Hello! My unweighted GPA is currently around 3.9/4.0, give or take. Additionally, I’m ranked 3/250, and my SAT score is 1570. I plan on majoring in either biology or chemistry, but I am worried that my A- 's and B+ in STEM classes may affect my chances at top colleges.
For context, I am enrolled in an Independent Science Research course at my high school, which spans 9-12 grade. Here are my grades for each year:
Freshman: A+
Sophomore: A-
Junior: A-
The explanation for the dip in grades is that my teacher grades us based on our performance in science fairs, and I haven’t done well in the past two years.
Additionally, I received a B+ in AP Precalculus this year. However, my grade in every other class is an A+.
In my senior year, I am set to take Independent Science Research again, alongside AP Bio and AP Chem. If I do everything I can, I will most likely achieve A’s in these classes. However, will those A- 's in Science Research and B+ in AP Precalculus be detrimental to my application to top undergrads?
So everything is contextual when it comes to grades and how “top” colleges treat them in admissions, and not every “top” college will necessarily react the same to a given transcript for a given applicant. So ideally your HS would have information about how applicants like you have done in the past at various colleges of interest, which could help guide you to the colleges most likely to be looking for such an applicant.
The other thing I would very strongly urge you to do is have a broad sense of what can count as a “top” college option for you. Unfortunately, some people seem to basically believe the harder it is for you to get admitted, the better it must be. This is not just inaccurate, it is highly counterproductive.
So, with your overall very good grades and VERY high test score, a top option for you could potentially be a small Liberal Arts and Sciences college (many are excellent for Bio and Chem) that really fits you well. Or maybe it is an excellent public research university in a fun college town with big time sports. Or maybe it is a college that will give you a big merit scholarship and/or honors college offer. And so on.
There are lots of ways to benefit in college admissions/financial offers with high numbers, and it is unfortunate some kids/parents don’t look beyond trying to get into one of the same few colleges a gazillion kids like them are also trying to get into.
Everyone seems to want to explain away a non-A. But there’s no explanation - that’s your grade. Frankly, there’s no explanation needed because it’s a fine grade!!!
Your record is your record and you can’t control who accepts which student. There is many a 4.0 / 1500 turned down from certain schools. We’ll never know why this happenes but it happens.
Control what you can - learning, doing your best in class (but more importantly, making sure you understand the material, as it oftens builds); you nailed the test, so having great ECs, essays, LORs.
You’ll end up where you’re meant to be.
There’s nary a school in the country that isn’t strong in bio or chem - and you’ll be fine - and with #s like yours, a sure fire admit to FANTASTIC schools - many of them.
Don’t stress, be the best you that you can be, and it will all work out fine.
You’re a high schooler - you don’t need the weight of the world on your shoulders now - especially for a bio or chem degree, which traditionally doesn’t have great outcomes and likely won’t matter where you go.
But I assure you - at least from a grades and SAT POV, you’re in great shape!! Of course, your application is about more than just those two things.