<p>Hey everyone,</p>
<p>If you're getting annoyed by similar posts such as this one in the forum's of other top schools, I am really sorry as I'm just trying to get a wide range of inputs to my question. If we're even considering applying to a school such as Harvard, we probably loathe the letter grade B. The reason I am posting this is that I received a B both semesters this year in the same class, a class that I can't seem to do well in. I don't know why I can't seem to do well, but I definitely have not slacked off. So here's my question: how much do these matter? I'm currently a sophomore in high school and have decent EC's and SAT's(2200's currently without intense prep, goal is a 2300+). For the rest of high school, I most likely won't get a B again unless I get super unlucky. I feel awfully miserable right now because of this. The worst thing is, I'm an Asian male. If I get no more B's for the rest of high school, will my chances be significantly hurt by these B's? How do admissions officers react to sparse B's on transcripts(1 or 2)?</p>
<p>PS: I'm not a machine that is obsessed with grades. I have passions that will probably land me some nice leadership positions later in high school. </p>
<p>Thanks for your input</p>
<p>Don’t worry!
I’m a white female and I had several sub-par grades on my transcript-- just make sure everything else is outstanding!</p>
<p>As long as they see a positive trend, meaning no more B’s in your junior and senior year than one or two or a few B’s in freshman/sophomore year, it is all good :)</p>
<p>To be absolutely positive, I think that being an Asian male will probably make it a LEETLE more difficult because that means that technically you aren’t really a minority and you face fierce competition (I know it sucks, I’m an Asian female). Having said that, as long as everything else is amazing, I’m sure they’ll be able to overlook it. Just make sure that they can see an upward trend in your grades. I mean, during the apps you can always emphasize your strengths… and that’s what’s so great about applying to school in the US.</p>
<p>Oh, but I’m on the waitlist, so what do I know :)</p>
<p>I will say:</p>
<p>I got into Harvard (and Princeton/Columbia) with a C and about 3 B’s on my senior year midyear report.</p>
<p>My friend got into Princeton w/ likelies from Dartmouth and Columbia with a C and about 4 B’s on his midyear report.</p>
<p>Another friend got into Penn with a D and 2 B’s on his midyear report.</p>
<p>These are all seniors who held 4.0 averages for the other years, but I thought I’d say it anyway.</p>
<p>@eating food</p>
<p>You have a lot of really lucky people around you :)</p>
<p>since i worked in the admission office, i think i’m pretty qualified to answer this. when the admin officers see a B on the transcript, they blast a bullhorn and all work stops. everyone gathers around the offending transcript and takes turns urinating on it, saturating the prospective candidate with streams of disdain. the scanned version of the transcipt (before the drenching) is then sent to every single undergrad for a collective mocking over house email lists. afterwards, the transcript is stored in a crypt deep underground with other delinquent applications so that it will not taint the otherwise immaculate quality of the University and its constituents. the adminssions office then mails a packet of anthrax to the applicant to ensure that he/she will never again try to contact the University.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t call them lucky people. I would just say: if you write your essays and mold your application such that they cannot resist you, then a couple not-stellar grades are not going to ruin your application.</p>