Life isn't going so great right now

[Kevin]

I've been feeling down recently due my grandfather who I was very close to passing on. However things have gotten worse now as I am facing a multi-front collaspe in school as my poor results on my math and AP Psychlogy exams could quite possibly bring me F's in those classes for the semester, which is not good news when I am applying to colleges/universites. In addition I think I could have done poorly on my AP Government mid-term exam which wil bring me down for a high B to I don't know what.

However I cared and worked hard and I don't know what to think and I'm espeically concerned about my college/universty prospects now.

I've just worked too hard to fail now.

[Keystone Phil]

Don't worry too much, my friend. You've been through a very rough patch. You need to stop being so hard on yourself. Sure, failing those classes is not a good thing but guess what? You're taking three AP classes! That's nuts.

Just try to calm down.

[Associate Justice PiT]

You're taking three AP classes! That's nuts.

     Indeed. My school only offers three APs total & it is pretty much impossible to take more than two of them.

[Hash]

Try to calm down. That's what I do. For example, in Bio, I'm doing quite badly, but I decided to calm down and take it one day a time. I try to cheer me up with reminders of how well I'm doing in other IB classes, like History or English. Do that.

You're taking three AP classes! That's nuts.

     Indeed. My school only offers three APs total & it is pretty much impossible to take more than two of them.

I take six IB courses.

[Mint]

I'm really sorry to hear about your grandfather...

Anyway, don't worry about it. Grades don't count for as much as people think, a lot of colleges will be willing to overlook that provided you have decent SAT scores and/or extra curriculars. Save the nail biting for when you actually can be kicked out based on performance alone.

[Keystone Phil]

Try to calm down. That's what I do. For example, in Bio, I'm doing quite badly, but I decided to calm down and take it one day a time. I try to cheer me up with reminders of how well I'm doing in other IB classes, like History or English. Do that.

You're taking three AP classes! That's nuts.

     Indeed. My school only offers three APs total & it is pretty much impossible to take more than two of them.

I take six IB courses.

Oh, what a genius!

[Kevin]

I'm really sorry to hear about your grandfather...

Anyway, don't worry about it. Grades don't count for as much as people think, a lot of colleges will be willing to overlook that provided you have decent SAT scores and/or extra curriculars. Save the nail biting for when you actually can be kicked out based on performance alone.

I don't have the test scroes due to a learning disabilty in math, but my extracurriculars will demolish everyone elses any day.

I'm just afraid this sudden downswing will cost me any chance at Gettysburg let alone any college/university

[Associate Justice PiT]

You're taking three AP classes! That's nuts.

     Indeed. My school only offers three APs total & it is pretty much impossible to take more than two of them.

I take six IB courses.

     My school offers zero of those things.

     But the reason that it's virtually impossible is because two of them are Chemistry & Physics. Normally you would do one junior year & either do the other or the AP one senior year. Because of that, if you wanted to take both APs, you would need to take it in summer school, or drop Math & take that in summer school, or both.

[© tweed]

Try to calm down. That's what I do. For example, in Bio, I'm doing quite badly, but I decided to calm down and take it one day a time. I try to cheer me up with reminders of how well I'm doing in other IB classes, like History or English. Do that.

You're taking three AP classes! That's nuts.

     Indeed. My school only offers three APs total & it is pretty much impossible to take more than two of them.

I take six IB courses.

Oh, what a genius!

I knew a few people who took as many as seven APs in one year.  I maxed out at four

[Keystone Phil]

Try to calm down. That's what I do. For example, in Bio, I'm doing quite badly, but I decided to calm down and take it one day a time. I try to cheer me up with reminders of how well I'm doing in other IB classes, like History or English. Do that.

You're taking three AP classes! That's nuts.

     Indeed. My school only offers three APs total & it is pretty much impossible to take more than two of them.

I take six IB courses.

Oh, what a genius!

I knew a few people who took as many as seven APs in one year.  I maxed out at four

Yeah, that's great. I was just getting on his case for fishing for compliments/praise. 

[Hash]

Try to calm down. That's what I do. For example, in Bio, I'm doing quite badly, but I decided to calm down and take it one day a time. I try to cheer me up with reminders of how well I'm doing in other IB classes, like History or English. Do that.

You're taking three AP classes! That's nuts.

     Indeed. My school only offers three APs total & it is pretty much impossible to take more than two of them.

I take six IB courses.

Oh, what a genius!

I knew a few people who took as many as seven APs in one year.  I maxed out at four

Yeah, that's great. I was just getting on his case for fishing for compliments/praise. 

Which I did not at all intend to do. I stated a fact.

You're taking three AP classes! That's nuts.

     Indeed. My school only offers three APs total & it is pretty much impossible to take more than two of them.

I take six IB courses.

     My school offers zero of those things.

     But the reason that it's virtually impossible is because two of them are Chemistry & Physics. Normally you would do one junior year & either do the other or the AP one senior year. Because of that, if you wanted to take both APs, you would need to take it in summer school, or drop Math & take that in summer school, or both.

Some people take all 3 sciences (Bio, Chem, Physics). I'm already sucking in Bio, I couldn't imagine how I would die doing all 3 sciences.

[Associate Justice PiT]

You're taking three AP classes! That's nuts.

     Indeed. My school only offers three APs total & it is pretty much impossible to take more than two of them.

I take six IB courses.

     My school offers zero of those things.

     But the reason that it's virtually impossible is because two of them are Chemistry & Physics. Normally you would do one junior year & either do the other or the AP one senior year. Because of that, if you wanted to take both APs, you would need to take it in summer school, or drop Math & take that in summer school, or both.

Some people take all 3 sciences (Bio, Chem, Physics). I'm already sucking in Bio, I couldn't imagine how I would die doing all 3 sciences.

     How does one get time to do that? I imagine it would just barely be possible if I wanted to give up all my tutorials & stay late after-school, but I'd rather spend that time TAing, playing music, playing football, &c.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I'm really sorry to hear about your grandfather...

Anyway, don't worry about it. Grades don't count for as much as people think, a lot of colleges will be willing to overlook that provided you have decent SAT scores and/or extra curriculars. Save the nail biting for when you actually can be kicked out based on performance alone.

I don't have the test scroes due to a learning disabilty in math, but my extracurriculars will demolish everyone elses any day.

I'm just afraid this sudden downswing will cost me any chance at Gettysburg let alone any college/university

Let me tell you a little story from my schooling days.  It was back in the sixth grade (now I know sixth grade is a lot less stressful than worrying about college admission, but try to see what I'm saying).  It was the middle of March of my 6th grade year in the 1994-1995 school year.  We had already passed the end of the third nine weeks and passed spring break when my grades started to tumble and tumble they did.  By the end of April 1995, I had racked up 7 zeroes in English and 1 zero in Social Studies and I was in real danger of having to repeat the sixth grade, which would have been the second repeat of a grade in my life (I repeated the first grade due to developmental issues).  I turned 13 on April 29, 1995, but wasn't able to enjoy my entrance into teenagehood because of those 8 zeroes.  My old man was so furious that on May 1 he whacked me 8 times on my seat with a solid board.  Thankfully, both my English teacher and my Social Studies teacher were kind enough to let me make up all eight of those zeroes.  I just had to give up about two weeks worth of recesses in early May (I was never much of a recess kid anyway).  I made up all eight of those zeroes and actually came out with all A's and B's in all my classes with my lowest class being an 83% in Science class.  I even got an A in both English and S.S. 

I say all that to say this.  You've been through a very rough patch in your schooling.  You can't change the past, so why worry about it.  Just control what you can control and keep your head up, keep your chin up, stand up straight, and face the fallout from your rough patch like a man.  I don't know if you'll get into the college you want, but I know this, you're a very smart young man and I sincerely believe you will get into a college and a pretty high-ranking college or university at that.  Whether or not you get into the college you specifically want is another story, but even if you don't, it will still be nice to look back on the rough patch and know that you took it like a man and did your best the rest of the way.  The Spring Semester is still young and you've got plenty of time to make up for those poor grades.  Just don't give up now.  Take heart, buck up, and get to work.

I'm praying for you, Kevin.