How important to replace a C in math?

[Anonymous]

I think a C in a math course would be disqualifying for many STEM majors at competitive/ selective schools.

Maybe your DC will be fine with attending a non-selective (or much less selective) school. If that's the case, don't retake the pre-calc course. You may be headed down this road anyway, so maybe embrace it.

[Anonymous]

I had a kid who got a C and rather than fight it he just made a college list with less competitive but still solid schools. It wasn’t a refreshingly unstressful application process. I would do that rather than retake if it’s going to mean missing something important to him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a kid who got a C and rather than fight it he just made a college list with less competitive but still solid schools. It wasn’t a refreshingly unstressful application process. I would do that rather than retake if it’s going to mean missing something important to him.

Sorry, it WAS a non stressful process!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a kid who got a C and rather than fight it he just made a college list with less competitive but still solid schools. It wasn’t a refreshingly unstressful application process. I would do that rather than retake if it’s going to mean missing something important to him.

We did the same. She got into her less competitive school ED with merit money. It's a perfect fit for her and she's very excited to attend.

There are plenty of good schools for our imperfectly perfect children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a kid who got a C and rather than fight it he just made a college list with less competitive but still solid schools. It wasn’t a refreshingly unstressful application process. I would do that rather than retake if it’s going to mean missing something important to him.

My kid was similar. He blew a couple of classes his sophomore year and we took a deep breath and took very selective schools off the list. The kid was perfectly happy with that, which was the biggest clue that was the right decision. He is now perfectly happy with his not-very-selective college and we are happy we didn’t spend his junior and senior years stressed and nagging him.

There are schools with engineering programs that will accept him with a C in pre calculus. Once you stop believing that only the top 25 or 50 or 100 colleges are acceptable, and realize there are thousands of colleges where a young person can get a good education, the application process is a lot less frightening.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:No one who got a C in precalc is getting an A in AP BC.

Eh, he has the ability. He just sort of decided he wanted to spend his time doing other stuff and not turning in assignments.
I’ve got 5 engineers in my immediate family so I know what’s required. He’s the kind of kid that’s reading physics books for fun instead of turning in his homework.
I’m not saying it’s in the bag but he definitely could do it if he decides that’s what he wants to do. I may tell him that if he doesn’t get the A first semester, we will cancel the summer activity. But if the thinking is that he should retake even if he does get A’s, I don’t want to tell him that.

I wouldn't be spending my hard earned money on a kid who can't be bothered. No fun summer activities when he can't be bothered turning in work.

It isn’t that that he can’t be bothered. He’s not out with friends or gaming. He’s engrossed in physics. Why would anyone punish a kid for that?

I mean, we could say this about any kid doing anything productive but to the detriment of something else productive. He got a C in a lower level math class and you're asking how important that will be.

1. It is important.

2. He will be punished for it in admissions, as he should be. (Countless other kids were able to get the A in the AP Precalc and still focus on their other interests. Shouldn't they leapfrog over your kid in admissions)?

If he loves physics, there are ways to engage in positive motivation instead of being punitive. Such as: if you love physics, you aren't going to get into a great program if you get Cs in math. There may also be some behavioral issues, as noted by another poster, where counseling may be helpful. Your response is a classic example of how teenagers are expected to act like adults (and even some adults have problems in the workplace, with their families and focusing on their interests).

It isn't obvious that he should be punished for it in admissions. Other kids shouldn't necessarily "leapfrog" over him because they got an all As in math. There are lot of other aspects of an application beyond a pre-calculus grade. This is even more true if there is a development/psychological issue that requires counseling.

I have no idea how what you wrote is positive motivation and not punitive: "Such as: if you love physics, you aren't going to get into a great program if you get Cs in math."

The answer is he did get a C in math for - what the parent calls - "dumb reasons" - and now he very likely won't get into a great program. What you wrote shows that there is a repercussion to what the kid did, just like there is a repercussion to:

- not taking 4 years of a language
- not taking APs/IBs if offered at the school
- not engaging in ECs
- not engaging in impactful acts of service
- not getting high SAT/ACT/AP scores

It is not "my response" that says that kids are expected to act like adults. It is that the kid wants engineering, it is a very competitive major, and lots of schools say we want rigor AND good grades. You make it sound like I am pulling this information out of my butt and it is coming from me and not from the schools. Getting in is not only about having high stats, but that is absolutely a piece of it. If kids at this kid's school are taking the same course and doing well in it, he will be compared against those kids and he will not fare as well without some kind of extraneous thing that will help him.

The mom said nothing that I saw that says he has a developmental or psychological issue for the grade. She said - that I saw - it was for dumb reasons his grade was low and that he just prefers focusing on physics. In fact, what seems to show she doesn't think there are other factors at play is that she is thinking maybe he can get an A in AP Calc BC & and a 4/5 on the AP exam. Also, she doesn't mention other lower grades, indicating that he has done fine otherwise (which also negates the idea that something else is going on).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bit strange for school/teacher to allow student to take calc bc with a c grade in pre calc. Did the kid take the AP pre calc exam? Score? If the kid got a 5 then the c grade was most likely due to laziness.

Agee. I would do Calc AB instead.

[Anonymous]

OP isn’t answering the question. Does this kid want to be an engineer or do the parents except him to be an engineer? I’m harping on that because this post hit a nerve. I was expected to be an engineer. I switched majors after freshman year. Maybe I could have handled the grind academically but it was impossible since my heart wasn’t in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP isn’t answering the question. Does this kid want to be an engineer or do the parents except him to be an engineer? I’m harping on that because this post hit a nerve. I was expected to be an engineer. I switched majors after freshman year. Maybe I could have handled the grind academically but it was impossible since my heart wasn’t in it.

We know that he likes physics, because he spends his free time studying it independent of school.

[Anonymous]

My public school kid had a C in 1st semester AP Calc junior year (A 2nd semester). Retook that 1st semester online during the summer and replaced the grade with an A but transcript clearly indicated a retake, just not the GPA hit. Got into 2 T30 schools for STEM/waitlisted at 2 T20. GPA 3.8/4.5, 33 ACT. Good ECs (internships, research, clubs) but nothing outstanding or major awards. Most likely good rec letters and okay essays.

[Anonymous]

Same question as OP, but What about a B in Honors PreCalc one semester (rigorous DMV private with no APs), but A in Calc BC, Multi Variable senior year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one who got a C in precalc is getting an A in AP BC.

Eh, he has the ability. He just sort of decided he wanted to spend his time doing other stuff and not turning in assignments.
I’ve got 5 engineers in my immediate family so I know what’s required. He’s the kind of kid that’s reading physics books for fun instead of turning in his homework.
I’m not saying it’s in the bag but he definitely could do it if he decides that’s what he wants to do. I may tell him that if he doesn’t get the A first semester, we will cancel the summer activity. But if the thinking is that he should retake even if he does get A’s, I don’t want to tell him that.

What makes you think he won’t be the same way in college, when you have less control and visibility over what he chooses to focus on?

Schools count lack of motivation just like they count lack of capability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Same question as OP, but What about a B in Honors PreCalc one semester (rigorous DMV private with no APs), but A in Calc BC, Multi Variable senior year?

That’s ok. B in Honors PreCalc isn’t unusual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My public school kid had a C in 1st semester AP Calc junior year (A 2nd semester). Retook that 1st semester online during the summer and replaced the grade with an A but transcript clearly indicated a retake, just not the GPA hit. Got into 2 T30 schools for STEM/waitlisted at 2 T20. GPA 3.8/4.5, 33 ACT. Good ECs (internships, research, clubs) but nothing outstanding or major awards. Most likely good rec letters and okay essays.

How is this relevant?

Your kid: got a C + A for the year, or presumably a B for the year
This kid: got a C for an entire year.

Your kid: retook the one semester during the summer
This kid: the summer is over by the time this post was written + the kid would need to retake the entire year now

Really, not the same.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand what are the reasons not to retake the Precal. If the school provides this opportunity, take it!

DC got a C+ in Advanced Calc, they don't allow retakes in private school. DC didn't understand the material in the first semester, but finally got it in the later half of the second semester. Did very well in the final (A), but the average was C+. If DC were given the opportunity to retake, for sure DC will take the opportunity and get an A. What's done is done.