So I applied ED to one of the top schools and I got deferred. However, senioritis had already set in for me and unfortunately I have 4 Bs this semester, including ones in Physics and Math. I know that these senior year grades are especially important and a B in these core classes won’t be looked at favorably by colleges. While I know I had no excuse, would this kill any chances I have of getting into any of the ivies or any of the top engineering schools such as Carnegie or Duke?
Yes, very likely you’ve seriously diminished your chances at competitive admissions schools like you’ve listed.
Unfortunately, yes. Many colleges value first semester grades of senior year as much as they do whole term grade of junior year because they believe that it is the most accurate reflection of how applicants will perform in college.
Given that you mentioned you “applied ED to one of the top schools,” you must have had good GPA until senior year. Adding multiple Bs in senior year – especially in courses pertaining to your major – to what was originally nearly-perfect GPA must drop your cumulative GPA “significantly” from competitive college reps’ perspective, unfortunately.
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would this kill any chances I have of getting into any of the ivies or any of the top engineering schools such as Carnegie or Duke? <<<
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It is very unfortunate that all of Ivy Leagues are notorious for having rejected a number of applicants with perfect GPA and tests scores in the past. However, it wouldn’t have completely “killed” your chances of acceptance into “any of the ivies or any of the top engineering schools such as Carnegie or Duke” depending on your background as those schools do not judge applicants on merely numbers, but your chances of acceptance just went down a bit.
I think you shouldn’t expect much especially from Duke as you were deferred with a better stat, and deferred students are expected to have improved by much in the next check, unless you have made major accomplishments or won significant awards.
Don’t completely give up, however. You will still stand chances. Also, note that I may be completely wrong and that I am not able to really give you an accurate response as given information is very minuscule.
@HardOREasy
So there’s still a miniscule chance at those schools? My unweighted GPA should go down to around 3.89/3.9ish. Would they normally accept people with similar GPAs or no because of my unfortunate “downward” trend?
Have you reviewed your list with your college counselor in light of your declining grades?
You may find that your grades next semester matter more than ever, because you might want to send quarter grades to prove you are back on track.
Well, it’s hard to say because I’m not an expert who can give you a guaranteed answer. Also, there are many factors that you haven’t mentioned but that those colleges take seriously into consideration, such as rigor of your courses, EC background, etc. Also, I do not know exact reason you got deferred, so I am not really able to help you much.
Just based on your UW GPA, you seem to stand an OK chance at those schools. But remember, colleges don’t judge you by number. They look at everything else about you for fair opportunities to everyone.
No one or two grades will kill any chance at a school, but you certainly have not improved your odds. Competitive colleges do want to see that you can do well in rigorous courses such as physics and math.
Well looks like I should focus more on my essays and the changeable parts of my application for now. If I try harder and improve my 3rd quarter grades is it possible for colleges to view those at all in my Midyear report? Or will they not be seen/matter?
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