<p>This year has been the most stressful for me. I have been getting straight A's in a rigorous IB Diploma program. So far, I am expected to get the diploma, and my high ACT Score and 4.0 gpa with a good essay and good recs and ECs has me excited for the college process... but also very nervous. MY main fear is my grades senior year. This year all my 6 classes are IB level, meaning they are harder and difficult. I am afraid that I will get B's or not straight A's, and this would ruin my chance at getting into Ivies, which I am applying for. I was wondering if a B or 2 would really change my credibility and profile as a candidate at these schools. I am stressing like mad and can't even enjoy this senior year. I do have straight A's at the moment, but I am worrying about the future, and not getting all A's this first semester...</p>
<p>You do not have to get straight As. Minimize the amount of Bs but don’t worry! Do your best and you’ll be fine. One or 2 Bs your senior year won’t change your outcome.</p>
<p>Also, your life won’t end if you don’t get into an Ivy - there are plenty of other great options out there. In fact, you may find that for you, those options are superior to the Ivies if you can get your mind around the fact that they aren’t Ivies.</p>
<p>One or two Bs are not going to invalidate your stellar record. And remember, the Ivys along with schools like Stanford, Duke, and several others are “lottery” essentially. So it is fine to play the lottery, but don’t plan your future on playing the lottery. [ok, our headmaster said this phrase in a parent meeting the other night - so I might reuse these words again because I thought they were awesome!]</p>