Anonymous
Post 05/24/2025 20:38     Subject: DC is getting a C+ in Advanced Calculus
Anonymous wrote:DC is a rising senior (finishing junior right now). Rigorous private high school. Recovering a lot of points towards the end but just not enough. What is a realistic outlook on college application? Focusing on T40-60? Is that realistic? For context, B+ to A are considered good grades in DC’s school. DC gets mostly As in other courses, nothing below B+. Won’t major in math or engineering.


I'd really try to get that grade to a B-. And if that doesn't happen, I'd say F it, and apply everywhere regardless. This isn't an engineering kid. Any school that is rejecting kids over 3 or 4 points in math for a humanities major is... waves hands dismissively.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2025 20:38     Subject: DC is getting a C+ in Advanced Calculus
I’m glad you got it!
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2025 20:35     Subject: DC is getting a C+ in Advanced Calculus
Anonymous wrote:Kids at Blair, RM, Wootton, and Churchill public schools routinely have taken such high advanced Calculus courses and differential equations prior to 11 th grade in the area public schools. I know a couple on the math USAMO teams. What’s the big deal here? All those power hitting high GPA kids are no longer deserving?


Use that word carefully. This is the problem.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2025 20:34     Subject: DC is getting a C+ in Advanced Calculus
Excuse typos. The child makes the school; and not the other way around
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2025 20:32     Subject: DC is getting a C+ in Advanced Calculus
Understandable. We as parents have a difficult time with reality and the facts when our child gets a C+. As advocates for our children we will rationalize and look for exculpatory explanations. This is natural. Teachers know this. College admission officers know this. The do the best the can do with tens of thousands of applications to review over a limited time period. Your child and school simply have to put their best foot forward in presenting your child’s academic talent, potential, and authenticity. At the end of the day, the child makes the school and the other way around.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2025 20:31     Subject: DC is getting a C+ in Advanced Calculus
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Kids at Blair, RM, Wootton, and Churchill public schools routinely have taken such high advanced Calculus courses and differential equations prior to 11 th grade in the area public schools. I know a couple on the math USAMO teams. What’s the big deal here? All those power hitting high GPA kids are no longer deserving?


In public schools, as long as your kid hands in all hw on time, it’s automatically a B+.


What school is that? That's not at our MCPS public. Not even close.


Public schools allow for retests. This is a clear advantage but nothing to do with OP question.


No, not all do. Every public is different and its very school and teacher dependent. Ours has no retakes on exams. Some teachers allow fixing assignments, others don't.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2025 20:30     Subject: DC is getting a C+ in Advanced Calculus
Anonymous wrote:No. OP said child performed better but not enough. Meaning did better on last tests but not enough to recover a poor earlier performance. Private schools do not allow retests.


Some probably do, some don't. Our public allows no retests on exams/tests/quizzes.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2025 20:29     Subject: DC is getting a C+ in Advanced Calculus
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Kids at Blair, RM, Wootton, and Churchill public schools routinely have taken such high advanced Calculus courses and differential equations prior to 11 th grade in the area public schools. I know a couple on the math USAMO teams. What’s the big deal here? All those power hitting high GPA kids are no longer deserving?


In public schools, as long as your kid hands in all hw on time, it’s automatically a B+.


What school is that? That's not at our MCPS public. Not even close.


Public schools allow for retests. This is a clear advantage but nothing to do with OP question.


OP said: “ Recovering a lot of points towards the end but just not enough.” Meaning: private allows for kid yo raise grade. Fcps allows for retakes, but grade can be lowered from it and it is only for exams.


In MCPS there are no retakes for exams depending on the school. Some teachers allow for classwork/homework, others don't. Sounds like private is easier as the classes are slowed down, etc.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2025 20:27     Subject: DC is getting a C+ in Advanced Calculus
Anonymous wrote:This is such a sad statement of the world today (I'm not blaming you - I feel awful for you). One bad grade should not ruin a kid. I'm pretty sure I had multiple final grades of B or so (but still finished in the top few % of my class at a good public HS) and got into multiple Ivy+ schools in the 90s. A's weren't handed out like candy and any SAT score over 1400 was great. The process is just so awful. But I don't know the answer.


The thing that’s sad is parents acting like not getting into a very small handful of schools is “ruined”. The reality is that the number of kids who are prepared for college has increased dramatically, and that the college market has responded by developing many more strong programs. There are far more than 40 excellent schools that a kid can attend where they can excel and get a great education and go on to do great things. It’s not the same as when we were growing up but it’s not worse, it’s just different.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2025 20:25     Subject: DC is getting a C+ in Advanced Calculus
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Kids at Blair, RM, Wootton, and Churchill public schools routinely have taken such high advanced Calculus courses and differential equations prior to 11 th grade in the area public schools. I know a couple on the math USAMO teams. What’s the big deal here? All those power hitting high GPA kids are no longer deserving?


In public schools, as long as your kid hands in all hw on time, it’s automatically a B+.


What school is that? That's not at our MCPS public. Not even close.


Public schools allow for retests. This is a clear advantage but nothing to do with OP question.


My kid’s public school allows one retest per semester with a maximum score of 75. This wouldn’t make a difference with a C+
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2025 20:23     Subject: DC is getting a C+ in Advanced Calculus
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is such a sad statement of the world today (I'm not blaming you - I feel awful for you). One bad grade should not ruin a kid. I'm pretty sure I had multiple final grades of B or so (but still finished in the top few % of my class at a good public HS) and got into multiple Ivy+ schools in the 90s. A's weren't handed out like candy and any SAT score over 1400 was great. The process is just so awful. But I don't know the answer.


This isn't the 90s.

In the era of grade inflation, a C+ might as well be a D. Now, if the OP isn't obsessed with T10 schools like most DCUMers and puts a reasonable college list together, he/she will avoid some admissions pain.


I'm not saying it is the 90s. I'm just venting as to how awful things are. The kid is taking advanced calc as a junior. Pretty impressive. But one screw up and that's it. As you noted, there are lots of great schools out there and I'm sure DC will get into one. But it is a shame. That is all.


Why is it a shame if a kid gets into one of those other great schools?

Seriously, what is wrong with you people? "There's lots of great schools out there, too bad kids have to go to them?" WTF?


It’s not a shame on the kid. It’s definitely a shame on the system.


What is shameful about a system with lots of great schools for kids to go to?


It’s a shame on the system because it punishes students who are bright and taking challenges, while rewarding students who don’t take challenges.


You said there were lots of great schools out there and that it was somehow a shame a student had to go to one of those great schools. You say it's a shame because it's a punishment. But why is it a punishment for a student to go to a great school? And what is your evidence that students who look for challenges are the ones suffering these punishments? And if you are right, and these great schools that nevertheless aren't really great in your mind are filled with smart and challenge-seeking kids, why would it be a shame and a punishment for a kid to go there?

None of what you're saying makes any sense.


DP. Princeton vs Rochester? Hard to swallow if your own kid ended up at Rochester. lol
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2025 20:03     Subject: DC is getting a C+ in Advanced Calculus
Anonymous wrote:
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.


High score is a booster for A- students. Not much for B students. A high score cannot save you from a C for T20 schools.

Unless you are first gen low income urm, in that case anything is still possible.


In OP’s case, high score may work for colleges that are big suckers for test scores. Try Georgetown.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2025 19:47     Subject: DC is getting a C+ in Advanced Calculus
Anonymous wrote:No. OP said child performed better but not enough. Meaning did better on last tests but not enough to recover a poor earlier performance. Private schools do not allow retests.

Please stop generalizing. Your information is based on your kid’s private school
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2025 19:37     Subject: DC is getting a C+ in Advanced Calculus
No. OP said child performed better but not enough. Meaning did better on last tests but not enough to recover a poor earlier performance. Private schools do not allow retests.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2025 19:35     Subject: DC is getting a C+ in Advanced Calculus
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Kids at Blair, RM, Wootton, and Churchill public schools routinely have taken such high advanced Calculus courses and differential equations prior to 11 th grade in the area public schools. I know a couple on the math USAMO teams. What’s the big deal here? All those power hitting high GPA kids are no longer deserving?


In public schools, as long as your kid hands in all hw on time, it’s automatically a B+.


What school is that? That's not at our MCPS public. Not even close.


Public schools allow for retests. This is a clear advantage but nothing to do with OP question.


OP said: “ Recovering a lot of points towards the end but just not enough.” Meaning: private allows for kid yo raise grade. Fcps allows for retakes, but grade can be lowered from it and it is only for exams.