I know. I know. This question has been asked multiple times. But I wanted to see if there were possible success stories of people with no hooks who dropped from A’s to B’s on the midyear report and still got into ivies and other similar tiered schools
I got deferred from UPenn ED without them seeing my senior grades. Now that I am applying RD I am worried about the B- in AP Physics C and the B in AP Calc BC for my first semester grades when in previous years I only got A’s/A-'s. My ECs are rly good and I’ve been doing a lot with them my senior year and I am sure my essays will be good. So will this drop in grades significantly decrease my chances for Cornell and UPenn RD(my school’s stats show a lot of high GPA kids with meh ECs that get in Cornell RD). Otherwise I am going to ED2 Uchicago because I also rly like that school and think I will have a good chance doing ED2 there.
Sorry for the long message but I rly need some advice. Thanks!
Will it impact your chances, yes most likely. I don’t think anyone can really say how significant an impact or not it will be, but a trend down isn’t great especially in 2 core classes.
What is your major? If you are applying for engineering or business this will be way more problematic than than if you are applying for history or studio art.
U of Chicago is another tough admit. We don’t know about you to answer this question, in my opinion. By all means apply but make sure you have some other schools that you know will admit you (and that you can afford).
Potentially because you’re not quite the student you were before. But if you don’t get in, you’ll never know why. And the odds of you getting in are single digit - and you already were deferred. That’s regardless of updated grades.
You applied. See what happens. But like everyone, have an assured school that excites you.
My SAT is 1530 and I’ve got various debate awards, math competition awards, volunteering hours, and a research paper. I am also first gen which my school guidance counselor acts like could excuse me for my drop in grades but idk about that
Grades are more important than ECs and awards. If ECs are causing your grades to drop maybe you should cut back on them a bit and refocus on your school work.
I don’t agree that grades are more important, all the time, depending on the EC’s. I can’t tell if all the EC’s here are in-school (except the volunteering of course).
First gen doesn’t explain the drop and excuses are not helpful. But if you have an extenuating circumstance (family became homeless, you got sick, you had to work more etc.) the guidance counselor can write about it, so meet with them.
Whether you get in to these schools or not, this is not a disaster for your life. Check out Colleges that Change Lives for example for other schools to apply to, depending on affordability.
Ideally AOs will want a good grade in calc for this.
But as others say, if you don’t get in you will never know why. The vast vast vast majority of student don’t get in to these schools and majority of candidates are remarkable students.
I do alum interviews for an ivy, i see truly amazing students turned away each year.
Good luck!! It is a rough process and just make sure you have good target/safeties too. You never know:)
Also, you could have had no drop in grades and still not get in to any of the schools you’ve listed. They are reaches for everyone.
Best thing to do is realize that those cakes are baked…if you are worried find some other schools to apply to in addition to the ones you’ve already done.
How? You were first generation before your grades dropped too.
The very highly competitive schools for admissions expect your grades to be maintained.
But really…as noted…one or two B/B- grades will likely not be the reason you don’t get accepted, if you don’t. And if you don’t get accepted, you will never know why. There are many students with perfect GPAs who are denied admission at these colleges. There simply aren’t enough seats to accommodate all of the very stellar applicants.
I will add…your ECs will not likely make up for your GPA…but then your GPA shouldn’t be that much lower with two B grades.