<p>Ok well my grades are going down the tube right now. I'm taking 5 AP classes and all of them are Core APs. My semester grades are prolly 2 As, 4 B+s and one B. I feel badly. I know that I could get an A in other classes, but it's just the teacher. I really don't like a few of them. Also I switched from an AP class to a normal class and I got a B first quarter so that factors in also. (Should I mention this in a note or something?) </p>
<p>Do I have no chance now for UVa?</p>
<p>I think my record has been pretty good so far...</p>
<p>GPA 4.13
Rank 10/360
SAT 2120
..</p>
<p>No, it's not as bad as you think. Don't write anything about these grades. You are taking a very vigorous load, and should be proud that you are doing well. Maybe not fantastic beyond belief, but very well indeed. Try to go easy on yourself. It sounds like you might be your own worst critic!
You've got a great GPA, a great rank, and great SAT's. It's not like your grades have plummeted. A "C" might be perceived differently. You are fine, and I'm betting you get in! I forget, IS or OOS? Either way, you are competitive. Best of luck, don't worry too much.</p>
<p>Obviously any drop in grades does not help, but they do want to see kids taking a tough load. Put it in persepective this way.</p>
<p>Those are all college fresman level courses. At UVA, you would rarely take more than 4 of them at a time, and never more than 5. At UVA, those grades would be a GPA of 3.4 to 3.6 depending on whether the As are A-, A, or A+. And in most schools at UVA, a 3.4 will give you som honors recognition. In other words, you are provinf beyonf doubt that you can handle a tough, college level load and do better than average at it.</p>
<p>I am taking a really hard schedule this year, I even opted to not have an early out. 6 APs, one double block class, and Journalism so I have 8 classes. I have 4 B's and 4 A's...my B's are in Chemistry II Lecture and Lab, Spanish V, and Biology II AP. My A's are in English AP Lit, Journalism, AP Statistics, and AP US Government. I'm really nervous because even though my weighted is a 4.375 my UW is only a 3.5. My overall GPA and rank is 4.1W and 20/460. Also ACT is a 29. </p>
<p>Have my senior year grades killed my chances??</p>
<p>As with sciencenerd, there is no way around the fact that a drop in grades is not good, and it won't help. But if your application is otherwise very good, then the drop is certainly not going to cause anyone to believe you can't handle the work. Quite the opposite. If someone is not taking a heavy load and is avoiding AP classes, even a 4.0 doesn't prove they can handle a college load. But you have proved it. </p>
<p>An UW 3.5, while certainly a drop for you, is still a good GPA in college and the load you would take there will not be as bad as what you are doing now. My S had 4 APs his senior year, plus a foreign language, and was on sports teams. He is now in a tough program at UVA plus a volunteer group and swears he has MUCH more free time than in high school. His grades are actually better than his senior grades with the tough load. </p>
<p>So do not lose heart. They want to see that tough schedule, and you have proven you can handle it. You just have to hope there not too many applicants who did all of that AND kept the grades high.</p>
<p>To both of you, go talk to your college advisor. Make sure they understand your situation and see what they can do. They might want write the admissions office to put your course load into perspective. I know my other son had a letter come from his counselor that essentially said he had taken the toughest possible course load at the school, and by luck had drawn the toughest teachers to boot. I have to think that letter helped.</p>
<p>Update:</p>
<p>How important are MidYear Grades? I have basically straight B+s. But I am taking 5 AP classes with two AP sciences. Also I go to a special science academy. It's very tough with a rigorous education there. Am I basically screwed now?</p>