<p>Hey everyone! I'm a sophomore in highschool. Last year I got all A's except for 1 B in the first semester (in geometry) and this year it looks like I'll be recieving a B for first semester of Algebra II. Math and I aren't the best of friends, haha. It's a really difficult subject for me, and I was wondering if anybody knew where harvard stood on situations like this were the student is a straight-A student in every other subject. Just wondering how much this effects my chances when I apply in a few years.</p>
<p>A lot of people on this board will tell you a B is the end of the world. But I think it shows tenacity and a real love of learning to stick with a subject that you can only pull a B in. I mean, it shows that you will stick with something that is difficult. I know that when I went to the Harvard tour the head of admissions said they look at straight A students and wonder what is wrong with them. So if you like math, stick with it. Most every college I toured said they like to see Pre-Calc (at least) on the transcript of students they admit.</p>
<p>Hi,
Can someone get into Harvard with these type of grades? My friend wants to go to Harvard, and other top schools but she had a difficult first quarter in her weakest subjects(math and science) which is bringing down her overall semester grades. We go to a top boarding school, by the way, and she is African-American. She says she KNOWS she can bring her grades up to all A's spring semester, but she wanted to know if her fall semester grades will bring her down. Please...does she stand a chance, considering the school rigor/reputation, URM, predicted improvement, good essay, SAT's, etc. She's a sophomore, by the way. These are what she says she predicts to get-she has not yet taken the midterm exams. Can she still have a chance for Harvard?</p>
<p>English A-
History A-
Latin A
Math B- or B(depending on exam)
Chemistry B- or C+
Computer Science A</p>
<p>Honestly, I'd say to both of the sophomores that they should not really worry about this yet. You still have a couple of years to apply. If you're that conscious of colleges right now, focus more on yourself instead of on what colleges you should apply to. Strive for the best grades possible, join as many clubs that you are actually interested in, and have as much fun as possible, because in a couple of years, it gets really stressful. Enjoy it while you can.</p>
<p>When I was a freshman in high school, I had a very hard time in a few of my classes. If you asked me then whether I would have a chance at Harvard, I probably would have laughed and said I wasn't applying.</p>
<p>I improved my grades in those classes, and then went on to excel for the rest of high school, after which I got accepted to Harvard and most other schools I applied to. However, there was no way to predict my future performance in high school based on my first year, and predicting whether I could get into Harvard wouldn't have done me any good. Seriously, these predictions are useless.</p>
<p>You might say that she wants to know what grades she should aim for, or how hard she should work. I'd just respond that she should work as hard as she can- the students who get into Harvard aren't the ones who game the system, they're the ones who work with a passion whatever the reward is.</p>
<p>Neither of the sophomores are "disqualified" by any means, but both should focus much more on themselves than what colleges think about them. If you want to worry about your grades, OK, but don't keep thinking about college. It doesn't help.</p>
<p>Sifat- nope. President of my school's Robotics Club, which was successful in competitions, and I did chemistry research over the summer at Boston University, but no, I didn't win any awards at Siemens or Intel, didn't cure any diseases, and didn't spend 40 hours a weak doing community service.</p>
<p>Seriously- a few B's in freshman or sophomore year doesn't destroy your chances if you do very well afterwards(admittedly, it depends largely on your courseload and your school). Don't forget, though, that no grades- even straight A's- guarantee anything at schools like Harvard.</p>
<p>wow thanks to everyone who commented! I definitely agree with not shaping myself for harvard (rather, seeing if it's a fit in a few years when I apply). Math isn't something that i'm incredibly passionate about, but I'm going to stick to it until I graduate.</p>