<p>I have a slight dilemma. When I was in 10th grade (I’m a rising senior now) at my old school I had a pre-IB physics class. The teacher for the class was unhelpful, a misogynist, and just an all-around mean guy. He would pick favorites, refuse to help on homework (he said we could only contact him “if we wanted to have a coffee or something”), make condescending comments to me and my female classmates, and sometimes if I turned in a homework assignment on time he would mark it late anyway. Most of the time the class was confused because he didn’t really know what he was talking about, and only the ones who were already strong in physics succeeded. Eventually, one of the students basically helped to teach the class and correct the teacher’s mistakes. Thankfully, he was fired at the end of the year. </p>
<p>I received a C in the class and admittedly it hurt my pride since I’m normally a stellar student. While, my family situation and the bad teacher weren’t helpful the responsibility for the grade ultimately falls on me. I have a lot of difficulty with sciences that are so heavily math-based like physics, and it was difficult for me to grasp the concepts even with a tutor. I should have been more assertive in trying to learn the material and should not have gotten so frustrated when I had trouble. Nevertheless, I worked hard to teach myself as much as I could and am content to accept the grade as my responsibility and put it as something that will never and has never been repeated. </p>
<p>However, my mom thinks that the whole situation should be mentioned when my old school counselor writes my one of my LORs for me. I’m wary of doing so because I feel it would just make me look whiny. My mom is pretty persistent though and I’m afraid she’ll call up my old counselor or something to make sure it’s in the letter. Should the situation be mentioned or no? If not how can I explain it to my mom? I really don’t want this to cause a rift between us. </p>
<p>Is this your only C? If so, it’s probably worth having the counselor mention that there were problems with that class, especially if other good students also got lower-than-normal grades in that class. I don’t think it makes you look whiny if the counselor says something.</p>
<p>@Hunt Yes other good students got lower-than-normal grades. Our school is pretty tough (only one person has a 4.0) so class difficulty isn’t a problem, but that one class was just crazy. And yes, it is my only C for my whole high school career. </p>
<p>You should definitely have your GC mention it- if they mention it, you will not sound whiny. I had a similar problem and ended up with a C+ in physics (unfortunately the teacher wasnt fired). My GC mentioned it and the steps I had taken, going as far up to the principal on the issue (well im not sure exactly what he wrote but he did write that i tried to get help). I actually also wrote my common app essay on this for the topic “recount a time when you experienced failure”. I was careful not to whine and assign too much blame to the teacher, but I did explain why I got the C+ (keep in mind at my school you have to maintain a 3.0 to stay, so although its not an F, we do not enjoy getting below a B) and what I learned from it, particularly advocating for myself.</p>
<p>FWIW: Colleges have seen it all, so they tend to ignore “backstories” provided by student’s unless the story is substantiated up by an adult in a supervisory capacity at your high school. If you mention the issue without a GC’s substantiation, an Admissions officer is just not going to believe you no matter how well written your statement may be. Talk to your GC – don’t let your mom do it!</p>
<p>If it were me, I would definitely have the counselor mention it in the letter. You are right that if you- the student- mentioned it, it could come off as whiny. But if the counselor mentions it, it will come off as professional and legitimate. Its important to notify schools of these issues, because if they don’t know what happened with that ONE C and it is the ONLY thing that holds you back from admission, and your counselor hasn’t mentioned it- what a huge bummer that would be.</p>
<p>@gibby What about evaluation teachers who write the recommendation letters? I got a 89 from AP WH because my teacher also was a horrible one who barely taught anyone and he also got fired at end of the school year. He once gave out a test that the content can’t be even found in the textbook, and he believed it was fair! I don’t know my GC that well, and she’s always kind of daunting to me. But I know my recommendation teachers will help me out for sure. Thanks for answering!</p>
<p>@stitchpony @gibby@guineagirl96 thank you so much for the advice, I’m glad that I have some direction on this. One question though, the first semester of 10th grade I did very well but during the second semester my family situation along with some other important factors in my life worsened. All my grades save one A dropped to high Bs (and of course that one C). Does my current GC also have to include that in my LOR? I’m pretty ashamed of the whole second semester but I recovered like a boss during junior year despite my illness and got a 3.9 UW. Will that help me? (At my old school I had a 3.4 mostly because of the one C and that second semester but at my old school a 3.4 placed me in the top 5% of my class so the 2 GPAs can’t really compare). </p>
<p>@gibby I’m sorry for the confusing part. I meant that if it’s okay to ask one of the two teachers who writes my recommendation letters to write about the reason why I got a 89 in the class instead of my guidance counselor. </p>
<p>@BadgerState: While I would generally agree with the sentiment, the OP wasn’t upfront on their original post as the situation seems to have morphed from one C to a downtrend in grades 2nd semester of sophomore year from all A’s to high B’s with a C.</p>
<p>@DivineE and @Hunt: No that’s pitting one teacher against the other, which is unprofessional. The job of a GC is be the student’s advocate in the applications process. Let the GC do it!</p>
<p>@BadgerState you are just plain rude. And it is possible for it to be the teacher’s fault. In my case, the teacher didn’t grade our labs or quizzes all year even though it said he would right on the syllabus- its a standardized department. Our grade each quarter was 45% test one 45% test two 10% homework… and he refused to show anyone their grades.</p>
<p>Being upset about a grade does not mean you have self-esteem issues. How about you go take that negativity somewhere else because we don’t appreciate it.</p>
<p>If you didn’t read the whole post you would have seen that I took responsibility for the grade. I fully understand that I should have gotten less frustrated in trying to grasp the concepts, I don’t even really want it mentioned in my LOR. It happened, it’s done, and it hasn’t and won’t happen again. My mother however, despite my reluctance, wants it to be mentioned. Hence, the question of this thread. Maybe instead of spending time on forums talking down to teenagers you can learn how to read without automatically placing judgment instead. </p>
<p>I agree that students and parents shouldn’t go whine to the principal if the student gets a bad grade when they should have just worked harder. However, that was not the issue here. My teacher repeatedly made sexist remarks that would make the whole class feel uncomfortable. Time and time again the work of the female students was marked late even when it was turned in on time. He would repeatedly do things to undermine the grades of the female students. The school launched an investigation and he was fired. His incompetence and lack of teaching skills certainly didn’t help either. </p>
<p>Your insinuation that anytime a teacher is doing something wrong or detrimental to the student parents and students should just “put up and shut up” because life’s not fair is silly. Should students blame the teacher and complain every time they don’t get the grade they want? No. But, there is nothing wrong for actively advocating for yourself if there is impropriety afoot. </p>
<p>I know that because I got a C my life wasn’t over, and nowhere in the post did I insinuate that it was. All I said is that my pride was momentarily hurt, and that is perfectly reasonable. I don’t know if maybe you’re just out of touch with high school and high schoolers, but a C (or too many of them) can make or break a student in college admissions. It doesn’t matter to us if it doesn’t matter in the long term because in the short term it does matter. Anyone who cares about their grades will tell you that. </p>
<p>I am prepared for college. I understand and have always understood that life “isn’t fair”. I know that in college and beyond if I get a teacher that doesn’t like me or vice versa all I can to do is soldier on and continue to work hard. I’m ready to take on the challenge of proving that I belong at whatever institution I’m accepted at. The fact that you have decided to get on this thread to do no nothing more than talk down to and curse at a teenager really speaks to your lack of maturity and your pettiness. Frankly, it’s pathetic. What’s even more so is that face that on a whole your overall advice isn’t bad. However, the way you have chosen to convey your message is rude and unnecessarily condescending. In addition, your casual dismissal that I am one of the so-called “smart kids” looking for someone to blame that you encountered in your high school is awfully presumptive for someone who doesn’t know me. You can take your nasty attitude, and your cynical way of giving advice and please leave. </p>
<p>Oh and when you spend years in a school trying to prove that you deserve to be there just like everyone else you can talk to me about “proving yourself”. </p>
<p>99 out of 100 times when student says their teacher is to blame for their poor grade, I’ll say that it’s really not, it’s the student’s fault. This is the one time I’ll agree it may have been the teacher’s fault - but it’s still a bad idea to make a big deal about it other than perhaps one line noting that there were some problems with the teacher that year. Anything more will just draw unnecessary attention to the problem and not necessarily gain the sympathy of the admissions officers for the very reason that 99% of the time, it is the student’s fault and how are they to know this is the 1% exception. And it’s only a C, everyone is allowed at least one blemish on their record.</p>
<p>Was it unfair? - Probably yes. Should you make a big deal about it? - No, there is more to be lost than gained by trying to explain it. Keep the focus on the positive parts of your record, not the negative.</p>
<p>@MrMom62 Yeah you’re probably right. I have so many better things that I can highlight about my high school career. That semester and class was one unfortunate blemish. It’s best for me to just put it behind me, and move forward. Besides, I don’t want to give him or his memory any power over me or my life. Thank you for your advice. </p>
<p>My D had a similar situation her junior year - the AP US History teacher left half way through, and the sub didn’t cut it. I asked the GC to mention this in her comments, as the grade didn’t jive with the rest of her resume. BTW, she’s attending UPenn, class of 2018 :)</p>
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