I have heard that if you get a D in high school you cant go to a four year college is that true If so does it matter what class you get a D in?

Answer 1

The class and grade requirements vary greatly by institution, so the mere fact that you had or may have a single "D" is not the end of the world.

The best thing to do is visit the websites of the types of Universities, Colleges, or Trade Schools in which you are interested and review their specific requirements, usually under "Admissions". Some things, like standardized test scores, are pretty well a given, although if you show great promise, a few points may be negotiable. Most four year schools also take into account such things as community involvement, leadership, participation in sports, and work experience. For some schools, a particular activity can even lead to scholarships and other preferential treatment, so be sure to keep those activities in mind and attempt to weave them into your life.

Although you obviously want to do as well as you are able, if you find a subject in which you always have difficulty:

- Talk to the teacher and try to arrange a time for some extra help.

- Ask for added assignments to help master the basics of the subject. (Homework is not always bad.)

- Talk to a guidance counselor, who may be able to help arrange in-school, after-school, or at-home tutoring. Also ask about the benefits, and any potential issues with any locally-available paid tutoring services or companies.

- If you do not meet the requirements for your intended institution, due to a poor grade in a previous year, make arrangements to retake the class in summer school or a comparable class at a Community College.

In addition to most likely helping you get up to par, or even excel in a subject or subjects, documenting the steps taken to better yourself and including that along with your application can be another way of making your application stand out.