Hi, I have 1 B till junior year with a GPA of 3.95/4.8, but my senior year mid-term is ending up as 3 B’s mostly due to college applications and 2 university courses(dual enrollment) in my major of computers. I may be able to recover to an A in a few for year-end grades but colleges get my mid-term now, and my stats are the more strong for admissions so the clarification is:
Will this be considered bad for admissions decisions - mostly by IVY colleges
if I had the option to ask my HS to remove one of the 2 dual enrollment university grades which is a B from my transcript will this help or will the colleges give more weightage to me trying heavier course load i.e. 2 CS university courses even though I got a B. If I can get my HS to remove 1 college course from my transcript at least now I will have 2 B instead of 3 B
That ship has sailed. Your first semester senior year grades are what they are, and the colleges will see them. It is possible that they would bear in mind that two college level Comp Sci classes, in addition to what I bet was a challenging class load at the high school, would be a lot for anyone, and will take it all in context. But at this point, there’s really nothing that you can do to keep them from seeing the grades. Frankly, I don’t think that B’s in college level Comp Sci classes while in 12th grade is that bad!
In general, people who get into Ivies have very high grades and scores, plus impressive ECs, plus they bring something that the school wants - some “hook” or “spike” that sets them apart from the general pool. I realize that it’s hard for you to hear this, but you may not have gotten into any of those Ivies even if you had gotten straight A’s this semester. And if the Ivy had wanted you for your “hook” or “spike”, the 3 B’s probably would not have kept you out. So let it go.
Meanwhile, do you have academic and financial matches and safeties on your list? By that I mean schools that you would be happy to wind up at, that your family is likely to be able to afford? If not, it’s time to put in applications to schools that would want you, that are likely to offer you merit money, and your local state college/state U, to which you could commute, plus your flagship state U, if it’s not too late. Hopefully, you’ve already done this. If not, time to make haste and do so.
Not sure if HS will accept my argument to remove the one with the B which was the extra course taken, but it is worth asking only if 2 B’s instead of 3 B will look better on transcript vs 2 university courses which indicate more challenge or heavier course load even though it resulted in B.
Thank you! Yes, safety is secured with public universities, and 3 acceptance out with one of them in the top 10 CS, but dream school is Ivy though chances are low with no so strong EC or essays.
You are golden already. Just relax, forget about it, let the chips fall where they may. I think that it will not make any difference, either way. They might be more impressed wiith the two college CS classes, even if you did get Bs in them, than with only one, with a B. Let them see the two college classes.
thanks! not sure about that, applications are already in with junior year grades, and self-reporting where required. Many colleges ask for mid-year reports and those are sent by HS
Even IF the high school removes a college course (which I doubt they will do since you are taking it), you will be required to send the transcript to the college(s) at some point which will include that course.
You say you have some sure things for admission (and hopefully affordability) on your application list. I say…your grades are your grades. Let this go.
The comment above regarding revealing grades is correct. Applicants must report all college courses taken for credit whether high school approved or not. Even if you just need to self report now, you would have to send official transcripts once admitted.
As there is no choice to be made regarding that issue, try not to worry. Spend your energy on working on raising your grades if possible and preparing for any interviews. You can always update colleges on your progress.
You have obviously worked very hard and there are schools that will appreciate your efforts to maximize learning, perhaps especially given COVID and much continued virtual programming.
The pressure to do everything and perform well is understandable given the colleges you are reaching for, but allow yourself to make some mistakes and consider adjusting your workload going forward. Learning from experiences like this is one of the benefits of having them. Good luck!