<p>So, our semester grades for second semester were just out and I'm worried about them. I'm currently a sophomore, going to be a junior next year, and I was wondering how these grades might affect me. </p>
<p>Freshman
AP World History- A+/A
French II- A/A
Algebra II- A/A
Honors Biology- A/A+
Orchestra- A/A
Honors English- A/A+
PE- A/A</p>
<p>Sophomore
Trig/ AP Calc A- A-/A-
AP US History- A/A
French III- A/A-
Honors English II- A-/A-
Orchestra- A/A
Honors Chem- A/A
Accounting I- A/A
PE- A/A</p>
<p>I got so many A-'s this year...Lol. I feel like I definitely could have done better in Math, but that was my first class and I'm not a morning person. I also dropped lunch this year to fit more classes in to my schedule. Will colleges look on this negatively? Do you think I would have to get my counselor to explain in her rec?</p>
<p>Yes, grades affect your application, they are arguably the most important part of your academic record. And As are better than A-s, but you know that, and you also hopefully know that A-s are very good grades.</p>
<p>No one can tell you quantitatively how much of an impact they will have, that depends on: the schools you’re applying to, the rest of your application, the rigor of your coursework, etc.</p>
<p>No, you do not get a GC to explain the difference between an A and A-. And you only get your GC involved if there are extenuating circumstances, such as illness or family problems.</p>
<p>When we get a new poster and the fretting is over A- grades, some excessive concern it’s a ruinous drop, some will wonder if you are serious. You didn’t mention the competitiveness of your hs, the rigor of your junior classes, or the level of colleges you want to aim for, and you’re only a sophomore.</p>
<p>I go to a somewhat competitive public high school (?). There always seem to be a handful (20-30 people) that go to the Ivies or top ranked colleges every year out of around 750 graduating class. Our school district abolished the ranking system this year, but I’m pretty sure I’m in the top 10%. I think my junior schedule is mediocre…Our school requires a lot of mandatory courses, gym being one of those. </p>
<p>AP Calc BC
AP Eng Lit
AP Physics B–> It takes 1_1/2 periods in our hs, so basically 2 periods
AP Psychology
French IV
Symphony Orchestra</p>
<p>What worries me that many other people in my year are taking much of the same courses (getting all A’s) and are likely to apply to the same places I am. I’m looking at Harvard, Stanford, UChicago, Northwestern, UCBerkeley to name a few. I know that grades aren’t everything in the admissions process but…</p>
<p>An A- is no better than an A. Both count as a 4.0 for your GPA. You should always aim for an A- rather than an A. Why? Because that extra time spent getting an A versus an A- would be better spent on extracurriculars.</p>
<p>To be safe, when I was in high school, I aimed for a low A (like a 94%) and if by the end of the semester I still had that low A, I would slack off a bit and let it drop to a high A-.</p>
<p>I remember, as a senior, I was eating lunch with two other seniors, and we heard a bunch of freshmen obsessing over getting an A-, and how that looks bad to colleges, and we all looked at each other and rolled our eyes.</p>
<p>You have time to research those colleges. What you find on CC or think you know about their reps is only part of the story. </p>
<p>Yes, you have what looks like a common pattern of APs. So, how you will stand out depends on what else you are involved in and how you present yourself in the Common App, through each section, including your writing. The A- grades won’t be the threat that being cookie-cutter blah can be. The privates on your list get thousands of apps from high achievers- academicially and in terms of responsibilities, impact outside the classroom (this includes in hs and in life,) and evidence they are empowered. That’s the competition. That’s what you need to reflect on and take steps to improve. I hope you are doing this, even this summer.</p>
<p>ps. not all hs call an A- a 4.0 and not all colleges bother recalculating. OP is referring to his or her specific situation.</p>
I don’t understand why people say this with such certainty. It’s surely varies with the school. At both my high school and college, an A minus was a 3.7. It’s certainly a very good grade, but not the same as an A. And of course a higher GPA is better than a lower one, all other things being equal.</p>