<p>Last semester I got 2 B's and this semester I'm on track for getting 3 B's (probably 2 again, though). So I was wondering if I'm screwed out of the gate for T-20 schools. </p>
<p>Side note: My classes are relatively tough, all honors (including Pre-Calc/Physics) and an AP.</p>
<p>First of all, you were probably screwed out of a few of the top 20 schools regardless, because that’s how selective they are. Nothing is guaranteed, even if you have an unweighted 4.0. </p>
<p>If you get straight As from now on, your UW GPA will probably be 3.8 or so. That’s a very high GPA and I don’t think it’s low enough for any school to reject you because of it.
Your class rank will put your GPA in context, though - someone with a 3.8 and a low class rank would go to a less challenging school than someone with a 3.8 and a high class rank. </p>
<p>The thing is…if you can’t get As in the classes you’re taking as a freshman, how are you going to get As in harder classes later on? Why did you take pre-calc and physics if you couldn’t excel in them?</p>
<p>I got an A in both of those classes, I was just using them as an example.</p>
<p>A lot of times it’s a maturity issue halcyon heather.
I’m a junior right now, and I have a 4.0 with 3 ap’s including Calc AB, Physics C, and Stats, and recently got a 36 on the ACT.</p>
<p>My freshman gpa? 3.2, sometimes you grow up later than everybody else.</p>
<p>To the OP… you’re not screwed at all! You sound like a bright kid, taking Pre-Calc so early, etc. I’d suggest applying to schools like Stanford, Princeton, and Carnegie Mellon, all extremely prestigious schools that don’t look at your freshman grades when considering your application. </p>
<p>Keep challenging yourself, and knock your standardized tests, show colleges an upwards trend that shows you can respond to adversity and display a drive to succeed!</p>
<p>Goodluck :)</p>
<p>“I got an A in both of those classes, I was just using them as an example.”</p>
<p>Well, you said you’re taking other honors classes and an AP. Same difference…it’s possible you challenged yourself more than you should have, if you’re getting several Bs.
Probably depends on the difficulty level of your school. </p>
<p>Also - instead of just aiming for “top 20” in general, find a few schools you’re specifically interested in and see if you’re a good fit for them. (It’s not really necessary that you think about this a lot freshman year if you don’t want to, but I feel like people who apply indiscriminately to random schools just because they’re prestigious will end up having a lower chance at getting in.)</p>
<p>If you have a strong upward trend and other strong attributes, schools may overlook a few lower grades received during freshman year. Especially if you took a very challenging schedule and/or go to a challenging high school. I got a few Bs in my freshman year of high school and now I am a junior at an Ivy League school.</p>
<p>I agree with halcyon…you need to focus on your grades rather than the “top 20 programs”, when you don’t even know what school is right for you, what programs they offer, and if you’ll be able to afford it.
I wouldn’t say you’re screwed, but everyone that applies to “top 20” schools are highly competitive.</p>
<p>Just out of curiosity, what were your grades in middle school?</p>