How does a D in AP Calc AB in senior year first semester affect the UC applications? We are going to reach out to the admissions and let them know. But I am looking to see if anyone else had to do this in the recent years and what was the outcome for the different UCs?
After you apply | UC Admissions says that you must report grades lower than C in courses that were in-progress at the time of application. That way, they can be taken into account during admission reading.
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Yes, we understand that and are planning to do it soon. I am just trying to find out if anyone has experience with a similar situation in the recent years. Is it a guaranteed reject because of this one D+?
Not a guaranteed reject since UC admissions will wait until the final transcript is submitted and reviewed to determine if the acceptance will be rescinded. I would make sure that the 2nd semester grade is a C or higher.
Since several campuses do not accept grade updates after the UC application submission, it is important to notify any campuses after the decisions are posted about the D.
It is a guaranteed reject if the D+ is not reported.
Senior grades are not normally considered for UC admissions decision but make sure the student has a backup plan. Some UC’s are more lenient than others and none will take action until the final transcripts are submitted.
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A friend’s kid got a C- or D+ grade at Christmas and failed the course (IIRC it was AP English) at the end of the year. He got admitted to UCD (I don’t think he’d mentioned the mid year grade) but after they received the final transcript they said they were withdrawing the offer. He wrote an appeal letter in which he documented that he’d got a concussion and indicated that it had affected his ability to study (though in reality I don’t think that was the main factor, other courses were fine). They allowed him to attend.
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I have heard students with a low grade their senior year not getting accepted into top UC schools. Whether that’s due to their grade, grades, or other reasons they probably will never know. Depending on your grades, you may have opportunities at less competitive UCs such as Merced, Santa Cruz, or Riverside.
Again, it’s probably on a case by case basis. However, it’s a good idea to finish strong to avoid giving admissions a reason to reject you. Moreover, appeals are extremely difficult to change a decision at a UC school.
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According to the link shared by @ucbalumnus, few campuses (Davis, Irvine, SC and Riverside) expect the D to be reported immediately and not wait until the decisions. We will update those and hope for the best.
Thanks everyone for the answers.
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Yes, for the campuses that accept updates, you need to report as soon as possible but none will take action until the student sends in final transcripts upon enrolling.
They will all wait until final grades are posted so passing 2nd semester will help maintain the acceptance’s especially if they have been notified.
Good luck to your student and it really is on a case by case basis. Having an overall good academic with 1 blip vs a less than stellar overall academic record can make a difference.
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Which campuses accept updates?
All UC’s will accept grade updates except UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSB and UCSD.
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What happens if you dropped or added a class? Do you notify them as well? Or only grades?
If there are schedule changes then you also need to update the campuses since the applicant is being evaluated based on their in-progress/planned Senior classes.
https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/applying-as-a-freshman/after-you-apply/
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