<p>I’m a junior at a highly selective public high school in NYC (10% of applicants qualified to take the test get in; great Ivy admission rates; etc). Until now, my GPA has been a 94.5 – to give you an idea, the average is about 91-92, and the avg GPA accepted to Harvard and Yale is 96, but most other top schools are in the 94-95 range. Also, I have 3 B+'s from 9th grade, when my father died. </p>
<p>I’ve been working harder junior year and really trying to step up my grades, since I know it’s important. However, two of my teachers happen to be really difficult: the avg grade in their classes is about a B, and while I have a B+ in one and an A- in another, I’m worried. Friends taking the same classes with different teachers have A’s. </p>
<p>I guess I’m just wondering if there’s any way I can make up for this? This semester I’ll probably have two A’s, two A-'s, and one B+. I was really trying to go up, though, and although I’ll increase my effort a little more, I feel like it’s almost a bit out of my control…</p>