I have had my heart set on Brown for a long time, and only yesterday I found out that I didn’t do as well as I’d thought I did junior year. I took all APs, including BC Calculus, but got straight Bs. My grades all the other years, during which I took the most challenging courses permitted, I got straight As.
Let’s say I have good essays and SAT scores within or above the mid-50 percentile. I am also dedicated to like one or two clubs, have been in a sport for 12 years, and volunteer at the local fire department. I am also part of a minority that isn’t currently represented at Brown. (I don’t know if any of this stuff matters)
Are all my chances nearly diminished if they see I got straight Bs last year? Junior year lowered my GPA to 4.15
Selective schools value your performance in Jr year and 1st semester Sr year the most. If you can pull off all As this semester, maybe you can breath life into your app. Otherwise, it’ll be easy for a school like Brown to look past your file as they go onto the many others who will have startlingly good grades throughout.
How does one just find out they had straight B’s last year?
Your chances as a result a seriously diminished. Many applicants will have strong essays and SAT scores, and have still managed to get mostly A’s with a rigorous courseload.
Your grades came out yesterday?? Whats with that? Dont know what your URM status is and if its desirable enough to overcome a downward trend GPA. Agree with those who say the school will look for your ability to handle rigor.
I would say that it would affect your chances…Junior year is when people generally start taking harder/AP classes. The students who can get As in those classes are generally going to be the ones going to Ivy League schools.
Figure out what you like about Brown and see what other college have those attributes. Remember, even if you had straight A’s, only like 10% of the applicants will be accepted.
Straight B’s do you mean a 3.0 UW junior year?
Downward trend junior year (a pretty major one at that) is not good.
If you’re Native American or native Alaskan (something really rare) I guess you would still have some chance.
Shoot for Brown, apply ED, but make sure to have safety schools in mind.
I think you’d be squandering your chance to apply to more realistic early school(s) if you apply ED to Brown. Not only are your grades subpar but your EC’s don’t really stand out either. There’s no reason for Brown to want to relax their high academic standards for you that I can see. What minority group are you talking about? Perhaps it is an offsetting factor.