<p>So I'm applying as a biology major to Cornell CAS. Anyway throughout high school Ive had mostly As in the hardest classes, but in AP biology I only got a B 1st semester and then got an A 2nd semester during my junior year. </p>
<p>Anyway I know biology is way overrepresented by applicants, so I'm not liking my chances from the start, but will my 1st semester B make a big difference for me as an applicant overall to them, as I am applying as a biology major?</p>
<p>I don't know if this is of any importance, but some additional info:
I had an A 1st and 2nd semester in honors bio my freshman year
5 on the bio AP test
740 on the Bio M SAT 2</p>
<p>It really makes no difference.
Waste of time to talk about it now. Whatever happens with admissions happens. Don’t worry about it. I’m no expert, but that kind of small stuff is not really that big in terms of admit or deny and anyway just chill and wait for the RD decisions to come out in April and pick from wherever you get in. Easy.</p>
<p>Of course you aren’t screwed. However, you’re at a disadvantage obviously.<br>
The same goes for your “740” for your SAT II score. You aren’t necessarily “out” yet, but you’re at a disadvantage as there are countless people with stellar scores. I’m assuming you probably have some sort of hook. You’ll find out soon enough anyways…</p>
<p>No, it will not make a difference. The major you’re ‘applying as’ is taken with a pinch of salt. A surprisingly large percentage will change their mind, especially when they enter as biology majors and discover the introductory sequence. It’s mostly in order for them to have some way to balance the class roughly in terms of social science majors, physical science majors, etc. And even if it were to matter a tiny bit, a B doesn’t mean ‘you’re screwed’. My high school transcript literally had the entire range of letter grades when I was accepted to CAS (yes, including an F).</p>
<p>Ok thanks for your help everyone. So lm pretty sure they’d allow me to change my major im applying to as of now, Id robably make it undecided, would this be a good/bad idea?</p>
<p>btw I do not have a hook, my test scores and stats overall are pretty good relative to other Cornell applicants who have gotten in, not where I know I’ll get in or anything but I thought I had a reasonable chance</p>
<p>Oh and I would have to write a new essay an send it in</p>
<p>Come to think of it, I don’t think any Cornell student has ever been accepted witout straight A’s.</p>
<p>You’re screwed!!1!!1;!!!</p>
<p>who cares? Just remember that whereever you go, you’ll do fine in life. Trust me.</p>
<p>@feeling, no offense, but if you are really stressing (and not joking) over this kind of trivial stuff, what’s gonna happen with college. what you are talking about is trivial. if you really have any questions about a grade or two, just call admissions, but that probably won’t help either. just forget about it and enjoy the weekend.
p.s. I kind of thinking you have to know as a high school senior that a senior year b does not make a difference. its trivial compared to the whole application
asking people “am I screwed” has to be a joke (I hope)
you know you are not screwed</p>
<p>just relax and chill…</p>
<p>ok I know I’ve been stressing too much, and it doesn’t really matter til april 1 or whenever I get the decision, at this point I just want to know if anyone thinks I should write a new essay and try to change my “applying as” major if they would allow me</p>
<p>my opinion, forget about it! it will be a waste of time. the bigger thing here is why are you so stressed over this, hope your parents are not stressing you out. just chill, it really makes no difference. I don’t think they ever had anyone changing essays or anything like that. come on, are you joking? if you are serious, then you need to really do whatever to relax and just wait it out. you probably have a school or two already as a safety, maybe your state school, so just forget about it… see what happens in April. asking questions about new essays here at cc is not going to help.
if you can’t stop the stress, talk to someone about it.
that is my opinion.</p>
<p>yeah yeah hopefully its not too big of deal, anyway all I can do is wait til april. thanks for the input</p>
<p>I gotta tell you this, with all the stress you have, I think you should have tried for ed somewhere (or maybe you did I don’t know). I guess you have some safeties or admits already - like to your state school, so don’t stress it. just forget about it and whatever it is , then that is the way it works out. I think you will be just fine. don’t let the stress get to you. enjoy this time and good luck. a b does not make a big difference. There are many who have been admitted with a c on their transcripts. talk to your school college counselor and that should help.</p>
<p>Remember they look at you holistically as an applicant. A blemish will not kill you. Check if they report your grades by semester or by year though :)</p>
<p>Antiflamer, yeah I checked its by semester. Which kinda sucks as I got an A+ 4th quarter in bio but they only see the semester grade, which was an A second semester</p>
<p>I may ask my bio teacher for a letter of recommendation. I already have 2 but Cornell will accept additional materials still, and he might be able to give them a more detailed explanation of how I improved over the course of the year</p>
<p>Rule of thumb: don’t do anything that makes you look desperate. For instance, overcompensating for a B.</p>