<p>Crazy question, I know. But when I think about high school students applying to college, taking AP classes, working, volunteering, leading school clubs, traveling.... how many kids at Dartmouth or highly selective schools in general really have straight As? Are A-s looked at like an A? How many Bs are acceptable? 1, 3, 6? If you're not a math kid and not going into math, does a B in math matter? </p>
<p>I'm not expecting a formula, although I do hear that there are reasons a college will auto-reject your application (with the quantities of applications submitted, there have to be auto-rejects). But how much can an essay or ECs or personal statement outshine Bs? </p>
<p>D had three – B+ in Math second semester junior year; B in Biology that semester; and B in Math first semester senior year – and still got a likely letter. Of course, she also got a 770 on Math SAT and a 780 on Math Level II. It was clear from her application and essays that she was not in the STEM track, and I think the other things you mention can certainly make a few Bs of little moment. </p>
<p>Thanks for the reply About! Can I ask what was Ds major? My daughter’s are in math and science as well. </p>
<p>I’ve had a few B’s as well - probably around 4-5 total across my 4 years. I did get rejected to Dartmouth, but got in some other selective schools like Yale. Funny enough, I am strongly a STEM student, and I got B’s in Calculus and Chemistry (none were low B’s though).</p>