<p>Hey guys, I need a little help. I’m an Asian American girl, rising junior, and I attend an extremely competitive public high school in NYC. I had A’s, A-'s and B+'s in freshman year, and I got the same this year. The B+'s are in Art, and Chemistry, and I got an A- in Spanish. I have A’s this year in Global/USH, choir, English, and Math, and an A+ in Health. The problem is, for my second semester, I got a C+ in gym and I’m freaking out. I generally do well in Phys. Ed, but this year I was under a lot of stress and I was sick a lot. And I get it, Phys Ed. is basically just participation, you show up and you get an A. But I was absent 6 times in one semester, which doesn’t look good, but I swear i don’t cut classes, I was legitimately sick. My EC’s are President of Key Club, founder of another community service club for children, Editor of a school magazine, member of the debate team, part of a science research program this year, member of the Inventors Club, and I’m currently volunteering at a hospital over the summer. I hope to get into Columbia or Cornell, and my brother went to Cornell previously and I’m really interested in majoring in Arts and Sciences there. What do I do? How can I dramatically improve my chances of getting in? Please help!</p>
<p>Defreak, pinklizzie. If I had to pick a class to get a C in it would be my sophomore Gym class. Improve your chances by taking as many college level courses that you can handle and work hard to do well. Those are challenging schools to get into, but you have some great ECs and a good hook with your volunteer work. GL.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice! However, is there any way I can change the grade? I mean, I really didn’t deserve to get a C. I just cringe when I picture a college admissions officer looking at my grades and seeing that C+ there.</p>
<p>I don’t think they’ll care much, its just gym. I’m in a performance based gym/weight lifting class because I’m a varsity athlete. My grade always got took down by 2 or 3 percent when we maxed out because I didn’t make it to the elite weight on my lifts for my weight (bench, for example you have to bench 1.5 times your weight). I got a C+ in APUSH 1st trimester of sophomore year but improved it to a B+ then to an A in the second and third terms. My counselor told me not to worry and if I explain that I was switching schools and the fact I had an 8 class schedule they wouldn’t care much.</p>
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You need to talk to your PE teacher or GC about this. How would we know if your school will change your grade?</p>