Junior Year Dip in Grades due to a lot of AP Classes

Applying to College
1

So I know that there are always these kinds of posts, but I just wanted to know whether or not I should be too worried about admissions to top colleges because of my grades this year. This was my first year taking multiple AP classes (my school tries to restrict students from taking AP classes in the first two years), and I took 5 in all (English Language, BC Calculus, Biology, Computer Science, Mandarin), as well as US History Honors. Prior to junior year I had gotten straight As, (all As and A+s, my school only does A or A+, B or B+, etc. A is 90-94, A+ is 95-100). My junior year grades will most likely be:

US History H: A+
AP BC Calculus: B+
AP English Language and Composition: B+
AP Mandarin: A+
AP Computer Science: A
AP Biology: A+

So BC Calculus and English are my first Bs in high school, and they’re so close to a 90 (Both are 89s, which frustrates me a lot. I tried really hard in these classes but they are not easy classes at my school). This is technically a dip in my grades and GPA, which I estimate now to be a 4.25/4.5 (Yes my school does a 4.5 scale). I plan to apply to top colleges such as Cornell (Yes, this will be a reach), JHU, Carnegie Mellon, etc., will this severely hurt my chances? Will they look at it in the context in that my schedule was almost all AP?

I know ECs, test scores, essays, are all a factor, but GPA is important, and junior year grades are also important. Did I lose my chances for admission at the colleges I mentioned?

2

Obviously an A will be better than a B, so yes it will hurt you. Still, don’t worry! Just keep on taking the most rigorous schedule and doing good! You still have a good chance at JHU and CMU. Cornell… well you still have a pretty good shot but don’t take my word for it lol.

3

In what way are B+s considered a dip?

4

Like I said, it’s a small dip, but it seems like students that apply to these top schools would get As in them. Additionally,this does bring down my gpa, so that will be another downside. It may not be much to worry about, but that’s why I’m asking in this thread.

5

Keep working hard
Work on ACT/SAT
Essays Ecs and apply early decision.
Cornell is of course a reach for most people

6

I wouldn’t worry too much about it! I had a very similar transcript Junior Year and still was accepted to several Top 20s. Colleges seem to be much more interested in you as a “person”- interests/passions/what you can add to campus, rather than simply grades and scores. Based on my experience, you should still be pretty well set for admissions.

7

It is what it is. I’m not a big fan of worrying about things that you cannot change. That said, IMO, if you get rejected from a school, it will not be due to a couple of B+'s in AP classes. Good luck.