Extremely worried about GPA

Applying to College
1

<p>Currently I am a Junior in HS and I am stressed out about the upward trend of my GPA. Throughout my time in highschool, I have always taken the hardest classes offered (always Honors/AP this year). </p>

<p>My (unweighted) GPA...
freshman year - 3.57
sophomore year - 3.71</p>

<p>This year I am nervous because my teacher for AP Lang is ridiculous (everybody has C....), I am struggling in Physics Honors, and I cannot foresee an A in Precalc Honors. There is also an issue because I am very involved in the art program, but due to scheduling conflicts, I am taking a pass/fail art independent study this year that does not factor into my GPA at all. If worst comes to worst, I will get a 3.5 GPA (unweighted) this year. My weighted is better, but still, this year it would go down (due to the art thing and one extra B, if I get 3 B's).</p>

<p>If I really push, in probably the best case scenario, I may be able to get only one B, and get a 3.67, but that will still be a 0.04 decrease.</p>

<p>How bad is this? I don't know what to do. I am working extremely hard and constantly feel stressed about this. Taking regular classes has never crossed my mind...and although I am sure I would be able to get an A in them, it is too late to switch. I don't want to go into math/science (what I get my B's in usually) but would like to go to a college along the line of Tufts, Syracuse, or Carnegie Mellon. I don't have too many EC activities besides for marching band and percussion (both which will be for all 4 years)/ART/and less serious ballet and piano. I have not taken the SAT yet but I am confident I will be able to get around 2200...hopefully higher!</p>

<p>Any advice is great. Thank you so much.</p>

2

<p>What kind of a school do you want to attend? Schools generally want you to take the most difficult classes if possible, especially if your alternative is getting a better grade in a less rigorous class.</p>

3

<p>School as in college? Not Ivy League but somewhere with a good reputation. I said above, “Tufts, Syracuse, or Carnegie Mellon”…I’d like to major in Communications though, so anywhere with a good program.</p>

4

<p>Don’t stress out. The ivies will probably frown at a few too many Bs, but most schools are ok with them. You will have good chances at the few schools you named with a 2200 SAT, a 3.6+ GPA, and solid ECs.</p>