<p>So I just finished up my first summer semester, taking Linear Algebra at a nearby community college. I'm taking Cal II there for my second summer semester, but I digress. I received my first B, in my entire high school career, over the weekend for Linear Algebra. I was fairly disappointed at first, but when I look back onto it, it was the first "real" college class I took. The only grades were three tests weighing 33% each, and each test was very short (7 or 8 questions). My professor also somehow managed to not show us any of our test grades, so I have no idea what I missed or how I missed it, because for every test, I felt entirely confident I had gotten a 100...</p>
<p>Aaaanyways, what I'm asking is, will this kill my chances for MIT or another top engineering school (Caltech, Cornell, etc)? Obviously these schools put a lot of stress on Math/Science courses, but I really feel like I deserved an A and it was more a result of unfortunate circumstances (my parents were away on vacation and I was home-alone for the entire semester) rather than lack of understanding that caused it.</p>
<p>No, it won’t. Generally, classes taken outside of school are only a supplementary thing, and probably more important is that you communicate some mature idea of where your interests within whatever technical fields is. People have gotten into MIT without straight As even in high school math classes.</p>
<p>Now technically, if someone got a B in algebra, and then an A in geometry and calculus, I would be much more comfortable with this individual’s proficiency than, say that of someone with an A in algebra and mediocre grades later on. </p>
<p>One grade hurting someone is definitely absurd.</p>
<p>Sure - but it can go the other way, too. This kid is in high school taking linear algebra. I find a B in that much more understandable than a B in simple algebra I :).</p>
<p>@OP: well lets look at it this way, should getting a B in one class keep YOU from applying to MIT? No. So apply, spend lots of time on your app, maintain good grades and forget about the B, you can’t do anything about it now. I’d say one B is probably not going to kill you.</p>
<p>That is true, Piper. Of course, I also take into account that this poster may not have deserved a B in the first place, and might have done better with a more transparent (and responsible?) professor. It may for all you know have been a random assignment. The annoying thing about this is that the linear algebra class may not play a big role in admissions now, i.e. if nobody (such as that professor) cares enough to give the university a good, solid description fo what you were like as a student or something. A simple grade can mean absolutely anything!</p>
<p>I think grade inflation plays a big part. I take French and usually get A- or B, as do the rest of the class. The students in the corresponding Spanish class usually get 97-100 in general, namely because the class is a lot easier. Both are level 4, electives (only three years are required), and about the same difficulty- but the way the teacher grades makes all the difference. In perspective, I got a 96 on the final.</p>