<p>I understand from what I've gathered around CC, that a downward trend is a factor that hurts your application (I made my first B the second semester of my junior year). However - one of the reasons for such an issue is that I ended up transferring to a more competitive school my junior year - and I also fast tracked my math courses. The new school I was in had a special program where we condensed Pre-Calculus into one semester, and the content of Calc AB into the second semester. I kept up with the pace fine first semester and made an A in Pre-Calculus, but second semester I wasn't able to keep up with the content of Calc AB in a single semester and ended up making a B. I'm not so much worried about the impact it has on my GPA as I am about it seemingly showing up as a "downward" trend on my transcript. I've heard colleges everywhere want to see a student taking difficult classes/courses and doing well - but I don't think it's possible that every student that takes a rigorous course load absolutely does well. Would it have looked better had I just stayed on the slow track - taking a year of Pre-Calculus, rather than doing this? I'm just curious about the judgement of my decision.</p>
<p>It definitely looks better if you challenged yourself and got a B instead. There’s no point getting straight As in easy courses. </p>
<p>Don’t forget to note that you had to transfer to a harder high school in your application.</p>
<p>Dont worry man you’re fine. Its one B…downward trend means when you’re making A’s freshman and sophomore years, then you start taking AP’s junior year and making B’s and C’s</p>
<p>Thanks ^ poster above. I remember someone posting similar, and another poster going “lol a downward trend you’re in deep trouble”. Just making sure that one B wont’ make it come off like that.</p>
<p>Yes, it’s not a big deal. You could always take a more advanced math course the following year and ace that and then it’ll prove that you can do the math.</p>