Ok guys…how bad, really, is a B?

Applying to College
1

<p>right now, Im a sophomore. I want to study architecture. background established :)</p>

<p>As of now my grades are ok. Simple as that. My GPA unweighted for both years together is like 3.62. I've had five B's all together out of 14 classes, but four of those were in honors classes. (three b's freshman year–two honor, one regular, and two b's sophomore year, both in honors classes) </p>

<p>I plan, next year, to really step it up cause I had some hard times this year adjusting to all the stuff I had going on in my life. Personal, family stuff, and sports. Next year I'm taking 1 ap as a junior as I believe three honors classes, as well as Architectual design three AND studio art. So I've been taking arch. since the beginning. </p>

<p>my question is, when design/architecture schools are looking at your grades, or really ANY school can those few b's early on in high school REALLY make a big impact? Everybody makes such a biiiig deal out of them that I'm really not sure what to believe and how freakin' worried I should be right now. </p>

<p>I know if I get nearly or all a's next year it would (maybe) make up for anything bad this or last year. To give an idea of the schools I'm shooting for, they'd be:</p>

<p>Carnegie Mellon
Rice
Syracuse
UCLA
RISD
Tulane</p>

<p>and number one pick…even though grades are pretty much not important for the architecture admissions process for this school:</p>

<p>Cooper Union</p>

<p>THANK YOU in advance for any feedback. I'm like starting to lose sleep over this.</p>

2

<p>Just do the best you can. No one can tell you the Bs don’t matter. But losing sleep over them will only do more harm. Keep your list broad, do very well junior year and get high scores and you will attend a good college.</p>

3

<p>Grades actually do matter for Cooper Union. Art doesn’t care, but Architecture does, because you also have to do structural physics and calculations. But yes, since most people have qualifying grades, the portfolio becomes THE most important factor. Keep working hard and keep/raise your gpa. Do well on math and science SATs and in classes… As much as Architecture is art, it incorporates a lot of science.</p>

4

<p>I gotta say that YuhikoJay is right… Architecture programs especially view grades as a big factor. Getting a few B’s isn’t the end of the world, but I would try to just keep getting more A’s than B’s. Especially at Cooper, since it is really selective. Colleges really look at your junior year though, since it’s your most recent grades, along with senior year. So just appropriately challenge yourself. Don’t kill yourself by taking way more course load than you can handle :stuck_out_tongue: you’re supposed to have some fun in high school…</p>

5

<p>I mean yeah, I do have more A’s than B’s. it’s really not that much, but still I don’t know. Thanks for the help everyone</p>