<p>Question: Hello Dean, will Harvard reject me if I have B’s in my transcript? Can the SATs, subject tests and activities cover my low GPA? I am of Chinese descent and am the VP of mandarin club this year, and the founder of my school chamber orchestra. I played the violin for 11 years and [...]</p>
Not likely if you are straight 3.0. If you have 4 out of 5 As go ahead.
Keep in mind that about 75% of new admits will have a 4.00 GPA, so getting a few 'B’s drops you down into that last quarter right away.
If it is just 2 or 3 Bs, you are taking pretty much all AP, and you have close to perfect SATs and SAT IIs, it might be worth applying, but maybe low Ivies and the like would be more realistic even then. Need more information on standardized tests, difficulty of school, and difficulty of classes taken to say.
I had one or two B+ grades in my first year and that didn’t stop me from getting into Harvard. I was in the top 1% of my class and had test scores in the top 2%, though.
I really wish people would delete the term “lower/lesser Ivies” from their vocabulary.
I don’t think that I’ve ever used the term “lower/lesser Ivies”, but I’ve seen it, and it’s easier and less insulting than listing out the schools by name.
How is it less insulting? I would much rather prefer someone to tell me to “try applying to Brown or Cornell” instead of telling me to apply to “‘lower’ schools”
@skieurope how is it that when the term low ivy is used it is offensive. But when the term low UC is used its no big deal
I’ve never heard that term used for a UC. Maybe because folks on the Left Bank are a bit less concerned about about all that social ranking stuff? I’m sure exceptions exist.
The word “lower” has a connotation of easier to get in… While statistically thinking, Cornell would be less difficult to get into than Harvard, but both are still incredibly difficult to get in to and both offer you a stellar education.
If you have close to perfect SAT I and IIs and lots of AP 5s and great ECs, sure apply to Harvard without all A’s. Based on the information given, I would also include some safes.
Happyalumnus , congrats into getting Harvard! What was your GPA though?
Just an anecdote - I have a couple of B’s on my transcript and just got a likely letter to Columbia. When adcoms say admissions is wholistic, they mean it. If the rest of your app is Harvard-level, those B’s won’t keep you out.
people do say lower UC commonly but the difference between UCR and Cal Berkeley is obvious but one can argue that both Cornell and Harvard like for example cornell has a better comp sci program but UCR isn’t in the same stratosphere as Cal Berkeley
It matters what those B’s are in.
How about “less selective Ivies” rather than “lower/lesser”? That’s more accurate.