Junior Year GPA Sucks

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I did really REALLY poorly this semester. My GPA was a 3.92 before this semester (using 4.0 for A, 3.0 for B, +0.5 for AP, but capped at 4.0… so an A in AP Gov is still a 4.0, but a B in WHAP is a 3.5) with 3 B’s, but I think I may have gotten 4 B’s this semester… I’m not sure what to do. My weighted numerical GPA dropped from a 103 to a 99 between freshman and sophomore year, and sophomore year was also when my 4.0 GPA dropped to 3.92.

I kind of set myself up for “failure” this year, I guess. This year I’m taking College Calculus (I’m not sure of my exact grade, but I had a 91 pre-final.), AP Bio (again, not sure, but 90 flat pre-final; expecting grade to drop to a B), AP Lang (89 after final, 90 pre-final), AP Physics (88->87), and AP Chem (Only a 86 pre-final; expecting grade to drop following trends in other classes). I’m working really hard now that I’m on break, but thinking about grades and my future is really stressing me out.

There’s no doubt that these B’s will significantly impact my chances. I used to want to attend an Ivy League, but after this semester, I’m reassessing myself. I’ve already cried for 2 straight days about this, but now I know there’s nothing to do except get better next semester. So, my question is, if I get all high A’s next semester, despite my downhill trend throughout high school, will colleges notice the improvement?

I’m also going to take the redesigned SAT and ACT next semester, and I’m working really hard in extracurricular math, which is the only extracurricular I’m “better than average” at. I know MIT looks at AMC scores, so would high standardized test scores and AMO qualification help?

Also, I know it’s hiiiigggggghhhhhhllly unlikely I still have a shot at Ivy Leagues, right? My friends are trying to reassure me… But they’re probably just being nice…

2

I think you’re pulling yourself out of the game prematurely. A few Bs in challenging classes such as the ones you’re taking are nothing to cry for days about, honestly! Bs are not horrible grades either!! Reading your title, I was expecting Ds and Fs. Coming from someone who’s cried about getting Bs before, it is not detrimental. Raising your grade would be nice, of course, but do not feel that if you don’t your chances at getting into college are gone. Even if you don’t get into an Ivy League, there are so many opportunities opened to you by all of your hard work in past years. Pull yourself together, reset over the holiday break coming up, and prepare yourself for hard work next semester! The only thing you should be crying for days about is if you’re getting those grades because you’re slacking. As long as you’re working your hardest all the time, there is nothing to be upset about and colleges will see that and commend you for not taking the easy way out! It will all be okay, I promise.

3

Also, listen to your friends!! Ivies are incredibly selective for anyone, even if they have perfect stats. But you are definitely not out of the running yet!!

4

Wow, thanks for your reassurance! I’m definitely working hard this winter break, and I don’t think high A’s are out of my reach given my former grades. I still think I burned any chance I had for Ivies, since I didn’t have a 4.0 GPA to begin with, but hopefully I can shine through second semester junior year and pull together a great essay on my college apps… Thanks again for your response! I think I’m going to go study Acids and Bases for chem now :stuck_out_tongue:

5

:stuck_out_tongue:
good luck

6

It is fairly easy to get back a B grade near A. Just talk to your teacher for extra credits. I did that in like 3 of my classes last year and my teachers all gave me A. I mean most teachers are nice enough to give you an A when you are only 2- 3 percent away. Many of my grades are actually like 90, since teachers are usually fairly nice when giving people marks about participation that they give it enough to bump you to the next grade level if you are hard working. For example, English class I had 81 before participation mark of ten percent, even tho I don’t think I should get 9/10 for participation, my teacher was nice enough to give me a 9 percent participation for me to go to a 90.

7

However, if you are struggling in Math (91), I doubt you are going to make AMO. You are kidding yourself if you think you can make AMO if you have never made AIME.

8

I’ve emailed my teachers asking about bonus marks but am still awaiting responses that probably will never come… I had a similar situation last year where my 90 in lit dropped to a 89 after the final and never got bumped. We don’t have participation marks unfortunately; usually the thing that gets a high B to an A is the final, and unfortunately the finals for every class so far have only brought my grades down.

Also, I’m not reallllly struggling in math. The thing that bombed my grade was the first test. We have 4 tests total, each worth 15% of the total grade, and I got a C on one of them. Although I did manage to get A’s on the other 3 and pull my grade up 25 points from a 65, I’m not sure how the final will affect my grade.

I qualified for AIME last year but made a ton of sillies. I really need to learn to check my work…