I've been accepted to UCI. I am getting a low D in AP Chem. Should i drop it or get a D?
396262
Ask your counselors to take it P/Np. If they don't P/NP you - get your parents on the deal. Counselors really should help you out. Or - make a deal with your chem teacher - tell her that if you pass the AP exam - give you a B. If you get a 2 - then ask for a C. Try to haggle with your teacher. Talk to her and tell her your problem and try to make her understand your life as a second semester senior and that you could've just as easily dropped AP Chem after 1st sem.
645333
It was my experience that colleges were more interested in your score on the AP itself than in the class. My college required a 4 on the AP to place out of the course, or a 3 to count the AP as an elective.\n\nA few isolated C's won't bother most universities, as long as they don't indicate a pattern of struggling in a particular subject, or a downward spiral.\n\nColleges do take into account the difficulty level of a class when looking at your grades. I generally had low grades in honors math courses, but I had no trouble getting into (and making it through) a good engineering school. \n\nIf they ask about the low grade, be ready to explain why the grade was low, and what you intend to do in the future to improve your performance. Being able to do that might impress them more than an A would.
480496
I concur. Also with the ACT, but I'm starting to believe more in it now since I got a very high score, higher than what my grades would put me as, showing I am unmotivated :D I got suckered into an AP exam and I guess it's okay if you want to pay 80$ and die slowly yet surely when the questions keep coming and coming... I liked the SAT, though, because it was based more on grammar and literature, though I don't know a use for it.
153714
I go to UCI. It's like the OC, except has more asians. Campus is pretty big.
329156
That 2.8 will bring you down, unfortunately. However there is a personal statement where you can state that you moved and it was harder fitting in. You should continue to get better grades from now on. 3.5 might not do it, and it might depending on the schools. UC Berkeley, UC LA, UC San Diego may be reaches, however UC Irvine, Davis and Santa Barbara are good matches. You could probably fall back on Santa Cruz, Riverside, Merced. :) KEEP YOUR HOPES UP!
1080863
It's really not for me to decide because i'm naturally good in math but i think you should continue becasue for example in my school, they require you at least take pre cal. but, ultimately it's your decision and yours alone. so good luck with whatever you pick. if you're choosing to go on, you can get a tutor if you're really bad.
398450
to refute some of the people who have already answered...\n\nAP scores are only necessary if your school offers them. Not all schools offer AP classes. If yours doesn't, then Cal will understand.\n\nBut if your school does, take as many of those classes as you can!!!\n\nMy school offered AP: US hist, English lit., US gov't., econ (micro/macro), biology. And independently they offered Spanish, studio art and computer science. I took only the classes, none of the independent exams. But I aced those classes and passed every test except macroeconomics.\n\nOf course, my school was small, rural and had a high population of poor people. UC Berkeley took that into account when they admitted me. My high school didn't have a lot of the advantages or competition that other schools have.\n\nCal Berkeley looks at each applicant in context of their class and other applicants. A 1280 from po-dunk San Joaquin Valley looks better than a 1350 from Monte Vista HS (Cupertino, Silicon Valley). Getting 5's on 3 AP exams when 12 were offered doesn't look as good as 2 5's when 4 exams were offered.\n\nAnd the applicant pool is getting more competitive. Median scores are rising. I got in with a 4.3 GPA (top of my HS class) and 1350 SAT. I had a 5 in AP bio, 4 in US history and Eng. lit., 3 in US gov't. and 2 in macroecon. I came from a poor part of California, but even considering that, I don't know if those scores would get me in today (luckily, it was enough in 1998).\n\nAnyway, good luck in getting into Cal. I admire anyone who aspires to join the ranks of Cal alumni. GO BEARS!
305726
Oh no, chemistry, sorry, the devil(my chemistry teacher) would be ashamed of me...I failed chemistry and had the same teacher again. I ended up passing with an 87. Sorry that was a whole year ago. I don't remember.
981840
No, you didn't ruin your chance of becoming a nurse... but you did effect your GPA.  You don't say what you earned for the class, but with failing the final it can't be good news.  I suggest talking with your guidance counselor about your options... you might need to take it again or take an additional math course to compensate for the low grade.  Don't let one grade (or even a few grades, for that matter) stand in the way of your goals.
801253
I'm a chem major.\nI took AP Chem in highschool so I was able to skip Chem I and Chem II and go straight into Organic my first semester.\nLet me tell you, that was probably the biggest mistake ever.\nOrganic chem has a reputation of being "hard". And it is, it requires a great deal of memorization and a sturdy background in chem I (molecular orbitals, physical properties, etc). I'd go over that stuff before you take organic. If you still have a h.s. chem book, check the last few chapters of your text to see you have a section on organic chem, and try reading that.\nAlso, a large part of organic chem is naming large carbon compounds. This seems easy to learn but there are a lot of exceptions, and it requires a large amount of practice. I'd find a few websites online that have organic chem nomenclature practice problems, and learn those before you start. Most professors dont' emphasize this in lectures, but require you to knwo it for the exam.\nI suggest, as does my orgochem prof, taking bio before chem. I obviously didn't do that.\nDon't skimp out on math classes, though.
492192
I got a D in gen. chem., and now I'm a 3rd year med student.  Here's what you do:  you forget about gen chem for now, and start learning organic.  Believe me, it's much easier and enjoyable (no math!)  Then, when you are studying for the MCAT, you'll relearn gen. chem, or learn it for the first time like me.  I used the Kaplan books and that really taught me what I had to know for the MCAT, and nothing else.  Good luck.
36084
It depends on how hard you have been working. If you have been working your butt off then it is a good grade. Honors classes are hard. Also, they are weighted more than a regular class is. a "C" os really a "B" in terms of the grade point. So instead of getting a 2.0 in that class you really got a 3.0. I hope that made sense. Good luck! Remember,the semester isn't over yet so you still have time to bring it up if you aren't happy with it.
407747
Give up with the states- come to Oxford.\nIts amazing for Biochem.
852317
Don't count yourself out - in retrospect my SATs were crap - 1250 - but I got into UC Berkeley in nuclear engineering.  I think my GPA was around 3.8 unadjusted, over 4.0 including the AP, etc.  Point being that your SAT, your essays, any letter of recommendation or whatever will all help.  \n\nBut raise your grades.  You don't have good study habits with grades like that.  You better learn them, otherwise your concern won't be getting in - it'll be how to compete against the other kids once you've made it.  Good universities are killer, and they won't cut you any quarter.  If you don't learn good study habits in high school, you'll die in college.\n\nSo cut the sh*t out and buckle down now.
858666
It is possible to get a high SAT score in math by studying. But a D in Algebra II- what's going on? Not doing the homework?\nWhen I was in junior high, I deliberatly flubbed the placement for high school, because I didn't want to take Calculus as a junior.\nI was kicking butt in Algebra 1 as a freshman and my friend told the teacher. I got moved into Algebra II as a freshman.\nI ended up with a D as well.\nI ended up dropping out of high school due to a crazy situation at home. Later, while working at a dry cleaners, I had lots of free time, and I was bummed that I didn't graduate. I got the Baron's SAT guide and worked the problems over and over for months.\nEnded up with a 650 math. Graduated from UCSB, but I went to state college first and transferred later. \nPursue your dreams and never give up!\nOh yeah it helps if you can write a good essay, maybe you can explain your math grades.
1156210
you have to take writing SATII or you did before they made the new SAT I. but honestly people change their majors so much that the subjects of your SATII's don't matter that much. if you insist i would take biology or chemistry both were easy. it would be better for you to do well on the APs though because that can count for credit.
885030
apply as undecided if you dont know what you want to do. Rutgers is a "Public Ivy" school if you dont have the grades you wont get in anyhow.