I’m a senior in HS, and I’ve had straight As my whole life (a solid mix of A-, A, and A+, although mostly As and A+s with only a few A-). It’s coming to the end of our first semester, and I’m applying to colleges. I’m currently sitting at a B in my AP calculus class, and I’m not going to be able to get it up before first-semester grades. I know colleges will see this, and I’m wondering how much of an effect it might have. I’ll have As and A+s in all my other classes, but I’m really worried about this B.
I should mention that it’s partially because I have a family member with cancer right now, so it’s been a lot for me recently. I did mention this in the section of the common app for things like this, but I still worry they won’t take it to heart or won’t connect the dots.
No one is perfect. A few B’s are going to happen for the vast majority of students, nearly all students.
There are thousands of colleges and universities in the US, hundreds of them are very, very good, and no more than a tiny, tiny handful are going to care at all about one B in calculus. Getting one B in calculus might make admissions to MIT or Caltech slightly less likely, but with emphasis on “slightly” and otherwise you will be fine (and those two particular schools might still be possible, and were already a high reach even for students with perfect grades, and are not a good fit for all of even the strongest students).
I am sorry to hear about your family member with cancer. I hope that they do well. I actually was diagnosed with cancer about 10 1/2 years ago. Our medical profession has gotten quite good at dealing with it, and many of us can live quite well for quite a long time after the diagnosis. Regardless, a cancer diagnosis is emotionally tough, and is tough for the patient and for their family. Also the prognosis for any particular patient can vary widely depending upon many circumstances. In many cases it can take quite a long time before any particular cancer patient even finds out how well they are likely to do.
You might want to have your guidance counselor mention the family situation in their recommendation. Otherwise I do not think that I would worry about one B.
Make sure that you apply to safeties. Keep your budget in mind. Look for schools that are a good fit for you.
Also, I wish the very best for your family member with cancer. I know that this is a tough diagnosis. I went sailing to mark the 10th anniversary of the day that I was told that I had cancer. I hope that your family member is also doing just as well 10 years from now.