<p>Hello, I am currently a freshman in high school who really wants to get into this school. We finished first semester and I have taken: AP Human Geography and got an A, Graphic Design 1 with an A, Algebra 2 Honors with an A, Spanish 1 with an A, English Honors with a B, Engineering with an A, and Biology Honors with an A. With that B are my chances ruined? I am also participating in Science Bowl. I would really love it if I could get into this college and want to start preparing to get in. The B in english will probably be my only B throughout my 4 year HS career. If my chances are not ruined, how could I make my chances higher, what could I do? </p>
<p>Nope, just don’t get too many of them. I got a B in my HS English class freshman year first semester, and one of my good friends got a couple C’s (shocking, I know). Do extracurricular stuff in science and math to show that you care about these topics, but make sure you’re enjoying what you do. Don’t forget to also pick up one or two other things that you enjoy that are possibly completely unrelated to STEM (e.g. I did rifle). Show that you are ardent by sticking with them, and try to earn awards/officer positions when you can. Do research/STEM-related activities over summers. Challenge yourself in school without getting too many low grades. Do well on your standardized test without obsessing over getting a 2400/36/800/etc.; just aim get above a 2250/34/~750. And don’t bother asking for chancing because it’s not worth the stress/confusion. </p>
<p>Ok, thanks! I just want to do whatever I can to help my chances in getting into a good school like Caltech.</p>
Standardized tests= very important.
I doubt you when you say that it’ll be your last and final B. It is possible, but if you sincerely want to go to a prestigious school, you’ll be taking majority of AP classes a year and it’ll be difficult to get all A’s in that.
@Bryce412 Way to be supportive. It is more than just possible, and it’s not uncommon for a student to have received a B once in his/her life. I don’t know what you have been doing, but AP classes really are not difficult as long as the teachers are not useless and you’re on top of things. If you struggled to achieve A’s in AP classes, maybe you should consider not applying to “prestigious schools” yourself because the challenge may be too much.
OP, regarding classes, just keep on top of things and study for tests/complete practice problems if you find the exams difficult. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and definitely invest in review guides (PR tends to be pretty good with AP exams).