<p>I know I shouldn't be stressing but I have a lot of B's on my transcript. However, I'm taking the toughest courseload I could possibly take. Will this hurt me at all?</p>
<p>Depends of what kind've application theme you have, as wel as your background. If you're coming from a tough school, and your courseload is indeed really hard- and you're involved in other activities... you should be fine. </p>
<p>But honesty... you aren't going to get any accurate answers from us. I guess it depends on what kind've mood the secretary doing the first round is in? </p>
<p>It's only a few weeks left. I had 2 C's on my transcript lol. Don't worry... be happy...</p>
<p>According to my mom, who may be the person who reads your Yale application (serious), you're fine. A few B's sprinkled here and there is okay.. but if you're getting like 4 B's and an A or two every year, that's going to stand out to people like my mom who see applicants with straight A's in AP classes.</p>
<p>However, like the above poster said, if you are taking a very rigorous courseload and you go to a semi-well-respected or well-respected school, then some B's won't kill you... you'll just have a tougher time proving why you should get into Yale than the next applicant with all A's ;)</p>
<p>As a frame of reference, a kid from my school in CT (a Silver medal school according to USNWR) who took as many AP courses as possible got into Yale last year. However, he had 3 B's if I remember correctly... but he still got in.</p>
<p>We're talking just final grades, right?</p>
<p>Well I go to a very rigorous private in NJ, and I'm a haitian kid who was in an inner city ghetto school system before I went to private school so I think that's kinda what's been hurting me a bit. I also do two varsity sports, one of which I'm captain of and I do the school musical every year. I started and run a club as well. All these things kind of get in the way of me getting straight A's.</p>
<p>I have a B and two Cs right now. They will be As by the end of semester. Senioritis makes me slow to make up tests. there's no way they can find out right?</p>
<p>The Government: do you really know what goes on inside the admissions office?</p>
<p>Yea any insider information for us? :)</p>
<p>Transcript > SAT scores
Transcript > EC's
Transcript > Summer programs</p>
<p>In other words... the courses you took (and the grades you got in them) are by far the most important thing on your college application. Unless, of course, you won some massive prize (i.e. Intel or the like) or are a much sought-after recruited athlete, or if you somehow managed to find a cure to cancer (and last time I looked none of you have done that) - but those are special cases, obviously.</p>
<p>And irunoninsulin... I have seen admissions staff at work... But I won't go any more into it than that ;)</p>
<p>Just a quick question: when do the committees actually have our fates sealed? Are they plodding through applications on March 29th, or do they have most decisions made weeks in advance (like now)?</p>
<p>What up, The Government. Wondering if you can maybe help me out with your knowledge and wisdom..</p>
<p>You say that the transcript beats everything, pretty much. But my high school transcript isn't really relevant to me now. I graduated in 2005 and will be 22 when I send my application, 23 when I start as a freshmen. However, I've been working as a musician, having self produced my own album which is going on general sale via downloads shortly. I know these things I've done since school will be taken into consideration.. but how much consideration? I am taking the SATs, but will my high school grades still be counted for even though it was done years ago? Thanks! :)</p>
<p>To government, will they take my situation (the one that i described above) into account?</p>
<p>Development/Recruited Athlete/<em>Mega</em> EC's > Transcript</p>
<p>Regardless of what they say. I'm pretty sure certain things outweigh a transcript. They don't have to be fair.</p>
<p>If I were an Adcom I'd accept Senator Mal77's development son over Sally Smith with 10 AP A's anyday. ;p</p>
<p>The Government - How could you hide such a dirty little secret like that for so long on the Yale forum? :)</p>
<p>Nah, in all honesty i'd say it's got to be pretty cool to see how it all goes down in yale. I've got a cousin who works in admissions for UofM so I know what you mean when you don't want to elaborate... :) </p>
<p>The thing that I find most ironic is when you compare the amount of time you spent on your application to make sure everything was worded right and that you included all your credientials to the time it actually takes to make a decision.</p>
<p>thefranchize9 - the going trend is that clubs you created and ran aren't as good looking as being a leader of a current standing group. (Of course if you did something amazing that warrents a second look, then things might be different.) Being a captain of a team is similar to being a leader of a school organization. As for the athletic aspect of it, are you good enough to be recruited? Same thing goes for the school musical. Are you decent enough to join one of Yale's groups? If you sent in some supplimental material then it can be evaluated. If you didn't they'll most likely assume it's just like any club. Sorry if that comes off a bit rough, but that's just how it goes down.</p>
<p>my teacher gave me a B because i told him that race relations have improved since the 60's, and that the issue gets on peoples nerves. that is all i told him, but he brought out some books and went on and on about all this and that.</p>
<p>in the end, i was giving in when i took the books and looked at the dates.
1982? come on. i told him that these books needed follow ups, and that was it.</p>
<p>this thread = very good help for me. that teacher seems to hate the world, and the people in it</p>
<p>The thing with clubs is that there can be a very fine line between a club and a social group. Hosting a movie marathon every week could easily be twisted into "creating and being the leader of a media studies club".</p>
<p>coming from a difficult school can make a very big difference in how Bs are interpreted; it can also affect how one's ranking is interpreted. i had never even heard of the importance of 'top 10%' before i came onto this forum (three years after i applied to college). basically all the kids at my school got into very well-respected schools (even those in the bottom 10%), and many kids who were only top 50% or top 30% or whatever got into top-25 schools.</p>
<p>in terms of yale specifically, there were definitely people accepted there with Bs on their transcripts, but the vast majority had a B+ average or better. if you are at a very well-regarded school, Bs on your transcript will not automatically put you out of contention. regardless of whether you get into yale, you will get into a very good school, so don't worry.</p>
<p>^^ What school is this? I mean I know that almost everyone goes to a good place, but I don't know about top 25</p>
<p>IceStorm815, if you put it that way then I guess what i do doesn't necessarily matter unless I put in a lot of extra work. I've done some great work in my IB acting class so I'll record some things and send them when I apply. In regards to sports. I run cross country and track and I'm much better at XC. I've won a numerous medals and helped my team win a prep championships which we've haven't won since the nineties. However, I will see how well I do next season, however I'm leaning towards not getting recruited.</p>
<p>Well, I'd definitely put the medals on your list of awards. That's always a plus and will most certainly benefit you. </p>
<p>I'd just like to clarify myself a bit. I wouldn't say that your activities don't necessarily matter. I meant that in order for activities to hold serious weight in your application you need to show some considerable talent and interest. For example, say a student lists playing piano as an activity. They put down about 4-5 hours of practice a week, did not list any awards for playing, and did not submit any supplemental material. The college isn't able to determine what level of skill the student has and whether or not they demonstrate any passion or interest in it to continue on at the university level. Thus, the college is stuck to assume it's just a hobby the student does and can't honestly use it to greatly tip the scales in his or her favor. </p>
<p>If you were to just list XC as an activity, and nothing more, it becomes just that, an activity. Listing awards and accomplishments makes you more marketable. I hope what I'm saying comes off clearer than before.</p>
<p>On a side note, from the way you described yourself it seems like you might have a shot at being recruited. Personally, I'd at least give it a try. Contact the coaches and let them know you might be interested. They'll tell you what you need to do and then they'll just evaluate you from there. There isn't a downfall for giving it a shot, unless your whole application rides on your athletic ability. (Which I highly doubt)</p>