Hey,
I am contemplating taking an honors English course. I am a junior and am going to take 3 honors and 3 ap ( including the course). I have never gotten a b and had a 4.4 freshman year and a 4.7 sophomore year. Took only ap world last year, my school has an ap cap, got a five on the exam. If I get a b in the course will it really affect my chances at top schools such as Ivy’s or others? Ps: I am in a wealth of extracurriculars and Ann taking ap chem and ap bio
Am*
Top colleges would rather see that you challenge yourself (within reason) and don’t coast on easy courses for easy As.
One B (or even several) is fine. Don’t fixate too much on the Ivies - there are tons of great schools without such low acceptance rates.
Here’s my advice about striving for knowledge vs. protecting one’s GPA perfection:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/19602953/#Comment_19602953
You want to go to an Ivy league school but you do think you can make an A in AP Lang? Challenge yourself.
If you think the only way you can get into an Ivy is by playing it safe, you probably aren’t Ivy material. This sounds harsh, and I don’t mean it that way because I recognize that at some level, being a bit strategic is important, but what an awful experience you’ll have at a very competitive school if you only want to do things you already know you can do.
A B isn’t the end of the world. In fact, it can be the beginning if it gives you the freedom to explore and take risks.
- Your best chance of getting into an Ivy or equivalent school is to take the most challenging curriculum offered by your HS and do very well.
- With acceptance rates generally under 10% nothing you can do will “guarantee” you admission into an Ivy or equivalent school.
- Therefore, I suggest you take the most challenging class that you can handle – you will learn the most and that knowledge will serve you well wherever you end up for college.
I say take the class even if you get a B. I think it’ll be good for your character as well as your mental health.