D in CALCULUS, should I DROP IT? - Page 2

wutheringgc · 01-05-2009, 11:56 PM

is taking AP Calc even worth it? I'm a junior and I'm thinking about taking it next year. Thing is I don't really enjoy math, even though im alright at it. I'm already planning on taking AP Govt/Econ, AP Euro, AP Lit, so should I take just honors calc or ap? i have a 100 in pre-cal honors currently.

ATLs09 · 01-06-2009, 12:00 AM

what about AP stats? I liked it better..it was more interesting to me. But if you have an A in Pre-cal, AP calc looks good..

tokenadult · 01-06-2009, 12:09 AM

Your screen name mentions Brown. STAY IN THE CLASS. Pull up your grade. I say this, because I asked a related question last year at an admission information session that included a representative from Brown, and you definitely are better off challenging yourself in your classes if you want to maximize your chances of getting in. Get help with your class, and stay the course.

iwannagotobrown · 01-06-2009, 04:23 PM

tokenadult, I owe you my life..that's such a great advice -knowing Brown..

I guess I'll stay! wish me luck

blu_g8orade · 01-06-2009, 05:56 PM

Drop it! Can't you just move to Calc GT? That is still a challenging class.

Trust me... no matter how hard a class is, getting a D on your transcript is never worth it.

Quote:

Your screen name mentions Brown. STAY IN THE CLASS. Pull up your grade. I say this, because I asked a related question last year at an admission information session that included a representative from Brown, and you definitely are better off challenging yourself in your classes if you want to maximize your chances of getting in. Get help with your class, and stay the course.

tokenadult, you have to be realistic though. what you're saying is true, but look at his situation. would an Ivy League school really accept a student with a D in his junior year? telling him all that "feel-good" stuff is not going to help him in the long run... if he is truly struggling so much to understand the class, he needs to drop it.

one exception though: do you have a legitimate explanation for the D? for example, in 9th grade our math teacher had surgery and was out for almost a full semester. the sub was horrible and everyone's grades dropped. luckily i pulled an A for the year, but that would have been a legitimate reason my guidance counselor could have given.

if you have a legit reason, then stick it out. but if not, that D could mean automatic rejection at top-tier schools.

ATLs09 · 01-06-2009, 06:07 PM

^ He already has the "D". Dropping, as I said before, looks 10x worse. He should keep it, especially if he thinks he can get an "A" next semester, to emphasize the "D" did not represent his best work, otherwise it will be perceived as giving up. And getting an "A" shows maybe the "D" was a mistake in the first place.

iwannagotobrown · 01-06-2009, 06:12 PM

thanks for making me even more confused guys lol

oo well..still cant decide

im not sure anyone has ever gotten into brown with a D tho.

iwannagotobrown · 01-06-2009, 06:14 PM

and ATLs09, i dont have the D yet..semester's not yet over but its mathematically impossible for me to get a C/B/a

ATLs09 · 01-06-2009, 06:21 PM

What I was saying, there is nothing you can do about your grade, so you have to deal. In the end its all up to you, but tokenadult is right, especially for higher schools.

tokenadult · 01-06-2009, 07:07 PM

Quote:

^ He already has the "D". Dropping, as I said before, looks 10x worse.

I think that is the correct analysis. I think a lot of students go wrong by making their schedule too easy in pursuit of a high grade point average.

Selective Colleges Admitting Students with Below 3.75 GPA

iwannagotobrown · 01-06-2009, 08:29 PM

what if i drop it and take it again just like student 92??

blu_g8orade · 01-06-2009, 08:31 PM

Quote:

and ATLs09, i dont have the D yet..semester's not yet over but its mathematically impossible for me to get a C/B/a

tokenadult, just because you don't take AP Calc BC, doesn't mean your schedule is "easy." he could just as easily switch into AP Stats, which is an AP class as well, and his W and UW GPA would be the better for it.

i'd hazard a guess that Brown's acceptance rate for students who haven't taken Calc BC is higher than that of students with a D on their transcript... wouldn't you agree?

what you posted is true. many selective schools admit students with far less than perfect GPAs. but..

1) many of those students in those "lower-GPA" statistics are recruited athletes, legacy kids, recruited minorities, etc. it doesn't mean the average Joe is getting in with that GPA. anyone getting in with a sub-3.75 obviously has a strong hook. so i wouldn't go around flaunting that as if every old 3.75 student has good chances.

2) even if the GPAs are numerically the same, colleges will obviously still examine your transcript. a few Bs on a transcript doesn't raise eyebrows. but a glaring "D" will.

all in all, the decision is up to you. but rarely do i hear of a D-student (not meant to offend) becoming an A-student in a matter of weeks, particularly in Math. if you decide to stick it out and don't get that A (or at least B) that you're expecting, you might as well stick a fork in your Ivy chances.

and if your Calc class is anything like mine was, then the class is at least 75-80% Tests & Quizzes, and if you happen to make innocent little mistakes here and there on tests, you won't have much chance to recover your grade. so basically you'll be a nervous wreck for the whole semester because you know your grade will always be on thin ice. do you really want to go through that?

IMO, it's not worth the stress. drop the class, take something you can do well in, and find other ways to make yourself an attractive applicant. for example pick up some unique ECs, win some writing contests, or something. colleges will eventually look right over the dropped class.

you could also take BC over the summer, either at a CC or online. CTYs Distance Education course for BC is very good, and i can almost guarantee you will learn more + it will be easier than your class at school. you can just report the final grade you get to your college.

Columbia_Student · 01-06-2009, 08:39 PM

If you can drop it do so ASAP. If not, talk your teacher to see if you can do extra credit and boost it up to a C-. Even a C- is not good but it's better than D.

ATLs09 · 01-06-2009, 08:59 PM

blu, unless you are on semester block schedule, picking up an A AP class second semester is not possible.

And its already noted, if you want to impress admissions, the best thing to do is stay. The other side of the story is if you dont pull off anything better than a "D" next semester..which you said you could.