How much does one poor grade effect my DD's chances of getting into a good school?

[Anonymous]

My DD is a sophomore in H.S. Her GPA is around 3.5 due to a D+ that she got in Spanish II last year. She had an A in Spanish I in 8th grade, so started H.S. in Spanish II and obviously wasn't prepared for it. The rest of her grades have been around A- (including several honors classes). The D+ brought down her GPA and will show up on her transcript. She is really worried that this will preclude her from getting into a lot of schools. Has anyone had a similar circumstance for one of their children and did it hurt his/her ability to get into the schools that they wanted to attend? Any advice on how to proceed? The guidance councilor doesn't think re-taking the class will make much of a difference, the D+ doesn't go away. Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Anonymous]

I think college admissions looks at your overall GPA. Spanish isn't a core class and I assume she doesn't plan to be a Spanish major. Tell her not to let this blip get to her, work hard and keep up her grades.

[Anonymous]

Trends are important so better now than next year or the year after. It probably knocks out some of the most selective schools but for most schools it shouldn't be a non starter as long as she doe well the next 2 years and has good scores. She may need to explain the grade on her applications, or have the counselor explain the grade in the counselor rec.

[Anonymous]

How is she doing in Spanish this year? Upward trend helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trends are important so better now than next year or the year after. It probably knocks out some of the most selective schools but for most schools it shouldn't be a non starter as long as she doe well the next 2 years and has good scores. She may need to explain the grade on her applications, or have the counselor explain the grade in the counselor rec.

She should write college application on how and what she learned from a D+ and this one specific grade motivate her with the rest of her high school to do better. Everyone makes mistake as long as one will learn from it. College understands that.

[Anonymous]

She is now taking Latin and loves it. She is getting an A in it. I'll share your comments and advice with her. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

It will probably be seen as an extreme anomaly. Talk to her counselor.

[Anonymous]

If she continues to get A's, she's fine. The D will be an outlier. If she pursues Latin, and gets A's, that will be gold in that it is a difficult language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD is a sophomore in H.S. Her GPA is around 3.5 due to a D+ that she got in Spanish II last year. She had an A in Spanish I in 8th grade, so started H.S. in Spanish II and obviously wasn't prepared for it. The rest of her grades have been around A- (including several honors classes). The D+ brought down her GPA and will show up on her transcript. She is really worried that this will preclude her from getting into a lot of schools. Has anyone had a similar circumstance for one of their children and did it hurt his/her ability to get into the schools that they wanted to attend? Any advice on how to proceed? The guidance councilor doesn't think re-taking the class will make much of a difference, the D+ doesn't go away. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Is she taking Spanish II again or has she switched languages?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD is a sophomore in H.S. Her GPA is around 3.5 due to a D+ that she got in Spanish II last year. She had an A in Spanish I in 8th grade, so started H.S. in Spanish II and obviously wasn't prepared for it. The rest of her grades have been around A- (including several honors classes). The D+ brought down her GPA and will show up on her transcript. She is really worried that this will preclude her from getting into a lot of schools. Has anyone had a similar circumstance for one of their children and did it hurt his/her ability to get into the schools that they wanted to attend? Any advice on how to proceed? The guidance councilor doesn't think re-taking the class will make much of a difference, the D+ doesn't go away. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Is she taking Spanish II again or has she switched languages?

Oops, now she she is taking Latin. One grade isn't going to make a big difference. Where does she think she wants to go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD is a sophomore in H.S. Her GPA is around 3.5 due to a D+ that she got in Spanish II last year. She had an A in Spanish I in 8th grade, so started H.S. in Spanish II and obviously wasn't prepared for it. The rest of her grades have been around A- (including several honors classes). The D+ brought down her GPA and will show up on her transcript. She is really worried that this will preclude her from getting into a lot of schools. Has anyone had a similar circumstance for one of their children and did it hurt his/her ability to get into the schools that they wanted to attend? Any advice on how to proceed? The guidance councilor doesn't think re-taking the class will make much of a difference, the D+ doesn't go away. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Some colleges don't even look at 9th grade grades. Do some research and figure out which. Share info. with DD, so she doesn't feel discourage and lose interest in keeping her grades up. All colleges look for upward trends. The Common App has a section where you can explain this kind of thing. Your DD will be fine!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trends are important so better now than next year or the year after. It probably knocks out some of the most selective schools but for most schools it shouldn't be a non starter as long as she doe well the next 2 years and has good scores. She may need to explain the grade on her applications, or have the counselor explain the grade in the counselor rec.

I wouldn't assume that it will knock out the most selective schools, not if she gets amazing grades from now on, great test scores, and all the rest it takes. Trust your college counselor to tell you what's realistic for your DD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trends are important so better now than next year or the year after. It probably knocks out some of the most selective schools but for most schools it shouldn't be a non starter as long as she doe well the next 2 years and has good scores. She may need to explain the grade on her applications, or have the counselor explain the grade in the counselor rec.

I wouldn't assume that it will knock out the most selective schools, not if she gets amazing grades from now on, great test scores, and all the rest it takes. Trust your college counselor to tell you what's realistic for your DD.

+1

Selective schools look at grades, not GPA. If the D is the only non-A and she got As in Latin, it will probably not hurt her very much. I'd worry more about state schools that have very strict GPA cut offs, but even that won't be much of a problem if it's just one D.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, does it matter? She has a D+ on her transcript, and there is no way to make it go away. It's not in a subject she has any interest in or need to continue with , so there is no compelling reason to take it again in order to establish competency. (E.g., if this was algebra I, you might want her to repeat so that she was prepared to tackle algebra II.)

Selective schools will care or they won't. Nothing to be done about it now but focus on current classes. This is one of those things that there's no point in worrying about because there is nothing you can do to change it, and worrying won't help. Put it behind you/here and focus on the here and now.