Let's talk about C's – is it really a bad grade?

Is a "C" a bad grade? Whether you’re in high school or college, getting your first "C" can be a heart freezing moment – especially if you are used to A's. What will your parents say? Will it impact your entire GPA? We want to calm your nerves and let you know – a C is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it’s a fairly good grade. Here’s why it gets a bad rap and how you can go about raising it.

What does a "C" mean?

A "C" simply means "satisfactory performance" or "average." It's the bare minimum of good work – you're completing all of your assignments, handing in your homework, and answering a majority of questions on your tests correctly. C usually also means the student is paying attention to word counts for essays and requirements for projects, but not going beyond the minimum.

Here's a quick look at how a C generally relates to percentages and unweighted 4.0 grade point averages (GPA) in high school and college. Keep in mind that some institutions follow slightly different systems.

Is a "C" a bad grade?

No, a C isn't necessarily a bad grade. A "bad" grade is subjective and relates to your personal goals. A C is "satisfactory."

A C in college or high school is often thought of as "barely passing," but that's not really true. The definition we gave up above has nothing about failing in it, after all. While your parents may have something to say about anything less than an A, the idea that an "A" is the only good grade is a mindset that it would do you good to get away from.

Instead, think of a C as a solid foundation. You're understanding a majority of the course material, so there's plenty of room for improvement if you're willing to put in the work!

Is a C- on a test bad?

No, a C- on a test isn't bad. As with an overall C grade, it simply means there’s room for improvement. Take a look at what you answered incorrectly and understand the reason you got it wrong. If you're not sure about the correct answer or you're confused about the process, talk to your teacher for further clarification.

However, keep in mind that several C-'s on tests in a single class impacts your overall grade. If you end up failing some assignments, too, you don’t have a lot of wiggle room before you’re failing the class.

Regular C's can impact opportunities

While a C isn't a bad thing, regular C's could impact the opportunities available to you. Here are a few examples:

• You'll have lower college acceptance chances. Highly competitive colleges and universities are looking for top grades, usually weighted above 4.0. C’s on your report card could reduce your chances of getting accepted to these schools.
• Credits might not transfer 1:1. If you take college courses, such as AP or dual-credit classes, in high school and earn C's, your credits likely won’t transfer 1:1. Instead, you might receive elective credit. This is also the case should you decide to transfer during college.
• They could impact graduate school. Too many C's as an undergraduate can impact your opportunities for graduate school or extremely competitive programs, such as veterinarian school.
• There's less wiggle room. If you have a tough semester and accidentally get a few C's and lower, the school will likely place you on a probationary period. In college, if your grade drops below a certain GPA, you don’t improve it after the probationary period, and you don’t give a reason, you could be asked to leave.
• You'll have fewer opportunities for scholarships. Merit scholarships usually require high grades. If your GPA is lower, you'll be out of the running for many of these awards. However, did you know there are some awards specifically for C students?

But a solid C throughout all of your high school or college classes will usually not stop you from graduating!

How can you aim for higher grades?

A C grade or a C-level GPA doesn’t define your potential. If you want to elevate your grades, there are several ways to do just that!

1. Study

This may be obvious, but for some college students who breezed through high school, it doesn't come naturally. Studying is a must do in college, no matter how well you feel you retain information. If you’re getting C's in college when you got A's in high school, this could be the missing puzzle piece.

2. Don't expect overnight progress

Changing your grade from a C to a B to an A is not going to happen overnight in most cases. Work towards small improvements over time and start adopting better studying habits that will stick with you into later classes and years.

3. Identify anything you forgot to turn in

Did you overlook an essay that could have drastically changed your grade? Or a homework module you forgot to turn in? Talk to your teacher or professor – some will be understanding and allow you to turn in late work for a lower grade. This could give you the boost you need to get to a B at least!

However, if your instructor doesn't let you turn in late projects, take it as a lesson. Use a planner or the calendar on your phone to improve your time management and organization skills.

4. Go beyond

Getting more than a C on your report card means doing more than the bare minimum. You can potentially raise your grade by:

• Participating more in class
• Writing beyond the page limit or word count (as long as you don't pass the maximum allowed amount)
• Meeting with your teacher during their office hours to ask about work and how you can improve
• Working with someone in your class, a study group, or a tutor to better understand the subject matter

A "C" really isn't a bad grade, but it's understandable that you may not be happy with it. While you should aim to improve your grades, you shouldn’t beat yourself up over the C, especially if it's your only one. It doesn't define you or your potential during and after school. Take a look at where improvements can be made and how you can boost it to a B, or even an A!

Part of applying for colleges is finding "target schools," where you have a pretty good chance of getting accepted based on your grades, standardized test scores, and extracurriculars. Need help finding your target schools? Use our College Match tool for free to get started!