Dreaded C+ on transcript

[Anonymous]

1) Northwestern’s acceptance rate for the class of 2923 was 8.9%. For the class of 2022 it was 8.4% (record low).

2) OPs student is in 10th. A single C in 10th is not the same as a C in 11th or first semester of 12th.

3) PP above is right - what will matter is where she is academically compared to the rest of her graduating class. If others are applying to the same schools with equal or better stats + a hook (such as recruited athlete or legacy) that will affect her chances far more than a lone C. It is also something you can do little about.

4) If she is thinking about college now .. focus on identifying safeties she would be happy to attend. It may be harder to identify these but is essential. Falling in love with your reaches is a bad idea given the competition and sometimes random nature of the admissions process.

5) Have a great and relaxing summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Even without a C, the grades are pretty bad. Paying $$$ and getting that kind of grades. Flush the money into the toilet. Who cares it's a Big 3.

As and Bs are not bad grades. I suspect you are a public school parent that thinks a kid needs 8 AP classes and a 4.0 + GPA to get into any top 20 college. It just isn’t true from a Big 3 private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Even without a C, the grades are pretty bad. Paying $$$ and getting that kind of grades. Flush the money into the toilet. Who cares it's a Big 3.

As and Bs are not bad grades. I suspect you are a public school parent that thinks a kid needs 8 AP classes and a 4.0 + GPA to get into any top 20 college. It just isn’t true from a Big 3 private.

Is that because kids at the private schools have some super powers so that they can get into the top 20 without great grades?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Even without a C, the grades are pretty bad. Paying $$$ and getting that kind of grades. Flush the money into the toilet. Who cares it's a Big 3.

As and Bs are not bad grades. I suspect you are a public school parent that thinks a kid needs 8 AP classes and a 4.0 + GPA to get into any top 20 college. It just isn’t true from a Big 3 private.

Is that because kids at the private schools have some super powers so that they can get into the top 20 without great grades?

URM + Legacy + Recruited Athletes

[Anonymous]

Even some summer camps have high requirements for the applicants. For instance,

Must have an average unweighed GPA of at least 3.8 or 95

Must have at least 3 of the following subjects
• English (Honors or AP a plus)
• Chemistry (Honors or AP a plus)
• Mathematics or Calculus (Honors or AP a plus)
• Physics (Honors or AP a plus)
• Biology (optional) (Honors or AP a plus)
• Standardized test scores (SAT or Regents) must be 60% or above.
• Students who show evidence of leadership, special talents or interests, and other personal qualities through extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and other non-academic pursuits will receive special consideration.

Your students with poor grades cannot even apply for this kind of selective camps. Getting into a Top 20 school? Joke!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Even without a C, the grades are pretty bad. Paying $$$ and getting that kind of grades. Flush the money into the toilet. Who cares it's a Big 3.

As and Bs are not bad grades. I suspect you are a public school parent that thinks a kid needs 8 AP classes and a 4.0 + GPA to get into any top 20 college. It just isn’t true from a Big 3 private.

Is that because kids at the private schools have some super powers so that they can get into the top 20 without great grades?

No, it's because, as we keep telling you over and over again, the classes at a Big 3 school are harder and the grading is more strict. No curving, no retakes, no extra credit. And colleges know that. The average grade in an AP class at a Big 3 isn't an A-/B+ like it is in a public school -- it is a B/B- which means many fewer kids get A's. It is more like grading was back in the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Even without a C, the grades are pretty bad. Paying $$$ and getting that kind of grades. Flush the money into the toilet. Who cares it's a Big 3.

As and Bs are not bad grades. I suspect you are a public school parent that thinks a kid needs 8 AP classes and a 4.0 + GPA to get into any top 20 college. It just isn’t true from a Big 3 private.

Is that because kids at the private schools have some super powers so that they can get into the top 20 without great grades?

Yes. They have super powers that are bestowed upon them when they enter the school. Now you know.

[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.

Not delusional. Absolutely factual, especially the Big 3. If you don't know this, you've never had a kid there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Even without a C, the grades are pretty bad. Paying $$$ and getting that kind of grades. Flush the money into the toilet. Who cares it's a Big 3.

As and Bs are not bad grades. I suspect you are a public school parent that thinks a kid needs 8 AP classes and a 4.0 + GPA to get into any top 20 college. It just isn’t true from a Big 3 private.

Is that because kids at the private schools have some super powers so that they can get into the top 20 without great grades?

No. It's because at the private schools we're discussing (DC Big 3), there is zero grade inflation, and college admissions offices know that. A B at Sidwell equals an A at any area public school, hands down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even some summer camps have high requirements for the applicants. For instance,

Must have an average unweighed GPA of at least 3.8 or 95

Must have at least 3 of the following subjects
• English (Honors or AP a plus)
• Chemistry (Honors or AP a plus)
• Mathematics or Calculus (Honors or AP a plus)
• Physics (Honors or AP a plus)
• Biology (optional) (Honors or AP a plus)
• Standardized test scores (SAT or Regents) must be 60% or above.
• Students who show evidence of leadership, special talents or interests, and other personal qualities through extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and other non-academic pursuits will receive special consideration.

Your students with poor grades cannot even apply for this kind of selective camps. Getting into a Top 20 school? Joke!

Jesus H. Christ. What summer camp is this? The requirements seem ridiculous. Who has Calculus AP, English APs, or Physics by their junior year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DS graduated from a big 3 and had good (but not outstanding) academics and solid (but not outstanding) extracurriculars. ACT was a 31. He got into UCLA but not Berkeley. He also got into Michigan and was waitlisted at Chapel Hill. You definitely don't need "perfect grades" to get into those schools.

To the PP who asked about the year, DS started at UCLA in 2018. It is possible that he could also have gotten off the waitlist at Chapel Hill but since he had gotten into UCLA and Michigan, he never pursued UNC seriously other than checking the box to indicate he wanted to stay on the waitlist. DS got his IB so GPA doesn't translate to a standard 4.0 scale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Even without a C, the grades are pretty bad. Paying $$$ and getting that kind of grades. Flush the money into the toilet. Who cares it's a Big 3.

As and Bs are not bad grades. I suspect you are a public school parent that thinks a kid needs 8 AP classes and a 4.0 + GPA to get into any top 20 college. It just isn’t true from a Big 3 private.

Is that because kids at the private schools have some super powers so that they can get into the top 20 without great grades?

No. It's because at the private schools we're discussing (DC Big 3), there is zero grade inflation, and college admissions offices know that. A B at Sidwell equals an A at any area public school, hands down.

I promise you a B at your school doesn’t equal an A at TJ which is a public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Even without a C, the grades are pretty bad. Paying $$$ and getting that kind of grades. Flush the money into the toilet. Who cares it's a Big 3.

As and Bs are not bad grades. I suspect you are a public school parent that thinks a kid needs 8 AP classes and a 4.0 + GPA to get into any top 20 college. It just isn’t true from a Big 3 private.

Is that because kids at the private schools have some super powers so that they can get into the top 20 without great grades?

No. It's because at the private schools we're discussing (DC Big 3), there is zero grade inflation, and college admissions offices know that. A B at Sidwell equals an A at any area public school, hands down.

I promise you a B at your school doesn’t equal an A at TJ which is a public school.

OK, that I concede. TJ may be the one exception. But other DMV area high schools? Please.

[Anonymous]

A lot of Langley HS and McLean HS got into top schools this year. I bet 99% of these kids are not legacies, URM or Recruited Athletes. Also academically these public schools may be stronger than the private schools in DC area.

[Anonymous]

No legacies from Langley? as if 98% of the McLean parents are college graduates? Right.