BIG PROBLEM!!!! HELP!!!!!!!?

Question

I'm a homeschooled high school student. I've got 72 As and a D so far. The only D I've got is because of a careless mistake. I take all the tests online, and I always write down the answers on a piece of paper first and then input the answers at one time and submit it. When I input the answers of the test which I got a D, I carelessly filled an answer to the wrong question, and as you've already guessed, I did the same thing to all the following questions. And of course, I failed the test. Then I took the makeup test. According to the school policy, the highest grade I could get on a makeup test was D.

I'm gonna apply to college later this year and I hope I can get into a decent LAC. Do you think it's necessary for me to write an email to the colleges, or attach a note to the application, to explain about this D? Will this D strongly affect the admission? I'm afraid the admission officers will question my attitude towards study. Or worse, think about it, you got As on every test, and suddenly you got a D, will the admission officers suspect that I cheated on all the other tests? For Pete's sake, I HATE CHEATING!

So what do you think? Should I expressly explain about it?

Answer 1

Okay, take a deep breath.  I would have an explanation ready if anyone asks, but don't jump in with "excuses".  Most applications will ask you to write a letter explaining why you want to attend their college.  Then I would point out your excellent grades, and high ethical standards. If you are asked about the D, explain it, otherwise, I wouldn't even acknowledge that its there.  Good luck.

Answer 2

Okay, let's look at this statistically...72 A's and 1 D. That's 73 grades. Out of 73 grades, 1.4% was barely passing (the D). 98.6% was exceptional...nothing but the best (72 As). Do you really think that out of 73 grades, that 1 bad one is going to affect your admission?

Colleges look at the whole picture. They don't take each grade piece by piece and pick and choose which one is the best and which one is not. I don't feel it is necessary to explain this D. IF you are ever asked about it, then you can explain it.

Keep this in mind also: you have so many As on your record. There's a chance that admissions might not even notice the D. You don't want to draw any unnecessary attention to that. You want to focus on the positive, not the negative with college admissions.

You mention the admission officers questioning your attitude towards study. Almost 100% of your grades are A's!!!! That to me says A LOT about your studies. Don't worry, you will get into an excellent school. Everyone makes mistakes and yours was less than 2% of your entire academic career!!!!

Answer 3

Hey, everyone goofs sooner or later.

Your 72 "A"s should speak for themselves. IF queried, simply explain that you made a mistake, but do not get defensive.

A good LAC will overlook one bad grade

Answer 4

No no, don't go in all defensive.  There are plenty of kids who bring their grades up and colleges will look positively on that kind of determination, not negatively.  And if a counselor asks you, you can tell him/her the situation.

What will really affect admission is your SAT scores and your GPA.  If your overall GPA is good, then one D doesn't matter.  If your SAT scores are high, that's even better.

Answer 5

You have nothing to worry about.  No one will think you cheated on all the other tests; it's more likely that they will recognize the D as an aberration.  Don't forget that along with your GPA and your SAT scores, colleges like to interview their candidates.  If a school is interested in you, and concerned about your D, they will ask you and you will explain it.  Otherwise, forget it.  You have nothing to hide, but also no reason to bring it up yourself either

Answer 6

One D will not harm your chances of admission. I actually got one D, in junior year French, and I still got into elite schools. Don't stress about the one D.

If all the rest of your grades are good, and you do well on the SATs, and the rest of your application is strong, that one D won't hurt you at all.  

Answer 7

Seriously with seventy two a's don't worry about it. Most people would commit felonies to do as well as you've done.

Answer 8

well i think you should always be honesty like come on everyone has cheated on a test but if you like lie to the collage your lie will get bigger so do what you think is right =]