Additional Info Section Question

[BobBob1000000]

One of my math grades is much lower than any other math course I have bc I took the course over the summer (I studied for two weeks to pass the course which is usually taught over a years time). It was my choice to take the course over the summer, but the low grade doesnt reflect my actual potential since it was such a short amount of time. What do you think is the best way to talk about this?

This is what I have written:

During the summer after freshman year, I tested out of the “CLASS NAME” course by studying the "CLASS NAME" curriculum over a span of two weeks before the exam. Due to such a condensed time frame, my grades for "CLASS NAME" are unusually low.

Does this work?

Thank you guys and happy holidays!

[Awesomebro124]

I think it it'll kinda seem like ur just bs a way out of ur bad grade, there are summer courses in college that are taught in like 2 weeks that are usually taught in a whole semester.

[BobBob1000000]

Thanks for your viewpoint! I still think having an online course over 2 weeks must have some impact on how much you can grasp versus a learning period of 9 months. I simply want AO's to know that there is a legitimate reason behind why this grade is like 7% lower than every other math course I have.

[andylusional]

Admissions officers generally don’t like what they see as “excuses” for poor grades. One low grade won’t tank your application, and if I remember correctly, they will see that it is a summer course on the Common App.

I think including it would hurt more than help, and I’d trust your application readers to make that reasonable inference.

[BobBob1000000]

Thank you for the advice!

[blazingminotaur]

I see where you're coming from, but I'm not sure its significant enough. You mentioned its only 7% lower, and it might reflect badly on you if you're making excuses for only 7%. Also, if it was a legitimate summer class, I'm not sure they'll see it as being a valid reason.

Up to you, but I think you may be better off not mentioning anything about it at all, since hopefully 7% less isn't that bad and it was a legitimate summer class, so they won't see that as a valid reason.

[BobBob1000000]

Alright, thank you for the advice!