Have I ruined my transcript with a "B" and "C" I got in sophomore year?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I used to be a music major my freshman year, getting a 4.0 both semesters in honors classes. Transitioning to my sophomore year into my school’s IB program , I got my first B in AP U.S. History after only reaching a borderline. I wasn’t really phased, but I was convinced that I could get a 4.0 next semester. One week until grades went in, my pre-calculus teacher gave us a final that I failed from a stupid mistake and ended up dropping down to a 79%. I could make a lot of excuses as to why my percentage was so low, but I know it was my fault for being so stupid. However, this is what my transcript looks like.

Freshman Year (Semester 1) -
Beginning Orchestra: A
Health: A
World Studies HH: A
French I H: A
Accelerated Algebra TEL: A
English I HH: A
Biology HH: A

Freshman Year (Semester 2) -
Beginning Orchestra: A
Physical Education: A
World Studies HH: A
French I H: A
Accelerated Algebra TEL: A
English I HH: A
Biology HH: A

Geometry (Online Summer Course): A

Sophomore Year (Semester 1) -
Driver’s Education/Swimming: A
AP U.S. History: B
Intermediate Orchestra: A
English II PDP: A
French II PDP: A
Pre-Calculus/Algebra II/Trigonometry PDP: A
Chemistry PDP: A

Sophomore Year (Semester 2) -
Physical Education: A
AP U.S. History: A
Intermediate Orchestra: A
English II PDP: A
French II PDP: A
Pre-Calculus/Algebra II/Trigonometry: C
Chemistry II PDP: A

Unweighted GPA so far: 3.89

Highest possible unweighted GPA before graduation: 3.95

Weighted GPA: ?

(My rank used to be 39 out of 663 before transferring into the IB program. They don’t tell us our rank now, but I know I’ve been lowered).

Next year I’m taking -
IB Honors Calculus
IB English HL
IB 20th Century World History
IB Biology (or maybe IB Chemistry)
IB Theory of Knowledge
IB French SL
Advanced Orchestra

I don’t have many ECs from freshman and sophomore year, and the ones I do have are sort of embarrassing. I’m in my school’s trading card club and dance club. I’m want to either join a few of the clubs such as National Honor Society, Track, Math Club, Dance Club, Engineering Club, Ecology Club, Ultimate Frisbee Club, and I have a few more in mind.

But the real question is, will my bad grades in sophomore year prevent me from admission to a top 20ish college? I feel as if my personal issues weighed me down instead of my actual work ethic, but I feel a little better now so that I could prosper throughout junior and senior year. I’m either thinking of NYU, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Cornell, a few other ivy leagues, etc. I know it seems unrealistic, but I really want to challenge myself. So are my chances really ruined? What else can I do to help my college application?

2

Does your school calculate gpa by semester or based on the average from the entire year? The C sticks out a little, but averaging over the entire year, 1-2 Bs and the rest As should be good enough to keep you in the running for the tier of schools you’re aiming for. So no need to worry about your grades! Junior year is the more important year, so try to do well then, and of course work on developing those ECs which could use quite a bit of improvement

3

My grades are split by two semesters each year without averaging anything. Two quarters continue until the final value determines the semester grade. Will the C hurt my chances if colleges see it on my transcript?

4

I mean it will hurt your chances, but it’s only one semester so I think it’s salvageable

5

@dblazer It definitely wouldn’t be one bad semester grade that would keep someone out of a school. One of my friends got into Cornell and Rice after making making a C 1st semester of sophomore AP World. He also got a couple of other low grades and told me the important things is that his grades improved over time and that he did relevant things outside of school.

One C(as a semester grade!) is not going to be the thing that keeps you out of your dream school. It won’t even be the thing they use to decide between you and some other applicant. That would be like calling Angelina Jolie ugly after you spot the tiniest of zits on her face. Those grades are just minor blemishes! Keep on improving yourself as an entire person instead of worrying about your minuscule imperfections.

6

Just do well junior year and you’ll be fine. Your grades are only a part of your application; you still have SATs, Extracurriculars, and all that jazz