<p>I have always maintained a 4.0 throughout high school...until now. Lately, with 5 AP classes and all the other stresses of Junior year, my grades have fallen somewhat. I have just realized that I will be receiving a B for the year in one of my AP classes - something that's never happened before (I'm very disappointed with myself =\ ). I had planned to apply to very high level schools, but I'm scared that now I've ruined all my chances. I've always been under the impression that a 4.0 is absolutely crucial where ivy league schools are concerned, but I don't know the facts. If this is my first and last slip-up, do I still have a chance? Thanks</p>
<p>No, I’m sorry. You should just apply to your local CC now.</p>
<p>A 4.0 is like your virginity, once you lose it, you never get it back. </p>
<p>Dirty grim humor aside, yeah… your chances seem to be shot. Thousands apply to Ivy League schools with 4.0 UW and are rejected… and many have A’s in community college/online courses to supplement that 4.0. Only in rare cases, such as those attending rigorous private schools, or special admit cases do you see admits with less than an unblemished 4.0 GPA. To determine admits among 4.0 students, adcoms at Ivy League schools resort to a formula that calculates the Weighted GPA of students with a determinant that comes from the rigor of your school. If your perfect 4.0 application passes the Weighted test, then you are passed on to the “selection board” along with other 5000 finalists for the holistic admissions evaluation and voting. Most non-4.0 unweighted GPA transcripts are thrown out by minimum wage assistants in the first round. As admissions are done through the internet, these assistants are instructed to only print the applications of those with perfect GPAs. The rest goes into the big online dumpster. Your recs and school forms that follow through mail are placed in a red bin all the way up till May, until adcoms have enough free time to start hauling trash away (or infamously, thrown into the heater to warm the building in some schools). Given that Ivy League colleges receive over 20,000 applications a year, with only at most four months on average to review them, this is the only fair way to ensure that only the best get a fair hearing. More than anything, this is the reason why anything less than a 4.0 will be a complete waste of application fees to top universities.
Well… unless you are a powerful legacy, celebrity, or the child of someone influential. Then your application goes into a blue bin, where the Dean of Admissions himself picks out the admits and personally calls months ahead to inform you of your acceptance. </p>
<p>Dirty grim humor and lies aside, Just kidding!.. everything I said is a lie. Not even a joke. A lie. I was going to leave it at that, but seeing as how neurotic people are on this site, someone might believe it and kill themselves. There is no red basket for rejected recommendation, and you don’t need a 4.0 UW to get in. I got into Yale with 2 B’s OK??? Chillax everyone… We get a new thread on this everyday…</p>
<p>Getting one B will not ruin you, Jesus H. Christ!</p>
<p>Many accepted students at Ivies don’t have 4.0 GPAs.</p>
<p>Well you could be old fashioned and use a noose, or you be like all the cool kids and take a razor to the wrists. Really, though I mean cmon. I suggest you take a breather and chill. You are fine.</p>
<p>I got an A- and still got into Caltech while the valedictorian was waitlisted…</p>
<p>In short, everything counts so make sure you shine in other areas and make sure to keep your GPA from dropping any further.</p>
<p>Getting 1 B (or even a couple) will not kill your chances.</p>
<p>Functionally, there is absolutely no difference between a 4.0 and a 3.8+. At that point, it’s the other stuff which differentiates you: SAT, ECs, recommendations.</p>
<p>I personally have a friend who got into Harvard with a 3.7
Another one who got into Yale with a 3.5 (though she was one awesome person lol)</p>
<p>Then of course I have a friend who had a 4.1 and still got rejected…</p>
<p>So yes don’t worry about it!!!</p>
<p>i agree with bsDber2010, my cousin got into a yale with a 3.4 can you believe it ? and her friend which has a 4.0 got rejected… soo its not all about grades, these types of colleges look at everything so dont worry you still have a great shot just try to improve again and dont worry !</p>
<p>Your college application will have many elements that will matter, and how they matter will vary from college to college. Certainly, grades matter, but there is no college in this country where everyone has a 4.0 from high school. Having one B is marginally worse than having no Bs, sure, but it will simply be part of the overall picture. No one thing at the margin destroys your chances, except maybe a criminal conviction.</p>
<p>I’m sorry if I sounded ridiculous - it’s just that several of my friends acted like it was a very big deal, so I was worried (and I don’t really know better 
). Thanks for all the input</p>
<p>there’s more to life than gpa, fortunately :)</p>
<p>I think you need new friends.</p>
<p>I concur. 10char</p>
<p>You’ll be fine. I felt the same way when I lost my 4.000 but that was much earlier than yours. You’ll get over it in no time if you promise to do better like I did :D. And yes, get new friends.</p>
<p>Functionally, there is absolutely no difference between a 4.0 and a 3.8+.</p>
<p>Though I agree with what people have said about the fact that one B won’t kill you…</p>
<p>there is definitely a difference between a 3.8 and a 4.0. 3.8 people just think “Oh, I’ll just accept a B in this class. It’ll be the only one (or two, or three) I’ll have. It’s not worth it to spend the many extra hours just to get an A. No worries.” But 4.0 people think “Ugh. I am so NOT going to get a B in this class. It’s time to go into overdrive!”… and then go on to work like hell to get a wavering B up to an A.</p>
<p>I think you just proved my work.</p>
<p>People with 3.8’s are more reasonable. It’s good to always try your best, but there isn’t much benefit to grind through work to get that A, especially if it’s at the expense of other stuff. So long as it stays reasonable (less than 5 B’s), there isn’t too much harm.</p>
<p>If there’s only a small boost in admissions (no adcomm is going to reject you for one B), what’s the point?</p>
<p>Anecdotally, I’ve found that all the 4.0 students I know work super hard in school – but don’t have time for much else. In the end, the lack of extracurriculars is going to hurt them a lot more than my 1 or 2 B’s.</p>
<p>Actually, a handful of my good friends and I all have 4.0 UW GPAs, 8+ APs, jobs, have been president/captain of atleast 2 clubs/activities, have all been a class officer atleast once (ranging from Treasurer, VP to President), have lots of community service, and are still sociable, friendly people.</p>
<p>Yes, we freak out about grades. We don’t get a lot of sleep [though I have been able to take more naps this year]. We’re all overachievers. But we thrive off of achievement and success.</p>
<p>Many people assume people with 4.0s have no life. This is definitely an inaccurate statement.</p>
<p>1 B is fine. Seriously. It’s more of a pride thing for all A’s i guess</p>
<p>In all seriousness, colleges aren’t going too see any or much difference in a 3.8/3.9 and a 4.0. I’m sure you’ll get over it.</p>