<p>I know lots of ppl have posted mid year report questions,
but im applying to some top tier schools and a lot of 7 yr med programs and i’m ranked in the top 2% of my graduating class with a total of 8 ap classes from jnr n snr year, but for my midyear report, I think im going to end up with a C+ for Ap chem. The lowest grade thats ever been on my transcript is a B+, and the rest of my grades are As. It’s not like I’ve been slacking off or anything, its just a series of bad luck or i dont know, but i’ve been a horrible mess crying all day, and I just really need some advice. Is a C+ a major detraction, when probably all my other grades on my midyear report are As? Should I write a letter or something?</p>
<p>Kids ask this question a lot, so I’ll ask what the eventual answer will be based on:</p>
<p>What would the letter say?</p>
<p>idk i haven’t really thought it through.
I suppose that the past few weeks have been overwhelming, and while chem has always been my top priority, and i’ve taken the utmost effort to improve myself, something just didn’t click this past quarter. But my grade is nowhere near a reflection of my work ethic or understanding of the subject.</p>
<p>This is something you should discuss with your guidance counselor. If a letter needs to be written, it might carry more weight coming from him/her. </p>
<p>Either way, cheer up. I’m sure you did the best you could, which is really all anyone can ask of you. There’s no point in agonizing over it; it’s mostly out of your hands.</p>
<p>It’s. Just. A. C+.</p>
<p>I know you’re disappointed but in the larger scheme of things, it’s really not as important or horrible as it seems. Yesterday (when I thought my younger nephew almost died) I realized that there are a lot more important things than getting into a top college. I’m sure it won’t affect you but even if it does, where ever you land this fall is going to be fine. I’m sure you have a lot of things going for you (family, friends, determination, etc) and that will help you accomplish whatever you want. Don’t worry about it too much. You’ve done great the past for years and one minor slip up won’t kill you.</p>
<p>I’m really sorry to hear that dreamingoutloud, I hope everything turned out well for you and your younger nephew. </p>
<p>And I know that it seems trivial to get so anxious, but i cant help but think that everything ive worked so hard for is just negated.</p>
<p>Do not worry about this grade. It is obviously an anomaly and the admissions people will view it as one.</p>
<p>typical CCer… A C+ is not the end of the world. Talk to your teacher though, maybe you can get it bumped up to a B-. I don’t know about your school, but a B- is a 3.0 and a C+ is a 2.0 at our school.</p>
<p>What are your Junior AP scores?</p>
<p>Your life is not over, merely slightly bruised. You have many estatic victories, and an occasional embarrasing defeat, ahead of you.</p>
<p>My AP scores?
Bio 5
UShist 5
Calc AB 5
Eng 5</p>
<p>Does anyone have a definitive answer at just how big of a detraction this will be?</p>
<p>Your AP scores are very nice!</p>
<p>Maybe they put the C+ in context – meaning, what other classes are you taking; what are those grades; what are your other commitments, e.g., are you taking 5 APs and working 20 hours a week.</p>
<p>Keep us posted!</p>
<p>Q1) do you think the top schools and 7-year med programs are going to see apps from students with better grades, or are you as good as they’re going to get?</p>
<p>Q2) Can top schools and 7-year med programs admit everyone who is qualified (whatever that means), or do they have to make some tough decisions to fill the spaces they have available?</p>
<p>Q3) What do they base the tough decisions on?</p>
<p>Look, you know what this grade is going to do to your chances; whatever they were before, they’ve been affected. If you want someone to post “no, it won’t matter, they’ll understand” I’m sure you can get that. But it won’t change the decision this spring.</p>
<p>Writing a letter isn’t going to change things; if anything, given the circumstances you’ve explained so far, it’ll be seen as making excuses. And given the exaggerated “I feel my life is over” title you chose, I don’t see the letter I think you’d write as having a chance of helping you. You’re way too emotional about this and are missing perspective; a pleading letter isn’t going to do you any favors, more likely the opposite as it will be seen as immature. And do you really think you’re doomed to a life of mediocrity or worse if you don’t get into a 7-year med program or a top-tier school?</p>
<p>mike hit it on the head. It’s not the end of the world, one C+ is not going to ruin your chances, but it’s obviously not as good as if you had another A in that class instead. There isn’t much more to be said, you never really know your chances anyway so you may as well just relax and wait it out instead of trying to fret about exactly how likely you are to get into any given college.</p>
<p>It isn’t the end of the world.</p>
<p>You might not get into those uber competitive 7 year accelerated medical programs but, you can always go for the full 8 years. You would have to take the MCATs and spend an extra year but if you are passionate, then sure…By all means…</p>
<p>"I’m really sorry to hear that dreamingoutloud, I hope everything turned out well for you and your younger nephew.</p>
<p>And I know that it seems trivial to get so anxious, but i cant help but think that everything ive worked so hard for is just negated."</p>
<p>Thanks. He’s totally fine now. He had a seizure yesterday and spent hours in the ER yesterday. It just freaked me out. I’m sorry if my last comment was rude.</p>
<p>I’m not sure what schools your applying to but I still don’t think it’ll kill your chances. you have all 5s and straight As excluding one B+ and one C+. We really don’t now much about you but assuming that you’re in a school that’s put you through a rigorous curriculum, you have great SATs, and a strong leadership positions, it’s still possible. You won’t find out until April but keep the mindset that you have a great chance, without getting your hopes up too much. Have a little faith in yourself.</p>
<p>Don’t spend too much time stessing about the C+; instead, focus on what you can do to improve in that class next quarter. Consider the class a challenge - just one of many you will face in life. How do you want to handle it? Give in or turn it around? Obviously science classes are important as are your math courses (for the combined med programs). </p>
<p>To put things in perspective, my son was accepted to some excellent schools (Brown, Yale, Duke, UVA), including an 8 yr med program (Brown’s PLME) despite having less than “perfect” grades. He received an unweighted 80 all yr long in AP Lit senior yr, with unweighted As (90-100) in most of his other classes, but possibly an 88 or 89 in BC Calc (I really don’t remember). He had 6 APs senior yr (10 total APs). My son took the most challenging classes he was interested in and didn’t worry about his GPA. He KNEW he would have trouble in AP Lit but chose to take it anyway. He believed the class would help him. He preferred his hardest classes and was bored in the easiest ones. He still wound up in the top 2%. </p>
<p>I don’t think being challenged in one or two classes in HS will kill your chances, even for the med programs which are very competitive. But Chem is an important subject and as you know, many combined med programs require Chem SAT IIs. Did you take those? Most kids interviewing for the med pgms had 750+ on their science and math exams. I suspect you didn’t take the Chem SAT II yet, so it could be important to show you can handle advanced work in science. Getting a 5 on your AP Bio was a good thing and hopefully you took the SATII Bio at the same time and did well. Likewise, the 5 on AP Calc AB is a good thing. Did you take the SATII Math? </p>
<p>I really think it could help to show improvement in Chem and more importantly, help you in college Chem classes if you get a strong chem knowledge base now. Get a tutor (maybe you need a different teaching style). Put Chem first. THen in another month or at the end of your marking period, have your GC send in an update. Showing you met the challenge may work in your favor. Determination and hard work will be seen as a good thing. </p>
<p>But for the med programs, you look like a strong candidate to be considered for that first round (grades, rank). Very important is showing some involvement in medicine (research, hospital job or volunteering, job shadowing, classes pertaining to medical issues). They need to see that you have a real interest and knowledge of what the medical field is about.</p>
<p>Then comes the interview, if you’re lucky. At one of my son’s weekend of interviews, I think there were 50 (out of 800) applicants for 10 slots. You are usually interviewed by the undergrad school as well as the medical school. Once you get to that stage, no one will remember that C+ in Chem. They will know you are able to “do the work”. You just need to show the maturity, passion and experience to commit to the medical field.</p>
<p>Good Luck.</p>
<p>Hey jerzgirlmom</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the advice, I really appreciate it. I did do really well on my Chem SatII and MathII Sat II and I’ve been invited to quite a few interviews, so I think I’m going to follow your suggestion and work extra hard on chem this quarter and have my guidance counselor send in an update. So thanks again, you really helped me put things into perspective.</p>
<p>Not at all, I just recently got my first semester grades/ 2nd marking period and recieved a C in Ap Biology. It wasn’t pleasing to me to see such a grade ( C ) though better than a D, and E. Yeah a B or A would have been great, but there are so many opportunities out there where I know a C in Ap Biology isn’t terrible, though it may lower chances in certain areas.</p>
<p>ccbeauty,
If you have a strong SAT II Chem score, then the C+ may indicate a difficult teacher, rather than a lack of knowledge. So go for it, do your best and if you can bring that grade up, send in an update. That’s all you can ask of yourself. Oh, and congratulations on getting some interviews. ENJOY them. Some schools, like U Rochester, put on quite a nice program for the students and the parents. The interview weekend is a great learning experience.</p>