Hi! Sophomore in high school who dreams of getting into an Ivy League or similar level prestigious and competitive college here. I’m also in a four-year program my school offers called the Early College Program, meaning that I am enrolled in Irvine Valley College and take college courses for the same amount of credit as an AP. If I’ve done my math right, only 6% of students at my high school are in this program, which does help to make me stand out in an otherwise very competitive school.
On to the point for this thread. I just finished the Fall Semester, and got back my grades. Everything’s good, except that I got a B+ in Pre-Calculus Honors. The way that my school calculates weighted GPA means that Honors classes and AP classes both have a point added, meaning that if you have an A, it’s worth 5 points. So my current weighted GPA is now 4.56, and my unweighted is 3.89. The transition between CP math in Freshman year to Honors in Sophomore year was a bit tricky for me, and I hope to end with an A this coming Spring Semester.
Still, I’m a bit worried about the impact this B will have. I’m not sure if I’ve stressed this enough, MY SCHOOL IS FULL OF TRYHARDS. I’m worried about how this is gonna look. I’ve lost the chance to have a 4.0 unweighted GPA. I guess what I’m looking for is a good reference of just how closely competitive colleges will look. Is an application with anything other than straight-A’s just thrown out? What are my chances now? I hope to pursue a career in law, so does the B being in a math class make it not as bad? I would really just like a good reference as to how this impacts me. I really don’t know that much about the college application process since both my parents had their education outside of the USA.
A single B+ isn’t going to keep you out of any school. You sound like a strong student. That being said, you need to expand your definition of what a a good college is. Competition for T20 schools is fierce and most applicants- regardless of how accomplished-won’t be accepted.
Stop being worried about this. One B grade (or even a few) won’t tank your chances.
Broaden your thinking about college. Look at the characteristics of the schools you like, not their rankings or prestige level.
If you don’t get accepted to places with acceptance rates under 10%, you will never know why.
There are plenty of kids who don’t have straight A grades who get accepted to top schools….AND there are plenty of kids with perfect GPAs who get rejected.
A B+ is nothing at all to worry about. It is the course rigor that matters more than the Gpa. You need to talk with your guidance counselor and find out if the early college program is the most competitive as far as rigor. In some high schools, this type of program is the best as far as college prep and kids who go to the most selective colleges take that program. However, there are numerous examples of High school early college programs across our state that are NOT considered the most rigorous. Instead, the high school’s AP or IB program is the most rigorous. You need to find out what is considered tops in your HS, and then find out if you are eligible for such a program. Some High schools have tracks and it is hard to get on the most rigorous track if you don’t have the prereqs.
The other much more important thing to consider is to get on the track that is right for you: you say your school is full of “try-hards”: please understand that the ivies and similar tier are packed with lots and lots of kids who love to learn, push themselves very hard, enjoy competition, and yes a huge majority had a 3.9-4.0 uw GPA in HS. They are wonderful exhilarating places for the right students who fit that. They can be anxiety-inducing and overwhelming for those that don’t. Someone has to be below the mean in these schools: how will that make you feel? If HS competition bothers you significantly already, do you really want to be in an even more competitive environment for 4 yrs?
There are so many colleges out there that could be a wonderful fit for you. Please do not fixate on ivy-types.
Be the best you that you can be - and you’ll end up in the right place…whether it accepts 6% or 60%.
You’re a kid and all this pressure is not necessary.
Join the band, play a sport, participate in a club, get a job.
Keep up the great grades and rigor (not that doesn’t mean perfect grades), do well on the test, be well rounded, and most importantly - BE A KID - and everything will work out.
btw - what will that selective school necessarily get you than a less selective one won’t? There are successes and non successes from all levels of schools.
A B+ will not tank you chances at an Ivy League school - but the low acceptance rates just might. Plenty of 4.0 students get rejected from T20s every year - in fact, the vast majority do. And plenty of students will less than a 4.0 get accepted. The reality is that everyone’s chances are very low. So don’t stress AT ALL about a B+. It’s a good grade in a difficult class. Try to relax. And start looking beyond the T20 for some other schools. Not because the B+ means you can’t get into a T20, but because most excellent applicants won’t get in - the odds are against you from the get go. Shoot your shot, of course, but have a good back up plan. And that has NOTHING to do with getting a B+.
I live in Southern California and I can’t imagine the stress of being in one of those Irvine high schools. The best thing you can do is stop worrying about what other kids at your school are doing. Take classes that interest you and participate in activities you enjoy. Do your best at both of these things.
A single B+ is not going to take you out of the running anywhere. The odds of getting into a highly rejective school are low, even for the tryhardiest tryhard you know. Instead of worrying about that, which is something you can’t control, think about what qualities you want in a college and do some research to find more colleges that fit those criteria. That is something you can control. By the time you are a senior you will have so many interesting possibilities.
The concern I have is why did you get a B+. Make sure you understand the work. The grade isn’t a concern. But math builds - you want to ensure you are ready to understand the next class up.
Cuz the people in my school who got into ivies, none had anything lower than an A except for 2 of them, but both made up for it with strong ecs (one with physics, usapho bronze award I think and published research, other was just cracked at violin)
My unhooked kid got into 3 Ivies and Duke and had 2 Bs so that proves it doesn’t “tank” you😀
I guess my anecdotal experience offsets yours so perhaps neither of us should make broad generalizations. Context matters and OP should focus on doing their personal best at this early stage while avoiding the noise of people extrapolating their unique experiences.
OK so let’s be pessimistic and say that this B+ means you won’t get into Harvard, Stanford, whatever other highly rejective college you want to name…So what? There are literally hundreds of colleges in the US that will offer you an excellent education. And if you want to go to law school - all the better. Law schools do not care whether or not you went to an Ivy. They care about your college GPA and LSAT. And once you’ve gone to law school NO ONE will care where you did your undergraduate degree.
Ivy Is a sport league and the schools are different. You want to find a school you like.
At your local UCs, lots of Ivy level kids and some who rejected Ivies are walking campus.
Ivy, as a name, is not an intelligent aspiration.
Be the best you and find the right school for you.
Lots of Ivy non successes. Lots of CSUF successes, as an example.
Relax. Waaaay too early to add this much stress to your life.
Ohhhh I missed the law. This year 147 schools represented at Harvard Law. Last year 174. Schools like CSULA and Northridge abd OOS schools you likely never heard of schools Noche gives a B and C to. Low rated. Yale law is similar but smaller - the school list and school. Lots of - u of make your low ranked flagship.
If you’re torturing yourself now, what will you do when you need a top LSAT and GPA - and another $300k on top of the $400k fit Ivy undergrad.
Your expectations are just a tad off kilter or moreso …