesn't cost me an appointment, though.

Your file is not going to be flagged bc you made an 83 in AP Calc. Your class rank is what really matters anyway.
Congrats on the 36 in English on your ACT! That will catch the eye of Admissions.

 

[FL2018]

To piggy back on this old thread...what about getting a D+ in a noncore elective? He has received his appointment. I’m paranoid but DS doesn’t seem concerned. He wanted to concentrate on getting straight A’s in all his other AP classes. It most likely would not affect his overall GPA too much, plus is the GPA calculated with electives or just the core classes?

 

[kinnem]

GPA is computed using grades from all classes. I wouldn't worry too much about a non-core elective. Sounds to me like your DS prioritized things properly.

 

[brovol]

A few years ago when my son received his appointment his RC told him to make sure not to end the year with any D's or E's. We weren't worried about that so we didn't ask what happens if he did get a D or E, but I suspect that could be a problem.

 

[KidForService00]

I am just about to finish my application, but my grades are concerning me too.

I have been an IB Student for almost my entire grade school career, I attended a school that did not have a PYP program for my 2nd and 3rd grade year. Throughout HS I have had mostly A's and a few B's. I have only taken MYP and IB core classes. Last semester I received my first C in IB Biology SL. This teacher is particularly difficult and missed 2/3 of the semester due to jury duty. Because of this, my GPA is now a 4.57. Will this hurt my chance of appointment?

 

[lstoner7]

I am just about to finish my application, but my grades are concerning me too.

I have been an IB Student for almost my entire grade school career, I attended a school that did not have a PYP program for my 2nd and 3rd grade year. Throughout HS I have had mostly A's and a few B's. I have only taken MYP and IB core classes. Last semester I received my first C in IB Biology SL. This teacher is particularly difficult and missed 2/3 of the semester due to jury duty. Because of this, my GPA is now a 4.57. Will this hurt my chance of appointment?

While I'm not an expert on the admissions board, I would imagine a 4.57 is certainly not a detriment to you. I was just appointed yesterday with a 4.15 weighted GPA. How are your SAT and/or ACT scores?

 

[KidForService00]

I am just about to finish my application, but my grades are concerning me too.

I have been an IB Student for almost my entire grade school career, I attended a school that did not have a PYP program for my 2nd and 3rd grade year. Throughout HS I have had mostly A's and a few B's. I have only taken MYP and IB core classes. Last semester I received my first C in IB Biology SL. This teacher is particularly difficult and missed 2/3 of the semester due to jury duty. Because of this, my GPA is now a 4.57. Will this hurt my chance of appointment?

While I'm not an expert on the admissions board, I would imagine a 4.57 is certainly not a detriment to you. I was just appointed yesterday with a 4.15 weighted GPA. How are your SAT and/or ACT scores?

They are average to be honest. I am not the best test taker. I was also sick when I took it.
My school does not do + or - for final grades, so even if I technically got a C+ in biology it would not be known. Also, if there is a class where 1st semester was an A and 2nd semester was a B, would that hurt my overall academic image?

 

[lstoner7]

I am just about to finish my application, but my grades are concerning me too.

I have been an IB Student for almost my entire grade school career, I attended a school that did not have a PYP program for my 2nd and 3rd grade year. Throughout HS I have had mostly A's and a few B's. I have only taken MYP and IB core classes. Last semester I received my first C in IB Biology SL. This teacher is particularly difficult and missed 2/3 of the semester due to jury duty. Because of this, my GPA is now a 4.57. Will this hurt my chance of appointment?

While I'm not an expert on the admissions board, I would imagine a 4.57 is certainly not a detriment to you. I was just appointed yesterday with a 4.15 weighted GPA. How are your SAT and/or ACT scores?

They are average to be honest. I am not the best test taker. I was also sick when I took it.
My school does not do + or - for final grades, so even if I technically got a C+ in biology it would not be known. Also, if there is a class where 1st semester was an A and 2nd semester was a B, would that hurt my overall academic image?

I wouldn't think so, I got an A 1st marking period in my Advanced Algebra class, then a B second semester. Depending on your relationship with your Bio teacher, I would recommend getting a rec letter from the teacher explaining the extenuating circumstances and vouching for you as an overall student, couldn't hurt at least, good luck!

 

[KidForService00]

I am just about to finish my application, but my grades are concerning me too.

I have been an IB Student for almost my entire grade school career, I attended a school that did not have a PYP program for my 2nd and 3rd grade year. Throughout HS I have had mostly A's and a few B's. I have only taken MYP and IB core classes. Last semester I received my first C in IB Biology SL. This teacher is particularly difficult and missed 2/3 of the semester due to jury duty. Because of this, my GPA is now a 4.57. Will this hurt my chance of appointment?

While I'm not an expert on the admissions board, I would imagine a 4.57 is certainly not a detriment to you. I was just appointed yesterday with a 4.15 weighted GPA. How are your SAT and/or ACT scores?

They are average to be honest. I am not the best test taker. I was also sick when I took it.
My school does not do + or - for final grades, so even if I technically got a C+ in biology it would not be known. Also, if there is a class where 1st semester was an A and 2nd semester was a B, would that hurt my overall academic image?

I wouldn't think so, I got an A 1st marking period in my Advanced Algebra class, then a B second semester. Depending on your relationship with your Bio teacher, I would recommend getting a rec letter from the teacher explaining the extenuating circumstances and vouching for you as an overall student, couldn't hurt at least, good luck!

Sounds like a good idea. Thank you!

 

[MJ2020]

Taking calc 3 in your 1st semester at the academy could be very detrimental to your mental health .

You won't. Everyone takes a validation test. The vast majority of plebes will take Math modeling/intro to calculus.
If you test out of that course by scoring extremely high on the validation test then you will be placed in Calc II.
The vast majority of kids who take Calc I during high school will take it again at West Point.

My DS #1 took AP Cac BC (plus 7 more AP classes) senior year. Validated Calc first semester at CGA and took Calc 3 second semester freshman year. Your not an engineering major then? Congrats!

 

[brovol]

I am just about to finish my application, but my grades are concerning me too.

I have been an IB Student for almost my entire grade school career, I attended a school that did not have a PYP program for my 2nd and 3rd grade year. Throughout HS I have had mostly A's and a few B's. I have only taken MYP and IB core classes. Last semester I received my first C in IB Biology SL. This teacher is particularly difficult and missed 2/3 of the semester due to jury duty. Because of this, my GPA is now a 4.57. Will this hurt my chance of appointment?

Your actual gpa is not dispositive, but rather, it is your "class standing" which controls. So, your GPA is only relevant to the extent that it places you somewhere amongst all the other students in your HS class. You want to be in top 10% of your class ideally, but certainly in the top 20%. My son was around top 15% and his RC called his class standing the Achilles heel it is application. As a result, my son needed to get a better ACT to make up for his "average" class standing. He accomplished that, end ended with a very strong application, but class standing was always weakest link.

Find out where you are in your class.

 

[KidForService00]

I am just about to finish my application, but my grades are concerning me too.

I have been an IB Student for almost my entire grade school career, I attended a school that did not have a PYP program for my 2nd and 3rd grade year. Throughout HS I have had mostly A's and a few B's. I have only taken MYP and IB core classes. Last semester I received my first C in IB Biology SL. This teacher is particularly difficult and missed 2/3 of the semester due to jury duty. Because of this, my GPA is now a 4.57. Will this hurt my chance of appointment?

Your actual gpa is not dispositive, but rather, it is your "class standing" which controls. So, your GPA is only relevant to the extent that it places you somewhere amongst all the other students in your HS class. You want to be in top 10% of your class ideally, but certainly in the top 20%. My son was around top 15% and his RC called his class standing the Achilles heel it is application. As a result, my son needed to get a better ACT to make up for his "average" class standing. He accomplished that, end ended with a very strong application, but class standing was always weakest link.

Find out where you are in your class.

Last I checked, back in early February, I was 32 out of 667. My school is fairly large.

 

[brovol]

I am just about to finish my application, but my grades are concerning me too.

I have been an IB Student for almost my entire grade school career, I attended a school that did not have a PYP program for my 2nd and 3rd grade year. Throughout HS I have had mostly A's and a few B's. I have only taken MYP and IB core classes. Last semester I received my first C in IB Biology SL. This teacher is particularly difficult and missed 2/3 of the semester due to jury duty. Because of this, my GPA is now a 4.57. Will this hurt my chance of appointment?

Your actual gpa is not dispositive, but rather, it is your "class standing" which controls. So, your GPA is only relevant to the extent that it places you somewhere amongst all the other students in your HS class. You want to be in top 10% of your class ideally, but certainly in the top 20%. My son was around top 15% and his RC called his class standing the Achilles heel it is application. As a result, my son needed to get a better ACT to make up for his "average" class standing. He accomplished that, end ended with a very strong application, but class standing was always weakest link.

Find out where you are in your class.

Last I checked, back in early February, I was 32 out of 667. My school is fairly large.

That is pretty solid. Maintain that.