Dropping a class

beekay · 01-31-2008, 06:48 AM

My D is considering dropping her honors physics class second semester. She had an A+ first semester. Given that she finds the class excrutiatingly slow and "worthless," does anyone see any downside to this? She will still have 3 APs and two "regular" classes.

She is an EDII applicant.

MolBioAce06 · 01-31-2008, 10:06 AM

She may be asked to explain why the class was dropped when she turns in her final hs transcripts, but as long as her grades remain high she should be fine.

woohoo!!!!!! · 01-31-2008, 05:15 PM

molbioace06 is probably right, but if the physics class is replaced with a study hall it would be equally "worthless." if she adds a different class, i think it would be better.

if her counselor does not support the class drop, i wouldn't drop it. she might risk a less then shining mid year report comments.

beekay · 01-31-2008, 05:34 PM

The whole admissions thing is so nutsy. Her first semester grades were straight A's & A+s with 3 APs (Calc, Lit, Govt.)and her 3 other classes. She has almost a full year's worth of credits over the minimum requirements for graduation.

She has dealt with things through her high school career that I wouldn't wish on anyone, and she STILL is in the top 5 % of her class.

With admissions so crazily competitive, I am just paranoid.

This won't be replaced by a study hall, since it's her first period. Instead she will get to go to school at 7:45 instead of 7. Sounds fair for a second semester overachieving senior.

I suppose if this is what would keep her from Kenyon, it's not the right place. Again thank you.

::exhale::

m&m&m · 02-03-2008, 04:33 PM

My d, with a much less stellar record, was in a similar situation. She was accepted early admission to a school very comparable to Kenyon, but just couldn't handle her final semester of pre-calc. (Math has always been very hard for her, and she was also going through some big emotional difficulties at the time.)

She explained to admissions about having to drop math, but doing well in all her other classes (and did NOT mention the emotional problems!). They were not happy; in fact, they were a bit snippy. But they certainly didn't retract the offer. She did fine at the college and will graduate this semester.

My point is that if your d has been accepted, she would have to to something fairly drastic for it to affect her admission. With her record, it should be no problem. However, at some point, an email to admissions might be a good idea.

beekay · 02-03-2008, 04:40 PM

I think you are right, thank you! I think I will email them AFTER we give them the deposit check.

Congratulations on your D's upcoming graduation. How exciting!

smiley1 · 02-03-2008, 06:20 PM

I am a senior and I've thought of dropping one of my extracurriculars because of..a lot of things. I went and talked with my counselor, and she gave me a big NO. Her argument was that I will have to report it to the colleges, and I'm calling negative attention to the admissions office when the committee is making the decision....so it would be a bad idea to call negative attention at the crucial moment. I say...although your D finds it worthless, just get through it another semester...

Good luck and hope everything works out for your daughter!

woohoo!!!!!! · 02-03-2008, 09:00 PM

well, i think thats the thing... smiley1, you definitley shouldn't drop the EC because your couselor said that you shouldn't, and if you did she/he would report it and make it negative

However, if the OP's daughter has the consent of her counselor, and her counselor is willing to write about the drop in a somewhat positive light (ie: ____ works really hard in all of her other classes, and the class she is in now is known to be very easy...she deserves this break after four years of very hard, and very commendable work...etc) then it is absolutley fine.

but smiley is right that to play it safe, maybe your daughter should just get through another semester.