DC is getting a C+ in Advanced Calculus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid in a public school got a C in AP Calculus BC and got into GW's Elliott School of International Affairs, which is ranked top 10 for that major, with merit, and was allowed to skip an intro math class. He had a 35 out of 36 on his ACT, and a stellar academic profile in the Humanities, including Latin.

Admission might depend on your child's chosen major, OP, and also on his SAT/ACT. He needs to get a great score on the math section.

Not OP but my son is also in Latin and idk what he is going to do (he is a freshman) but it’s encouraging that C is not the end of the world (he has it in honors bio despite my help) and that Latin is worth something

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also when you apply to some large schools they may expressly say they will not recalculate advanced classes that are not AP.
They will only give a point extra for AP so your kid may not make it beyond the algorithm. Suddenly the kid who took basic math and got an A looks better than your kid who took Advance AB calc as a junior and got a C plus. This is just one example. This could be the case comparing other classes ex Advanced English to regular English . College has become so complicated that these issues have to be worked out from private schools to keep up. Again simply talk to your school on how they will figure this out for fairness for students who take on these classes. I feel like the kids who fare better have parents who bring this up right away. If you wait until senior year then college counseling is so busy and your recommendations already written. It makes it harder.

Zero high stats schools are having the highest GPAs be reviewed when achieved by taking easier classes OVER a kid with a great but not perfect GPA who took far more rigorous classes.

That said, a C+ should absolutely be looked at as if the kid struggled and it would have been better had he moved classes long ago and gotten a higher grade in a lower class…as it should.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also when you apply to some large schools they may expressly say they will not recalculate advanced classes that are not AP.
They will only give a point extra for AP so your kid may not make it beyond the algorithm. Suddenly the kid who took basic math and got an A looks better than your kid who took Advance AB calc as a junior and got a C plus. This is just one example. This could be the case comparing other classes ex Advanced English to regular English . College has become so complicated that these issues have to be worked out from private schools to keep up. Again simply talk to your school on how they will figure this out for fairness for students who take on these classes. I feel like the kids who fare better have parents who bring this up right away. If you wait until senior year then college counseling is so busy and your recommendations already written. It makes it harder.

This has nothing to do with public or private and colleges want the most rigour at your school. What it comes down to is that this kid is struggling with Calc AB. Parents should have gotten a tutor but didn't. So, now they should get a tutor for the summer and have him take AB again or BC.

Kid is in a small universe at school and guessing most of the classmates were seniors. This needs to be teased out in recommendation form. Agree on tutor and make decision on BC or not senior year. Maybe Advanced stats instead? That class is not hard. Don’t take DCUM advice as be all. Talk to your school.

[Anonymous]

Very risky move to take Advanced Cal in junior, which is equivalent to AP Cal BC or even harder. We had a senior taking it who was admitted to Princeton, she pulled a C. Luckily the offer was not rescinded. Had she taken that course in Junior, she would be going to Rochester this Fall!

[Anonymous]

But this is the problem. This kid showed clear focus to push himself. He did not take the easy route and a C plus in Advanced AB Calc junior year in an accomplishment. I am guessing he had to get permission to take this class. The sad thing is kids/parents feel embarrassed and don’t advocate to the school. You should. Ask how many juniors in this class? What was the criteria to get in? It is all how you look at this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But this is the problem. This kid showed clear focus to push himself. He did not take the easy route and a C plus in Advanced AB Calc junior year in an accomplishment. I am guessing he had to get permission to take this class. The sad thing is kids/parents feel embarrassed and don’t advocate to the school. You should. Ask how many juniors in this class? What was the criteria to get in? It is all how you look at this.

At a private with strong college exmissions, the college counselor should be able to address or mitigate this grade anomoly in their write up. Don't panic. Taking academic risks should be celebrated! It's just the way you frame it. It could a great "lesson learned" for a supplemental essays. I know several kids with so/so grades in advanced level courses at private schools who got into top schools. It's important to be thoughtful and strategize all parts of your kid's application to showcase their strengths, character, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But this is the problem. This kid showed clear focus to push himself. He did not take the easy route and a C plus in Advanced AB Calc junior year in an accomplishment. I am guessing he had to get permission to take this class. The sad thing is kids/parents feel embarrassed and don’t advocate to the school. You should. Ask how many juniors in this class? What was the criteria to get in? It is all how you look at this.

What is your source when you say very few private school kids take the equivalent of AP calc AB junior year? That’s just not true even if they don’t call it an AP title. For example, plenty of juniors at Potomac took the ap calc bc exam this month.

[Anonymous]

I think guessing is not helpful. OP should ask their school how many juniors took Advanced calc AB as a junior. Keep in mind anyone can take an AP exam and some kids take exam without the class and just get tutoring to take exams. Also taking exam is not the same as getting a 5. Some kids take exam as practice and cancel score. You don’t have to report if you are not taking AP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think guessing is not helpful. OP should ask their school how many juniors took Advanced calc AB as a junior. Keep in mind anyone can take an AP exam and some kids take exam without the class and just get tutoring to take exams. Also taking exam is not the same as getting a 5. Some kids take exam as practice and cancel score. You don’t have to report if you are not taking AP.

Source for claiming few juniors take the equivalent if ap calc ab or even bc at a private school.

[Anonymous]

Read above. Talk to your school. Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Read above. Talk to your school. Problem solved.

What school is solving the problem of an end of year c+ that won’t be able to be raised before the year ends to change the grade? What do you think the counselors can do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also when you apply to some large schools they may expressly say they will not recalculate advanced classes that are not AP.
They will only give a point extra for AP so your kid may not make it beyond the algorithm. Suddenly the kid who took basic math and got an A looks better than your kid who took Advance AB calc as a junior and got a C plus. This is just one example. This could be the case comparing other classes ex Advanced English to regular English . College has become so complicated that these issues have to be worked out from private schools to keep up. Again simply talk to your school on how they will figure this out for fairness for students who take on these classes. I feel like the kids who fare better have parents who bring this up right away. If you wait until senior year then college counseling is so busy and your recommendations already written. It makes it harder.

This has nothing to do with public or private and colleges want the most rigour at your school. What it comes down to is that this kid is struggling with Calc AB. Parents should have gotten a tutor but didn't. So, now they should get a tutor for the summer and have him take AB again or BC.

Kid is in a small universe at school and guessing most of the classmates were seniors. This needs to be teased out in recommendation form. Agree on tutor and make decision on BC or not senior year. Maybe Advanced stats instead? That class is not hard. Don’t take DCUM advice as be all. Talk to your school.

Our public BC class had Sophmores-Seniors.

[Anonymous]

There is no formal process for final grade adjustment in high school or college for what grade level a kid is at in a high school or college course. The same is true for varsity sports in high school and college. For an even and fair playing field one can’t simply cry after the fact for accommodation or a pass!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But this is the problem. This kid showed clear focus to push himself. He did not take the easy route and a C plus in Advanced AB Calc junior year in an accomplishment. I am guessing he had to get permission to take this class. The sad thing is kids/parents feel embarrassed and don’t advocate to the school. You should. Ask how many juniors in this class? What was the criteria to get in? It is all how you look at this.

At a private with strong college exmissions, the college counselor should be able to address or mitigate this grade anomoly in their write up. Don't panic. Taking academic risks should be celebrated! It's just the way you frame it. It could a great "lesson learned" for a supplemental essays. I know several kids with so/so grades in advanced level courses at private schools who got into top schools. It's important to be thoughtful and strategize all parts of your kid's application to showcase their strengths, character, etc.

Interesting that the top privates don't have all top students.

[Anonymous]

This is a word salad. OP was not asking for grade adjustment.