If I have 4 B’s during my first year and a half of high school (1 first semester freshman year and 3 during my first semester of sophomore year), but I have straight A’s for the rest of high school, are my chances for top tier colleges (Ivy, UChicago, Stanford, etc.) ruined? This is assuming a 1500+ SAT and strong extracurriculars. Also, I’m Mongolian if that changes anything. Thanks in advance.
What is your GPA? Are you in school in Mongolia or in the US?
My GPA will be around a 3.8 due to the B’s. I go to school in the US. I am of Mongolian descent.
An UW GPA of 3.8 is still very good. It sounds like you are only going into your Junior year. Continue to do well and avoid chance me threads especially when you are only guessing at your SAT scores.
Colleges like a climbing GPA, but don’t put so much pressure on yourself. Make sure you take classes that aren’t over your head, find leadership opportunities and ways to contribute to your community outside academics. A high SAT or ACT would really help, and some hooks! Will your family consider moving to North Dakota? 
No, we are long-time Texans.
So would you guys say that if I display an upward trend (all A’s) from the second semester of sophomore year onwards, top tier colleges will consider me academically qualified?
Yes, but remember it’s a holistic approach. GPA is the most important but standardized test scores, your recs, ECs and essays are also important. But yes, all is not lost…look forward, not back, and soar @SameedSayeed
Agree. I think your grades are still great and you have even more time to show how exceptional you are. Study for your SATs, do well in school and get involved in your community. You have a great future ahead of you.
In order to compensate for the B’s, where should I aim for SAT? Obviously, I will try to ace it, but what it is a realistic score that I should be aiming for?
I really hate to play the what score do I need game. Look at the averages for the schools you are interested in. Try to be on the top half of the average or in the top 25%. That would be ideal but please don’t think you don’t have a chance no matter what side of the average you are on. Just do your best.
I think it is important to give applicants relevant data points to assess exactly what they are up against. I hate seeing applicants go into the process with an unrealistic expectations and apply to all super reach schools, maybe some high match and not research more schools that are truly matches and a few safeties so that they have a rational set of colleges they will apply to, with a good mix of reach, match and safety. The OP has 3 semesters to burnish his gpa/rank, 4 B’s are not deal killers, so definitely do your best. In terms of your gpa though, you have not provided any information on rigor which could be portrayed in a weighted gpa, number of AP or honors courses or better yet, class rank (top 5-10% or better?).
You should realize that for the set of schools you listed, the SAT is going to need to be in mid 1400’s or higher, or ACT 31/32+ to be even in the 25th percentile.
Through your essays, LoR’s and EC’s, you will have to further distinguish yourself from the thousands of other applicants to that school who have similar or even superior stat’s.
You are lucky to be living in Texas. The flagship schools there, UT Austin and TAM,have excellent honors programs as well as being pretty decent schools outside the honors programs. If you are in the top 7% of your class (at least for 2017- Spring 2019 applicants), you are an autoadmit to UT Austin (but not to any specific school or honors program). That is not a bad place to be come fall of senior year in terms of shots you can take at reach schools.
I have a very tough course rigor. My freshman year, I took all PAP courses. My Sophomore year, I took 4 AP classes and 3 PAP classes. I am taking all AP classes my junior and senior year. So far, I’ve gotten a 5 on Calculus, a 4 on Biology, and a 5 World History. I am top 10% of my class.