Dreaded C+ on transcript

[Anonymous]

Private schools are just much harder. They grade how everyone used to grade back before everyone got As in everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're the adult, so I recommend you help her put this in perspective. It's not a dreaded grade, she's not doomed, the world isn't coming to an end. Help her figure out what she could do differently in her next science class, celebrate her successes, and have a good summer.

+1
Sheesh.

+2 But also to realize that (borrowing an idea from another poster) while the C+ impacts grades and doesn't determine them, she also can proactively address the impact.

What does her school counselor say? Would she be willing to work with an outside counselor? What is she doing with her schedule for Junior year to make sure that she has as many As as possible? Is she doing any prep for the SATs? Are there any activities or extracurriculars or volunteer roles that she could begin developing now that will help her stand out in a positive way?

I'm not saying that every waking moment has to be focused on this because there is nothing worse than hammering a nail to death. However, some thoughtful choices now can help improve her chances tremendously in 15-16 months when she is submitting her first applications.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're the adult, so I recommend you help her put this in perspective. It's not a dreaded grade, she's not doomed, the world isn't coming to an end. Help her figure out what she could do differently in her next science class, celebrate her successes, and have a good summer.

+1
Sheesh.

+2 But also to realize that (borrowing an idea from another poster) while the C+ impacts *grades* and doesn't determine them, she also can proactively address the impact.

What does her school counselor say? Would she be willing to work with an outside counselor? What is she doing with her schedule for Junior year to make sure that she has as many As as possible? Is she doing any prep for the SATs? Are there any activities or extracurriculars or volunteer roles that she could begin developing now that will help her stand out in a positive way?

I'm not saying that every waking moment has to be focused on this because there is nothing worse than hammering a nail to death. However, some thoughtful choices now can help improve her chances tremendously in 15-16 months when she is submitting her first applications.

Typing too fast. Substitute *choices*.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Private schools are just much harder. They grade how everyone used to grade back before everyone got As in everything.

Delusional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You do realize that unless you're from CA, it's almost impossible to get into UCLA or Berkeley without perfect grades? Also, I find it funny that you listed Northwestern as being easier to get into than the Ivies.

From a Big 3, Northwestern is definitely easier to get into than most of the Ivies, except maybe Cornell - especially applying ED. OP, if your DD has a great junior year, the C+ won't make much of a difference -- junior year is the most important gradewise in HS. But the PPs are right that you might want to dial back your expectations for college for her because all the schools you've listed are reaches for pretty much any Big 3 student, even ones with almost all A's.

+1 Northwestern accepts 11% of students. Most Ivies (excluding Cornell or Penn) are in the 5-6% range.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private schools are just much harder. They grade how everyone used to grade back before everyone got As in everything.

Delusional.

No. Just many years experience as a teacher in both and a parent to students in both.

[Anonymous]

My son went to public school, multiple C’s, near perfect SATs. Accepted to Duke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private schools are just much harder. They grade how everyone used to grade back before everyone got As in everything.

Delusional.

No. Just many years experience as a teacher in both and a parent to students in both.

You taught at all public schools! Wow, such experience ?. It is ridiculous to generalize that way and yet it is something private school parents always tell themselves and others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 to the PPs who said a C+ is not a problem for college admissions, especially for a likely history or English major with very strong SATs. That being said, the Big 3 Ivy/Stanford admits who are not recruited athletes are among the strongest students at their schools. Your DD, her classmates, and teachers all know who they are. If DD is among them, she can still get in to one of the <10% admit schools. If not, then make sure you keep an open mind about your reach schools to include Wash U, the southern schools (UVA, UNC, Tulane, Emory, Vandy), USC, UCLA, and SLACs and women's colleges.

So a kid with a C at the Big3 can get into these competitive schools? I was looking at a list of matriculations from a Big3 this year and many kids are going to much less competitive schools. Did these kids )half the class or more) get multiple Cs?

Not everyone wants to go to Princeton. Some of them want a big state school experience. A bunch of them want to ski all the time and so Boulder is weirdly popular. There’s also a lot more to admissions than grades.

[Anonymous]

Her SAT scores will also have a big impact on admission/rejection. Is your DD a rising Senior?

[Anonymous]

Really depends on SAT scores and SAT subject tests. Pay for prep and keep doing it.

[Anonymous]

A C+ will affect your daughter just like every other grade on her transcript, but it is not determinative. Kids get Cs at Big 3 schools. I have definitely seen students with a C or two get into Northwestern. I'd try to avoid Cs junior year, but she should be fine. Also, in my experience, the liberal arts schools spend a little more time on the applications, so they are more likely to consider the context. With the number of applications soaring, I don't think Ivys and schools like Northwestern and Duke put much time into considering the applications. It's unfortunate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 to the PPs who said a C+ is not a problem for college admissions, especially for a likely history or English major with very strong SATs. That being said, the Big 3 Ivy/Stanford admits who are not recruited athletes are among the strongest students at their schools. Your DD, her classmates, and teachers all know who they are. If DD is among them, she can still get in to one of the <10% admit schools. If not, then make sure you keep an open mind about your reach schools to include Wash U, the southern schools (UVA, UNC, Tulane, Emory, Vandy), USC, UCLA, and SLACs and women's colleges.

So a kid with a C at the Big3 can get into these competitive schools? I was looking at a list of matriculations from a Big3 this year and many kids are going to much less competitive schools. Did these kids )half the class or more) get multiple Cs?

Yes - B students with a smattering of As and a couple Cs is what typically produces a GPA below 3.25. Half of the Big 3 classes go to colleges that are not ultra-competitive to get into because their grades were a lot lower, they needed merit money, or they really love the idea of a big college after years in a small school. The top half of the Big 3 go to the 25-35 colleges with the lowest admission rates.

[Anonymous]

Does your school list only the year end grade or semester grades as well? If she ended they year in the Bs it may not matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is in a big 3 school and a fairly good student in at least the top 3rd (if not higher) of the class. During 9th and 10th grade most of her grades were usually an A or A- with a couple of B's thrown in. Science is something she has always struggled with and this semester she got a dreaded C+ in her science class. We're hoping this one "C" letter grade is an anomaly and the rest of her high school years will be As and Bs (fingers crossed). DD is not looking to study science in school and is looking at an English or History major. She will not apply to any Ivy League schools but may be interested in applying ED to schools like Duke or Northwestern or some SLACs. She also likes Berkeley and UCLA. Does one "C" letter grade in 10th grade impact her chances at these colleges. DD has some great extracurriuculars including some competitive summer scholarships so she does have that going for her.

DD is upset about the "C" grade and we're hoping to help put this in perspective for her. And yes, we will ask the counselors but we don't have our first meeting until this fall.

these are all out now unless she REALLY rocks the SAT