Retaking Failed Highschool Classes

craiyan2

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Joined
Apr 18, 2016
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32
Hi-
I'm a soph at highschool trying to raise his chances at getting an appointment. Currently I have almost all A's except one blaring problem on my transcript. A big fat D for Math in 1st semester of this school year. I was going through depression at the time, and the teacher was using a flipped classroom(videos at home, hw in class), and I couldn't follow through.

Does retaking it look bad to the Academy? Does the D still show up on my transcript?


Thanks.
 
It will show up on your transcript. Math is a big deal at the Academy. There is a reason why it is nicknamed the "little engineering school in the Rockies".

Personally I would seek to retake the class. This could be used as a talking point in your application process/interview.
 
LMAO, what a long nickname. I'm not typically bad at math, I was set to take post calc topics in senior year, guess that's gone now. Do you think that wipes out my chances of going there?
 
One bad grade doesn't necessarily wipe out your chances. What do you do from here on out? That is the important question. You may have an opportunity to prove you're proficiency at math in the classroom and to prove your resilience to overcome adversity. As AFrpaso stated, when you write your essays for your Academy application and do your interviews, use the situation to your advantage by telling your story and how you learned lessons from this time of overcoming depression and bringing your grades up to consistent A's. Also, if you have not taken the ACT/SAT, do so and retake it until you crush the math part (and all of it actually). That will help answer questions about your ability to understand and perform in math. If you work hard, get good grades and high ACT/SAT, especially in math, you could put yourself in a position to be competitive and also show that you are determined to overcome struggles. Depression is no joke, and you should be proud of yourself for battling it and prevailing.
 
Also, concerning your class, maybe you could retake that class during the summer or another time. Explain your reasons to your school administration. Hopefully they will work with you to schedule a retake of this class at a time that would keep you on track for post calc topics your senior year. To be competitive, you normally need to take the toughest/highest level classes your high school offers.
 
Thanks badge. Update: I talked to my counselor and I'm retaking calc honors. I also talked to him about USAFA and boys state and he's going to work closely with me to try and get me in. Counsellors can be your best friend guys
 
I had a D in precalculus junior year and still got an LOA and appointment...this was for West Point but I don't think it is the end all be all for you
 
That's extremely interesting. Cat how did you spin your story if you did at all? And if you don't mind me asking, what was your GPA going into applications?


Thanks.
 
like what badge said. I would retake the course over the summer at a local community college. That way you will caught up and able to take the necessary courses. It'll also show that you have a lot of motivation. get a summer job and pay for it, not a lot of high school students are willing to put in that kind of work and it'll make you stand out.
 
That's extremely interesting. Cat how did you spin your story if you did at all? And if you don't mind me asking, what was your GPA going into applications?


Thanks.
Well the next semester I got an A so I sort of spinned it into a story of getting through a tough challenger. Although I was never asked about it besides once in my senator interview. When I would ask about what I needed to have a strong application the D was never mentioned. My gpa going in was a 4.2 cumulative
 
My DS got an appointment this year (2020) and overcame a D for a semester in AP Cal BC. He was asked to explain the D in his interviews. He explained that he struggled with the teacher's method of grading but clearly understood the material because he made a 5 on the Cal BC AP Exam and made a 35 on math on the ACT. I think the advice is solid that you continue to show progress and math proficiency and be prepared to answer the lessons learned with the class.
 
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