I have a decent GPA (3.9), but over my high school career I have had 7 B’s (due to illness). All of my B’s occur in one year and I have a strong upward trend. Will those B’s strongly impact my chances at top schools?
3.9 GPA I assume is weighted??? What is your UW GPA? UW GPA is more important since there is not consistency on how HS’s weight their classes. What top schools are you looking at applying?
@Gumbymom That is my UW GPA. I take about 30 classes a year. (My school is on trimester schedule so it allows me to do do that.) My weighted is about a 4.4 GPA and I’m looking to apply to Stanford, Yale, Carnegie Mellon, Princeton, MIT, etc.
This probably depends on what classes the B’s were, but 7 Bs at the school you describe should be equivalent to 1 or 2 Bs at a regular high school, which would not be the reason for your rejection anywhere, especially if they were all in freshman year.
bump
You’ll be fine. No point stressing now. What’s done is done.
Even with no Bs, Stanford, Yale, MIT, etc. are reaches. Actually, lotteries. I strongly recommend looking at some universities and LACs outside the Top 25.
@PetulaClark Definitely. I have some safeties in mind like a few in-state schools and top 50 unis.
I am an URM (black) w/ a 1550+ SAT score and some cool ECs, so I just wanted to assess my chances w/ my sucky transcript, so that when I apply my hopes aren’t too high. I am a junior right now so I maybe can do something to improve my chances before that time.
What do you mean by 1550+ SAT, what is your actual score? If it’s a 1550, you’re pretty much in where ever you apply.
What? With this list of possible schools?
“Stanford, Yale, Carnegie Mellon, Princeton, MIT”
@theloniusmonk Well, I made a 1580. I didn’t want to specify because I wasn’t trying to turn this into a “chance me” thread (lol). I come from a rural, underrepresented area (not saying the area for anonymity but…) if that helps. But, I really don’t want to get my hopes up. Luck doesn’t ever play in my favor 
Unless it’s like bad luck (e.g. lightning).
Also, side note, the emojis on this website are dank af. They move and ish.
@bodangles I definitely get what you’re saying. The admissions rate for most of these schools are like under 10 percent, but if you apply to like ten of them, don’t you have a 100% chance? (i’m jking.)
What? With this list of possible schools?
“Stanford, Yale, Carnegie Mellon, Princeton, MIT”,
As a URM with a 1580 score with strong extracurriculars (from the POV of the OP), one’s chances of admission at these schools are significantly higher than a typical, unhooked applicant.
He may not be guaranteed admission anywhere he applies, but he has a definite edge over a lot of prospective applicants.
I’d certainly agree with that. My problem was with the original statement, which was “you’re pretty much in where ever you apply.” Overstating someone’s chances can lead to some hurt feelings when not everything goes as planned.
" if you apply to like ten of them, don’t you have a 100% chance." Do hope you’re aware that’s not so.
“As a URM with a 1580 score with strong extracurriculars (from the POV of the OP), one’s chances of admission at these schools are significantly higher than a typical, unhooked applicant.”
That would be "from the POV of the colleges." But the frequent mistake is in the app and any supps. OP needs to know how to be on his game.
And 7 B grades may be tough.
I get both of you guys. (BTW I’m a female.) I have a better chance than some others but I still can’t get my hopes up. *cries in uncertainty
@lookingforward Yeah totally, but at least there’s a reason for it. I can get my counselor to talk about it in her recc. (I was chronically ill - like hospitalization ill - for like 20 days throughout that year.)
I’m sympathetic. But very top colleges, like those you noted, will be concerned your level of learning (and thus, preparation) is less. Kids tend to focus on competition for an admit. Top tier schools are looking at how prepared you are for the 4 years, that competition, week to week, the classroom expectations and how well other students are prepped and ready. Adcoms can’t go, “Oh, well.”
You have to know what those colleges want. What’s your probable major and what classes got grades lower than A? And ECs matter.
@lookingforward Well, my probable major depends on the school. If it’s Stanford then Symbolic Systems but for others it’s CS. I got B’s in an array of classes (although, never in CS). For my ECs I have won multiple national CS competitions, worked at NASA, and have published research in notable journals. I have also won entrepreneurship competitions, done a prestigious science internship, and founded a couple of clubs on my campus. I also have 5s on all 5 AP exams I have taken so far. Also, I have won national awards for my poetry.
“never in CS.” But what about the core stem?
You need a solid read on what those colleges look for and need, what they say. Otherwise, it’s shooting in the dark, based on assumptions. The entire app and supp matter. Depth *and * breadth.
Founding clubs? What about existing clubs in math-sci at school? What joining with peers, collaboration, and doing for others (responsibilities, not just counting hours.)
This isn’t just hierarchical, I won, I published, etc. Ever read the MIT blogs? See how it’s not about unilateral.
@lookingforward I’ve joined other clubs and have officer positions and stuff. I was just mentioning what I thought was the most notable. I have As in other STEM classes. I didn’t go in too much depth w/ the post because I was just trying to give an overview.