AP Calc BC is a disaster: how to spin for college app?

[Anonymous]

DD is a senior in MCPS, with a previous weighted gpa of 4.67 (can't remember the unweighted), and a preponderance of As in all subjects. 35 ACT. Wants to major in international affairs and study history, politics and economics.
Yet she now has a D in AP Calc BC, which she might push to a C, or with great luck a B, by the end of the semester.
I believe it's too late to drop the class and have the grade expunged from her transcript.

What can she do to minimize the impact of this bad grade on her applications?

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Can she switch to P/F?
Work crazy hard w teacher to get to a C for quarter.
Hire tutor for next quarter and see if she can get a B.
Not sure about apps, but it could be a chance for her to reach out to favored schools with a letter explaining what’s happened and how she’s moving forward with a plan (whatever that plan may be).

[Anonymous]

you can drop with a W on the transcript. This will not be a grade factored into the GPA.

Your DD could change into AB, which should be an easier pace than BC.

Your DD should also talk to her guidance counselor and also the teacher. The teacher must know your DD is struggling, right?

[Anonymous]

Is she applying now? Get those apps in! The transcript won't have her current class grades on there. Those are only sent as a final transcript after admission.

She seems like a great student and will be fine!

[Anonymous]

Why would a history major take bc calc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is she applying now? Get those apps in! The transcript won't have her current class grades on there. Those are only sent as a final transcript after admission.

She seems like a great student and will be fine!

This times 100. On paper, she is still a great student taking BC. Once that grade hits her transcript, she's a good student practically failing math. Apply ASAP

[Anonymous]

Make sure she’s got a bunch of schools where it won’t matter—that takes the pressure off.

[Anonymous]

why spin reality?

[Anonymous]

Drop w a ‘w’ on transcript
Get early applications in now!

[Anonymous]

Talk to the counselor for advice on class dropping rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:you can drop with a W on the transcript. This will not be a grade factored into the GPA.

Your DD could change into AB, which should be an easier pace than BC.

Your DD should also talk to her guidance counselor and also the teacher. The teacher must know your DD is struggling, right?

AB might be an option, but since the state requires a math credit every high school year, I don’t know that OP’s daughter would be allowed to withdraw. Definitely contact the counselor ASAP to find out what options are available and what they recommend.

[Anonymous]

Take any reference to studying econ off the app. If she can't hack BC Calc, it's unrealistic to think she can take higher level econ. Now, that may not be true. She may be after to master the needed math later. But right now, she should avoid any mention of studying econ. It's as unrealistic as saying I have a D in AP bio and I'm going premed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Drop w a ‘w’ on transcript
Get early applications in now!

Won’t the D show up on the transcript, but won’t get calculated into GPA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:you can drop with a W on the transcript. This will not be a grade factored into the GPA.

Your DD could change into AB, which should be an easier pace than BC.

Your DD should also talk to her guidance counselor and also the teacher. The teacher must know your DD is struggling, right?

AB might be an option, but since the state requires a math credit every high school year, I don’t know that OP’s daughter would be allowed to withdraw. Definitely contact the counselor ASAP to find out what options are available and what they recommend.

Maybe she took AB as a junior? I know lots of kids go straight to BC these days, but some might still do AB then BC.

[Anonymous]

My DD had a similar issue junior year. Have her reach out to the teacher and the counselor ASAP and get a tutor. My DD got a C first semester (up from an F early on in the semester) and a B- second semester. She worked her tail off and was in close contact with her teacher. She ended up using that teacher’s recommendation and having adversity to write about. She got into some great schools and is happy as a junior at a SLAC with a 3.9.

Your DD is in a better place. It’s senior year so that grade might now even show up for EA applications. If she can get a C, it will be fine. It feels like the end of the world, but it is not. She needs to push through and communicate with the school. Transfer down to AB would be great if school will allow. My DD’s school would not let her move down.