Getting Rescinded, when to worry, calculus 😬

[Anonymous]

One C is not likely, but can not fail.

Find a tutor immediately. Also, if she gets better score in AP exam, that could be argued. I assume it is AP cal BC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not let difficulty with AP calc impact deciding on an econ major. Yes, calc is important for econometrics, but truly, (1) experiences with calc in high school do not necessarily spell doom for calc in college and (2) one can take econometrics in college even with weak calc foundation and go on to do something else with their econ degree. Just because quant stuff and phD candidates need calc doesn't mean every econ major everywhere is doomed without loving, and excelling at, calc.

She should continue to work at learning calc with a tutor. She'll get her major figured out in college. There is no reason to decide that right now.

PP. I think it's wise to take multivariable before econometrics. I suspect it would help firm up that knowledge nicely. Even if she hates calc (as many people do), it's just an extra semester. Worth it.

One step at a time.

Get her grade up to a C in high school
Calc.

Then, if she’s still considering an Econ major in college, take a semester or two of it during first year of college to see what she thinks.

And maybe at the same time, retake first semester Calc at college and see how it goes.

After that, if she’s still considering Econ, take second semester Calc, and again, see how it goes.

That should take her to a year from now, at the earliest - which is the time to start considering sophomore year classes. If Econ is still a potential major, that’s the time for her to dig deeper the curriculum at her particular school and get advice from professors and older students about econometrics and MV calc etc.

Truly NO NEED for OP or their kid to be worried about any of this now. Just focus on the rest of this quarter of HS and get that calc grade up to a C.

One step at a time … no borrowing problems from the future ….

And who is going to PAY for this - semester after semester of see what she thinks, see how it goes, and again see how it goes approach?

Nothing about this will cost any more in tuition.

It all fits easily within the first two years of college. No delay in selecting a major, or in graduating on-time within four years.

Also, this approach is completely compatible with excellence and achievement in the major they choose at the end of their sophomore year.

It’s also completely compatible with a compelling double major combination if they end up liking and excelling in both disciplines.

No tradeoffs involved. Only upside.

(Now, if the suggestion was to keep on exploring well into junior and senior years without taking enough classes to complete any particular major, that would be costly as it would delay graduation and require more semesters of tuition. But that “6 year plan” is not the approach suggested above.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This may be an unpopular opinion, but if your child is currently getting an F I don’t think she’s trying her hardest.

Of course not. That’s not the point here.

The point is whether a C would be something that would require an explanation to the school
That already accepted her and whether a D might risk a recission of the offer.

The fact that OP’s kid is not “trying her hardest” is (a) not unusual for an otherwise high-achieving high school senior who has already been accepted to their first-choice college; and (b) a good fact, to the extent it means that with a little more effort she can get her final calc grade up to a C and move in with their life.

No judgment her re her less-than-perfect effort. These kids have worked so hard to get to this point. It’s natural for many to take their foot off the gas at the end of good luck, OP. Just get her to the finish line and she’ll be just fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This may be an unpopular opinion, but if your child is currently getting an F I don’t think she’s trying her hardest.

Of course not. That’s not the point here.

The point is whether a C would be something that would require an explanation to the school
That already accepted her and whether a D might risk a recission of the offer.

The fact that OP’s kid is not “trying her hardest” is (a) not unusual for an otherwise high-achieving high school senior who has already been accepted to their first-choice college; and (b) a good fact, to the extent it means that with a little more effort she can get her final calc grade up to a C and move in with their life.

No judgment her re her less-than-perfect effort. These kids have worked so hard to get to this point. It’s natural for many to take their foot off the gas at the end of good luck, OP. Just get her to the finish line and she’ll be just fine.

If the school cares, office will send an email or letter to ask for explanation. If not, then it’s ok. I know a kid got C and still went to Cornell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD was accepted ED into a top SLAC. She’s thrilled but she’s also currently failing calculus. First quarter she pulled an A-, second quarter a C-,and she currently has an F. I don’t think there will be a fourth quarter grade since she’s doing a senior project.

Does anyone know any good on-line tutors that would be available to help land the plane? We don’t know of anyone local and unfortunately the teacher is not much help.

The main worry, of course, is being rescinded. Her other grades are good. What is the line for these top schools? Is a final grade of a C okay if everything else is up to par? She’s not recruited athlete or otherwise hooked. There is certainly some senioritis at play but she is trying, calculus is just not her cup of tea.

In my area, Mathnasium is really good.

[Anonymous]

If she is getting F in high school AP Calc, the likelihood is low that she survives college Cal 2. There are mismatch cases, that some kids didn't do well in high school calculus but do okay with college calculus. Realistically, chances that happens is pretty low. It's better to plan on majoring in something that's math light. Business econ or even regular Econ should be fine. I wouldn't recommend a stem major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Know someone who had to write an essay over the summer to their college to explain a C. The college asked for it. Was not rescinded but the college wanted an explanation/plan for future improvement.

AI can write this essay in under a minute so this shouldn’t be a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for your responses. Her narrative/intended major is not STEM necessarily; she's really undecided but has considered Econ or Biology.

I feel like a C is attainable, but there's likely no way she's able to get a B-. If admissions does inquire, there's no excuse othere than "it's hard!". Maybe they'll appreciate her honesty lol.

A C is fine. She needs to dig in and put in the extra hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just always keep up with the materials. Whenever she has questions, ask the teacher right away. It’s pretty difficult to get a C in high school, unless she doesn’t bother at all.

not at our high school. plenty of kids get Cs in Calc, and this is a test-in school where avg SAT is around 1500

[Anonymous]

I would absolutely be worried and be incredibly proactive. Some universities will absolutely rescind for a D or F in a senior level math class.

If you can't pass high school calculus there is no hope in majoring in economics or biology. So if those were listed as her intended major I would be even more worried. Humanities major not as worried, but still concerned.

This has to be priority number one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This may be an unpopular opinion, but if your child is currently getting an F I don’t think she’s trying her hardest.

Of course not. That’s not the point here.

The point is whether a C would be something that would require an explanation to the school
That already accepted her and whether a D might risk a recission of the offer.

The fact that OP’s kid is not “trying her hardest” is (a) not unusual for an otherwise high-achieving high school senior who has already been accepted to their first-choice college; and (b) a good fact, to the extent it means that with a little more effort she can get her final calc grade up to a C and move in with their life.

No judgment her re her less-than-perfect effort. These kids have worked so hard to get to this point. It’s natural for many to take their foot off the gas at the end of good luck, OP. Just get her to the finish line and she’ll be just fine.

You get a B or a C momentarily if you just don’t try hard enough. You have to be very lazy/sloppy and/or are super weak in math to end up getting a D!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just always keep up with the materials. Whenever she has questions, ask the teacher right away. It’s pretty difficult to get a C in high school, unless she doesn’t bother at all.

not at our high school. plenty of kids get Cs in Calc, and this is a test-in school where avg SAT is around 1500

DP. Same here.

I would be proactive about getting help, but this is not dispositive for the kid's future major in any way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for your responses. Her narrative/intended major is not STEM necessarily; she's really undecided but has considered Econ or Biology.

I feel like a C is attainable, but there's likely no way she's able to get a B-. If admissions does inquire, there's no excuse othere than "it's hard!". Maybe they'll appreciate her honesty lol.

They probably admitted her because she was taking AP Calculus (a way many schools screen for rigor) and her A- 1st quarter probably gave them some confidence that she could at least end with a B. An F will be a red flag, as would a D since it is out of pattern. Definitely have your DD take ownership and select a tutor on Wyzant that can help her at least pass the course. That said, I would definitely steer clear of Economics as a potential course or major. Calculus really underpins it and you can't really progress in Econ without a facility with calculus.

Separately, how did your DD do on the math section of the SAT? Or did she take the ACT?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, this situation is not at all uncommon, especially with calc. Life happens, senioritis happens, less-talented calc teachers also sometimes happen.

Rescinding depends on the college, but most privates will be fine with a C. My oldest kid was admitted to a T30 private and got a D second semester calc (personal issues took over life at that point) and never even heard a peep from the college. One of my other kids got a D in second semester calc for failing to turn in any homework and got a letter from his T80 school about on campus help/resources; got a 5 on the exam and started in multivariable in college.

Once a college has admitted and enrolled a student, they really don't want to rescind. It's interesting, because had the same poor grade come prior to admission, it may have been much more significant.

Just try to get it up to a C and then there will be less to worry about. Highly selective schools may want an explanation for a D.

I thought colleges only see the overall grades on the transcript? Your kid likely got a grade better than D on the transcript? My understanding is that a D is considered not passing the class!

PP. You are correct that colleges only see grades on the transcript. I was referring to the final transcript that the college where the kid has enrolled receives in summer, usually by July.

In my area, D is passing. You still get the high school credit. This may be different in different areas, for example D does not provide A-G credit in California. However, for calculus, that's typically a fifth year of high school math and therefore even an F (no credit) would not impact meeting high school graduation requirements.

I have the impression top colleges only regard a C as a passing grade, disregarding your high school’s guidelines. I was mentoring someone from another country. He was accepted by a top college in March here which required him to pass his country’s college entrance exams in August with a C in each subject (on top of the scores and grades and ECs that got him in), even though E is the passing grade in his country’s college entrance exams.

[Anonymous]

Marks Education in Bethesda has in person tutors for almost all subjects. My DC goes there for Physics. I am sure they have calculus. My DC prefers in person vs online.