Hey everyone. So, I had straight A’s in my freshmen and sophomore years but in this junior year, I’m expecting to get a B+ in Physics and a B- in AP Chem due to an extremely hard teacher blah blah. However, I’m also expecting a 5 in the Chem AP and an 800 in both Chem and Physics SAT2s. Also, I would like to ask my chem teacher for my rec because even though I have a B- in her class, I am still one of her favorites and she knows that grades don’t always accurately portray people.
I want to major in Computer or Electrical Engineering. How much would these 2 B’s affect my chances of the given schools considering that all the other aspects of the portfolio are above average/superb? Thanks in advance!
More information about me:
-My weighted GPA would be around 4.29-4.30 and my unweighted GPA would be around 3.82 by the end of my junior year (Northern VA).
-Over 400 hours of volunteer work in 3 years directing a mini computer coding lab for tweens
-All 5s in APCS, World History, Micro, Macro. Expecting 5s on APUSH, French, Chem, BC.
-Already started on my college essays and perfecting them as I go, I’m sure they’ll all be stellar
-3 internships at different companies overseas, one of which I am working for right now
-Have an online paid programming job and tutoring in Chem and Physics since the beginning of junior year
-Part of multiple scientific clubs, leaders in 3 of them, FHS, NHS…
-Two research projects on robotics/artificial intelligence
-4 languages, diversity, cultured, blah blah
-Hooks: First Gen, Middle Eastern URM, Research
-More things I can give if requested… Thanks for all of your help CC!
I’m sorry, but HYP just released a statement saying that any student with more than one B on their transcript gets automatically rejected.
Ahaha just joking, but seriously though, probably not. It’s not as if you have Bs spread out all across the board, like 3 Bs each year. Whether you are a 3.8 UW GPA with the stellar level of ECs you show (3 internships? o.0) or with a 4.0 UW GPA with a International Math Olympiad Gold Medal, applying for IVYs are almost always a crapshoot.
I mean there was an African American girl at my school who got accepted into UPenn, and she had around a 3.7-3.8 UW GPA, but the courses were pretty rigorous and she was also a regional and I think nationally ranked athlete.
I wouldn’t panic or worry about it, but I do think you should strategize a little about this. These are heavy classes related to your proposed major, so your question is legit. A couple questions for you:
It appears you took Calc BC from your list. Did you get As in Math? That would be seriously helpful.
Also, did you get Bs in Physics and Chem for first semester AND second semester, ie 4 total? Or just second semester. ie 2 total?
Strategy 1: It appears your physics course was not AP. If you take an AP physics course senior year and get an A fall semester, that would be cool. You could even talk in one of the extra mini essays about how the junior year class motivated you for the AP class.
Strategy 2: As you plan your college list, don’t forget about some good second-tier options for EECS, like WPI, RPI, and so on. You should be doing this anyway.
By the way, I seriously love your three internships, online work, and your tutoring. Those to me are your strengths from your summary.
I wouldn’t worry about your two Bs. There is NO WAY that every student at the Ivies, Stanford and MIT had straight As in high school. That is not the environment and culture that those great schools wants to cultivate. Perfection doesn’t lead to risk taking. It takes personality, varied interests, varied skills and more to pool collaborative thoughts, synergy and true great ideas.
You look like an awesome candidate. Just came to say one thing: sadly, Middle Eastern is not considered URM. You have to check white on the apps 
I think if your Chem teacher writes an excellent recommendation, that would go far to counter the B- (as well as a 5 on the exam).
It seems like much will depend on how you spin your activities and what your learned about yourself through these experiences and how they inform you on your goals and interests - and of course, how said university fits in. Once you’ve met the objective metrics (what is your SAT/ACT score?) ,you need to present a candidate whom, as others have pointed out in CC, the AO find likable and a positive addition to their community. Think about the general student profile for each school - do they value character / entrepreneurship / original thinking / whatever. You have more than enough material to craft nice applications for these schools.
What stood out to me were the volunteer experience in coding to tweens; tutoring gig; and, research on robotics/AI. (number of internships and locations? not so much, albeit impressive, because I would be more interested in what you did and learned - hence my interest in the robotics/AI)
You’re right; it’s not every one. Only about 2/3 to 3/4 of the admitted students at Harvard/Stanford have 4.0’s.
This thread is a year old and the original poster has not been active for several months, so I think s/he has all the advise s/he needs. Closing thread.