_:nb370d3f67dda46079c2f589126ecc15fxb4
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"It is possible to get into a top college with some lower grades, but it will be harder.\r\n\r\nAs @nadiakhan said, if you got the C due to extenuating circumstances (illness, family issues, etc.), colleges will be more understanding. You can certainly explain those circumstances in the Additional Information section of the Common App. If your grades have improved, that also works in your favor. You might want to read this CollegeVine article for more info: https://blog.collegevine.com/can-i-get-into-a-top-college-with-a-c-on-my-transcript/\r\n\r\nIf you get a high SAT score, that can certainly help increase your chances. Top colleges use what's called the Academic Index (AI) as a screening tool for applicants. AI is a numerical representation of your academic achievements (grades, test scores, difficulty of courses). If your AI doesn't meet minimum thresholds, you might get automatically rejected. If you do meet the minimum, your application should at least get read, but it doesn't guarantee acceptance by any means. The fastest way to improve your AI is to improve your test scores. Here's more about AI in this post: https://blog.collegevine.com/what-is-the-academic-index-how-is-it-calculated/\r\n\r\nHope this helps, and good luck!"
<https://www.collegevine.com/questions/3340/can-i-get-accepted-if>