I am a junior at a somewhat competitive (we send a handfull of kids to ivies every year, more this year than normal because of sports) public high school. I’ve had straight A’s since freshman year, but I’m getting my first B+ this year, and it’s making me very nervous. I’m taking four AP classes and getting A to A-s in all of them except AP Econ, where I’m definitely going to have a B+ as my final grade. My dream school is Wharton - will this ruin my chances? I know I barely have a chance anyway, but will a B+ in a business related course just put me totally out of the running?
A B will not put you out of the running at all. For Ivy Leagues, once your grades/SAT’s reach a certain point you’re academically competitive and that’s it. Then they look at your EC’s/Essays/Recs to determine your admission. I would worry more about those than about a single B+ in your high school career.
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As stated above, your acceptance or rejection from Wharton or any other school will not be based upon a single B+. Note, however, if you end up attending one of these fine schools, that will probably not be your last B+ either.
^I’m hoping for a B+ in some classes…
But yes, one B+ won’t break your chances of admission.
So tell us – what school on this planet is full of solely 4.0 students? Please apply common sense here… “Ruin” your chances at Wharton? C’mon.
You will be fine if you get a B in the business class.
Thank you everybody! I could certainly use my “common sense” and know that logically it probably wouldn’t be a dealbreaker but as someone who has never gotten a B on a transcript before, you can understand why it would be unsettling, so I very much appreciate the reassurance and encouragement!
Econ isn’t the same as a business class. Econ is a social science.
It is hard to get that first B, but your future is not ruined. In the grand scheme of things it will matter very little.