I messed up really bad. and I mean REALLY bad.
I was only focusing on my college apps & internship instead working on my external credit (online school) and it looks like I’m getting one D and one F on my transcript for those classes (AP Gov for D and Spanish III H for F). I completely fricked up.
My counselor said I can make those two classes t an A by retaking semester 1’s of both courses through this other online program & she said I could make up the AP grades.
I called the online school but they couldn’t drop my grades from transcript. (which I thought it was possible, but now they said no, I’m just pulling all my hair out.)
But in my physical (actual) school, I think I’m going to end up with 7 A’s and one B:
AP Lang :B
AP Chem: A
AP BC Calc: A
IT: A
Business: A
Orch ensemble: A
Study hall: A
Student (IT) tutor: A
(I know, the last two-- I was stupid to choose those.)
I had a good GPA throughout my whole high school career (3.864 UW and 4.664 W) with top 10% grades. I also took a whole bunch of AP and Honors classes, too.
One thing I regret is that I really applied to only really high-tier colleges. I’m even super embarrassed to say it now. It’s basically a list of impossible schools for a one-D one-F student, like HYPS and other ivies, Northwestern, NYU, etc etc.
I do know that ivies really take the mid year reports seriously.
But do you think there is any way I can attach/mail a letter being really honest (like I messed up and I will and can get those two grades up to an A by the end of the year) and will they be like “ok i think this kid might be fine looking at the rest of her record” thing?
I really don’t know what to do now. I feel like what I worked for my whole life just crumbled beneath me. I do know that collegeconfidential is full of people who are smart and in ivy league schools, so I’m just really desperate right now.
Any advice? Please help.
Bump. Please help. I know there is almost no point in asking, and what is done is done, but I honestly don’t know what to do right now.
You need to find out if there is any reason at all you need to send the online course transcript to colleges.
My son only sent his public HS transcript to colleges, he did not send his online school transcript. Because they don’t have one until the course is over in the spring. And yes, he did list the online course in his course listing because it will count towards graduation. (and he was accepted ED to a top engineering school and EA to another school)
Don’t give them what they don’t need. It is a process to get the online courses onto your in-person HS transcript, and you might not even be able to do it until the year is up. And by then, you better get your grades up.
@rhandco thank you so much for your reply. One thing weird about the online school here is, however, it’s “tied” to your own school and it sends whatever grades you earn on online schools straight to the transcripts…
But thank you for your feedback. The counselor and principal said it was almost impossible for them to “pull out” my bad grades, but I will try to contact the online school…
I just want to know how to deal with my worst-case scenario of having a D and a F on my transcript at this point :’(
I don’t really have any good reasons (medical, family issue, etc) to back it up-- I overloaded my own plate and I was responsible for everything…
Okay, so I think what you are saying is:
- you took two one-semester courses, and got a D and F
- your GC says “no worries, retake them in the spring and get As”
In my son’s case, he messed up junior year and was able to retake the course in the summer, and he had a D on his transcript as well as the B he got when he retook it. And as I mentioned, still got into a very good school (but not Ivy).
So: I would say get the GC to write something up about your situation, and say that you are retaking both courses. I do not think you sending a letter would help. Something like “We are aware that this student had difficulty with two online courses, and the student is retaking the two courses this spring. An update on their progress from each teacher will be sent to admissions.” (if you can get the online teachers to agree to that).
You saying “I f’d up” would not help. Your GC saying “The student is retaking the two courses.” is much better. And have them send the note as an addendum to your application, or an addendum to your transcript. Can you actually see an unofficial copy of your transcript to make sure they do show up?
Just leaving a D and F on your transcript without any comment is probably not a good idea. I know Ivies do accept students who have a D (I was one of them), but an F leads to a huge question about what the heck happened. The remedy should be the focus for you to convey to them.
You wrote “I’m even super embarrassed to say it now. It’s basically a list of impossible schools for a one-D one-F student, like HYPS and other ivies, Northwestern, NYU, etc etc.”
If you are worried that you don’t have a safety (that you like and is financially feasible), you should apply to some more schools. There are still some good ones with later deadlines 1/15, 2/1 and even later. Check the Common app
Members Colleges -Application Requirements Tab
You get a grade for study hall, lol. No matter, no one will count that.
I’m sorry but I see this as a pretty serious problem. Sounds like there is no way you can just ignore these classes and choose not to have them transferred to your transcript. I don’t think it is a good idea anyway, then they will see it at the end and you will risk recision. I don’t think there is any hiding from this and it will look worse to hide it, I do not think you want to look shady at this time.
Didn’t you discuss what to do with your GC? I think D and F is a problem for any school, not just selective schools. At least my state schools. the UCs, a D is grounds for rescinding although it can be helped with a letter but a D and an F wouldn’t fly. I do think your best bet is a letter and hope to be admitted conditionally if you bring end of year grades in those classes up. Another strategy is to try liberal arts colleges that may be more inclined to take the bump in the road into consideration. You would have to aim lower. You might have a chance to transfer after a year or two, or you might like it. Look at lists of some schools still taking apps.
What about a gap year? Then you will have your transcripts with the problem and the steps you have taken to correct it, as well as anything you choose to do for a year. Maybe you could really use it after overloading. Have you ever considered something interesting you would like to do?
@BrownParent yeah… At this point I’m just considering a gap year. I did have this one internship for quite a while and I feel like they’re going to hire me soon. I could work here full-time and build my resume more…
I guess if everything fails & my parents don’t agree with me taking a gap year, I’ll just apply for rolling admissions for my state uni and hopefully transfer out ASAP…
Thank you so much for your advice.