I’m doing poorly in AP Calc BC and AP Physics 1. (both have 79, will probably go down even more. I’m literally about to break). But I’m getting really bad scores on the tests, it’s just that revisions bring it up a bit. (there is a curve for Ap phys but not calc)
I’ve pretty much said goodbye to any chance at a selective college. Before this year, I honestly thought I could handle the rigor (This year is AP Lang, AP world, AP Calc BC, and AP Phys) . I’ve always pulled through, even when it was hard. My worst grade ever has been college calc A (86). Not this time. I honestly don’t know. I just want to cry sometimes, because I’m actively watching my chances just shrivel away. What hurts even more, is that my AP physics teacher is also my Science Olympiad coach. I feel like I’m a major disappointment to him now.
The worst part of it all is how easily kids in my classes are getting it. Many don’t even do the work, yet they still do the tests really well. My friend literally GUESSES and gets more than me. I’m at a loss.
Anyway, I just needed to get that out of my system. Because I’m just constantly screaming in my head now every minute of my day and every week is a test for my sanity, and the thought of studying for SAT or for my sci oly events is not even tangible right now.
Please don’t give up!Remember not to pull yourself down.
Some of us take a little bit longer than others by using a different approach to get certain concepts down. Does your teacher provide tutoring at any time? Have you tried Kahn Academy?
We’re still in first semester. Ask for help from everywhere. You might also consider asking another teacher, who teaches the same thing, for help.
Please don’t stress about colleges right now. Please focus on your current classwork and don’t come down on yourself. What other people do at one time, may not be what they do later. So don’t focus on others, but focus on building yourself up! I’m sure you’re a lot stronger than what you think you are!
I forgot to mention, but my school runs on a semester basis. So AP Physics is one semester (I’m halfway through). And AP calc is a year long, but they report each semester as 2 classes. Khan academy is good for Calc, but I’ve had mixed results for AP Physics. And thanks, I will try to ask for more help for these classes!!
Let’s separate the issues. You’re in advanced classes for your age and struggling. The semester has still a while to go. Math is foundational so you want to learn it b4 moving up.
Not sure what you define as selective but there are colleges where kids got Cs and others where 4.0 and perfect test get turned down.
When you are ready to build a list, you will include those that meet your desire including budget, size, location and more.
Selectivity doesn’t = success. Some of the top perceived universities in the country admit half or more. The school with amongst the most National Merit Scholars is a southern public with a high acceptance rate. And the school with the highest percentage of all students being National Merit ( over 25% at last count) accepts more than 60%.
Top students abound at likely every flagship and tons of privates. And in the end, you will make your success, not if you go to Wesleyan or Wyoming.
But focus on learning. The college list is irrelevant to your grade. And the grade is less concerning than you lose the material as you might continue forward.
I assure you entry into many fantastic colleges is, without knowing your overall profile including ECs, etc - , but it’s likely very assured.
Do your best to lift the grade and more importantly learn. College selection will take care of itself.
Get together with your teacher like tomorrow. Explain you think you should be doing better. Let the teacher see where you’re not getting it.
Ask the teacher for the next weeks lesson plan so you can get a head start on it. Go over with them and maybe they will see what you’re missing or not understanding. Teachers usually love to teach and really relish student’s that ask for help.
Relax. Stressing out and getting tense won’t help.
You’re a Junior taking well advanced classes. That’s to your credit.
Your friends are lying.
Are you focused on learning stuff or getting a grade? Focus on learning stuff and focus on the things that are giving you trouble. Don’t waste time on the stuff you know. It’s math. It builds. Start at the place you get stuck/trip up and work out what’s giving you trouble. And get help. If you’re trying to gut it out on your own, you’ll never get there.
Breathe and inhale positivity. Stop worrying about getting into selective schools and learn the advanced math and physics you signed up for. That’s what’s important.
Generally good advice, but - why do you say the friends are lying? Plenty of kids do not struggle with AP Physics and AP Calc BC. I think it’s great that OP realizes it’s time to reset expectations.
More importantly, how OP’s friends are finding it is irrelevant. Their expectations shouldn’t be linked to how others are doing. In Physics, math or anything else.
I can’t emphasize this enough. Your HS classes are foundational, and if you are struggling as a junior, you won’t be ready to move on to the next level your senior year and into college.
I’m in an engineering college at a flagship U, and I will tell you that many, many students retake calc 1 & 2 and physics 1 & 2. The AP versions are sometimes not enough once they are engineering students and need to take multi, linear algebra, diffy Q.
I’m glad to see you’re reaching out for help now. As others have said, the school selection sorts itself. There are 2,600+ 4-year U.S. colleges out there, and the vast majority provide an excellent education and preparation for your life path.
My engineer son had a 5 in Calc AB and bombed Calc 2. Had to WD and retake (where he got an A).
It happens often.
At School of Mines, on the student panel, they recommended you retake every major adjacent class again in college.
I know others on this board disagree and state to take certain tests to see, but that’s what the kids on that panel said.
I wish my son had listened.
Of course, it didn’t impact his getting a job at all.
But high school is the beginning and this student is ahead by a year from the normal “advanced” level kids take.
College is a whole other animal - so OP put college out of your mind and let’s get - not your grade up although that would be nice - but let’s ensure you understand the material…that’s far more important.