Did I do the right thing in taking so many difficult classes?

Applying to College
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<p>My UW GPA by the end of Junior year will be between 3.84 and 3.9. Weighted (honors/AP are the same at my school) will be between 4.5 to 4.6. At the moment it looks like my transcript will have one or two B's (AP Calc BC and Honors Physics in junior year)- everyone on this website seems to have a 4.0. I'm scared because I'm aiming for colleges like Stanford and Yale, and something in the 3.8s is significantly lower than a 4.0.</p>

<p>My ECs are great and my courseload demonstrates my passion (I have taken a full AP/honors courseload in addition to two classes at an Ivy League college in the field that I wish to major in). My PSATs were 225, and I'm aiming for hopefully a 2300+ SAT and combined SAT IIs.</p>

<p>I'm just saying- should I have taken easier classes for the 4.0? And also, when sending your transcript into colleges does the first semester of senior year go into your GPA? As in, if I got a 4.0 senior year first semester, would it help bump up my overall GPA?</p>

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<p>I think you’re fine where you are. It’s more important to consider whether you’ll be able to, with your schedule, accomodate extracurricular activities, get enough sleep, and set some time for relaxing. And yes, first semester grades go into your GPA.</p>

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<p>lol, no, you’re fine (:</p>

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<p>Reading your post shows you are one smart cookie, so you must realize that the tiny sliver of a percentage point you are worrying about is unlikely to be a deal breaker in your college applications. Go out and have some fun.</p>

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<p>^ Does the first semester grade factor into GPA for ED? I had no idea it would factor in for normal admissions?</p>

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<p>Yeah I have the same question regarding ED.</p>

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<p>“My ECs are great and my courseload demonstrates my passion”</p>

<p>good, THAT’s what’s gonna set you apart. more than a 4.0 ever could.</p>

<p>and no, 1st semester grades dont reach schools in time for ED. not even close, in fact. but it does get sent in your midyear report, so just stay away from C/D/F’s</p>

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<p>What about first marking period grades? My school releases those grades in November.</p>

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<p>I would also like to know the answer to the question above ^</p>

<p>And would it be better to apply ED w/o the 1st semester grade GPA boost or normal w/ GPA boost?</p>

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<p>Anyone? I really wanna know plz!</p>

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<p>from ask the dean:</p>

<p>When students apply Early Decision or Early Action, then colleges MAY base their decision on junior grades only, although many will request first-quarter grades from the school counselor before deciding, if the counselor hasn’t sent them.</p>

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<p>Okay. So basically, yes, the colleges will receive the first-quarter grades and they will probably be factored into your GPA?</p>

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<p>It says many will request? not sure if it will be factored into the GPA. It sounds kind of a side note.</p>