Hello everyone!
So here’s the rundown; I am a junior this year and I’ve always been a straight-A student with a heavy course rigor. However, in my first semester sophomore year, I battled severe depression and earned 4 B’s (3 of them in AP’s). How much do you think this will hurt my chances in applications next year? The B’s really brought my GPA down 
There’s no profit it looking backwards - none of us can change the past. What’s important now is that (1) you are healthy and your depression is under control, and (b) you are doing your best with what’s in your control now regarding your studies. How’s junior year going so far? If you’re doing well (with your health and hopefully with your grades, as well), your transcript will show the dip in your 1st semester of sophomore year but also improvement after that. You may choose to explain your temporary dip in grades when you apply to schools next year to give admissions folks a context for your GPA, which by the way, may not be straight-As but is still no doubt a decent GPA.
Depression’s no joke. Instead of fretting about those grades bringing your overall GPA down, try looking at it all through this lens: you went through a scary crisis and came through to the other side, no doubt with a lot of new skills that will serve you well in college and for the rest of your life. That’s a major accomplishment! Bright things are ahead for you for sure. 
@mnparentof3 Thank you for your insight! I’ve received straight A’s since that semester and my GPA is not where I want it to be but okay and my other scores are good too. I just hope colleges can look over that one bad spot. Thank you!
@shantacorn I believe there’s a short section of the Commonapp which allows you to explain any extenuating/medical circumstances that may have impacted performance- yours definitely fits the bill. Look into it
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I’m glad you posted. My niece received three B’s the first semester of her sophomore year. She went on to earn A’s and A-'s her junior year and first semester senior year. She was accepted to most of the top 20 schools to which she applied and is currently attending an Ivy. She had no hooks but she earned strong scores on her ACT and Subject exams and I think that helped. One mediocre semester is not going to sink you…especially first semester sophomore year. If you feel these grades need to be addressed you may want to consider asking your counselor to address your difficult semester in her recommendation. Good luck to you!