Hello everyone, so as the title implies I got a B in Algebra 2 first semester of sophomore year (one class per semester so next semester I had precalc), which is one of only 2 I have had. I am currently a rising senior looking to apply to highly ranked STEM schools such as MIT, Cornell CoE, Rice, Naval Academy, as well as other lower ranked ones. It is my only B in a math class and I have just finished a dual enrollment calc 2 class (this was at a traditional 4 year university not a cc) and gotten an A (by the end of my senior year I will have taken Dif E). My overall UW GPA is 3.92 and W GPA is 4.95. Thanks for any advice or help.
If you end up getting rejected by any of these fine schools, it will not be due to one B. Besides, there is absolutely nothing you can do about it at this point. Move on.
What was your grade in pre-calc? I found pre-calc to be Algebra 2 mixed with geometry at a much harder level. If you got a better grade in pre-calc, colleges will probably forgive you. Besides, your taking Dif E, which will look impressive!
A in precalc and thanks!
The As in Calc 2 and precalc should both greatly outweigh the B in Algebra 2 seeing as each math course builds upon the skills taught in prerequisite classes.
A 3.92 GPA will not send your application directly to the trash pile at any of the schools you mentioned. That’s a competitive GPA and nothing you should be ashamed about. Many applications with lower GPAs have been accepted to these schools (just check out this year’s results posts for any of them), but the rest of your application must be strong as well. I’m sure you know that, but just remember that admission to hyper-competitive schools is a crapshoot.
Also, how much do you think A’s in college calculus classes will make up for low standardized test math scores? I got a 30 subscore on the act (32 overall) and a 670 on the math sat (2150 overall), and I guess a low-average sat 2 math 2 score of 750. I also have a number of math and science related ec’s.
Oh, but I should note that I am retaking both the ACT and the SAT again with the specific goal of raising my math scores
Not at all.
The 750 math 2 is fine; hopefully you can raise your SAT I and/or ACT math score.
The 670 M SAT score is more problematic than your one “B” grade. This score will bebe compared to other applicants & will be low for STEM majors at the schools you mentioned.
So i recently retook the sat and act and got a 35 and 770 respectively on the math subsections, is this enough to overlook the B
Given that all the previous posts said your sophomore year B was negligible, you should stop worrying about it. Congrats on your nice scores.