<p>Hey chaps!</p>
<p>Senior year has really taken its toll on me psychologically and my grades are falling even though I am trying very hard in all my classes. Although I am approximately still in the top 2% of my ~1000 people graduating class, I am positive that after this semester it will be dropping. I am not very concerned about my rank simply because there are so many people at my school that even if I got all B's this semester I'd still be in the top 5% (don't mean to sound cocky - it's just a numbers thing). However, I am very concerned about my transcript. I guess I am asking for advice on how to handle everything I've taken on this year and my grades as well but mostly I'm asking... Yale SCEA applicants.. how many B's do you have?</p>
<p>Currently, I have a B/B+ in AP Spanish. How many Bs do you have right now? Since SCEA is only going to see your midsemester report I think they’ll take your grades somewhat with a grain of salt. However, if you went from all As to all Bs, they might grow a little suspicious. Only 1 (or 2, hell, maybe even 3) Bs won’t be immediate cause for rejection, though.</p>
<p>I guess I kind of meant like how many B’s do you have on your transcript. I go to a pretty tough school (not that it’s an excuse) but I’ve gotten 3 B’s over the course of high school… not excluding this year. I think I will have 3 B’s this semester… 
What do you think will happen?</p>
<p>Has your high school ever sent anyone to Yale? Even if they haven’t (although I’m betting that they have, given that your graduating class alone holds about a thousand people), you said that your school is very tough. I know that this holds a lot of weight in the eyes of admissions officers. If you, for example, went to El Paso Public HS, you should be at least top 2% to have a shot at an elite school, whereas if you went to Montgomery Blair or Groton, top 10% should be sufficient. What I’m getting at is that you shouldn’t be too worried. However, since falling grade trends are obviously not desirable compared to rising ones, I’d suggest that you talk to your teachers, and not only ask what you can do to maintain an A or A- in whichever classes, but if available, MEET WITH THEM before or after class if you’ve had trouble/questions regarding tests/assignments etcetera. I took advantage of the teachers that made themselves available to me for extra help, and meeting with every teacher at least once a week proved extremely valuable to my GPA in the end.
But if your teachers are too busy to help you, perhaps we CCers could be of assistance; which classes (and which units from those) are you concerned about?</p>
<p>I don’t think its a deal breaker. If you are in the top 2% of your class with three Bs in your transcript that’s going to show the adcom is going to recognize that its a tough school. I also go to a pretty tough school so I understand your dilemma… it can be frustrating seeing all these people posting about 4.0s when you yourself might have less. If you went to a school where it was the norm to have a 4.0 it would be different, but it doesn’t sound like thats the norm, so I wouldn’t be too worried. </p>
<p>Remember that SCEA is super competitive, and that the only people who get in then are usually hooked or pretty stupendous students that they are positive will get RD. While I do not know your ECs, SATs, etc., from the sounds of your rank and such I am betting at the worst you will be deferred. You will probably make it to the 2nd round of reviewing, at which point it comes down to whether there is something on your application that really makes you stand out. It doesn’t have to be some amazing EC (though these always help, of course)- it can often simply be your essays, or a particular interest, or something else that strikes the admission officer’s fancy. If you don’t get in SCEA, I don’t think it will be because of 3 Bs.</p>
<p>Also, I asked whether your school has sent anyone to Yale because I they have, the admissions team will likely be more sympathetic to how competitive your school is.</p>
<p>The most I’ve ever heard of, from what is generally considered the toughest public school in the nation (TJHSST), is 5 non As (B+s being 90-93) for an unhooked candidate.</p>
<p>I used to go to a pretty hard school as well… Lots of rly rly low grades… </p>
<p>When I moved to this school, I performed pretty good, except for that straight B+'s in IB TOK for the whole year. I also have a B+ in one of the quarters for my english</p>
<p>it’s a pretty competitive school - we send about 10 kids to HYPMS every year and probably about another 10 to the other top 15 schools. i am just concerned that one bad semester can ruin everything, even if it is the last semester. what do i do? </p>
<p>and i would go to my teachers every day but yearbook is very time consuming and requires i stay in like every day. i guess i can make more of an effort, but this trimester is almost over for us and i’m afraid it’ll be too late after this one. </p>
<p>i guess here’s to PRAYING i’ll get in scea…</p>
<p>Everyone I know personally who’s gotten into Yale has gotten straight A’s, but I know it’s possible with a few B’s if your extracurriculars are stellar.
From what I’ve read in this forum, if you get a B second semester of senior year after you’re accepted to Yale, they’ll e-mail you a little notification about how they’ve noted it but it’s not enough to raise a flag.
If you get like, three B’s, they’ll demand an essay explanation. :/</p>
<p>I’ve only gotten two B’s ever (Honors Spanish 4 and U.S. History), and will probably get a B in AP Lit this semester, but I still think that’s good in comparison to previous students from my school who have gone onto Ivy’s.</p>