My AP calc bc average went from a 96 to a 92 and my AP english agerage went from a 95 to a 91 from first to second quarter. I’m applying to a few ivies as well as some other highly selective colleges. Grades in all of my other classes have all remained the same or increased by 1 or 2 points. Will my decreasing math and english averages look bad on my application?
You realize you are being neurotic, right? This isn’t how admissions decisions are made.
How could anyone accurately assess your situation? We know nothing – GPA, standardized test results, curricular rigor, ECs, class rank, essays, recommendations . . . NOTHING – about your aggregate portfolio. Obviously, these grade declines are not helpful, especially at the most-selective and -competitive institutions, but they might not be fatal (although they certainly could be). Further, your question is premised upon the idea that you’d be admitted, had your grades remained at their previous level(s). Isn’t that somewhat ridiculous, for the Ivies and their peer institutions?
I have a 3.9 GPA, 2250 SAT, 34 ACT, I’m taking all AP/IB classes, have lots of EC’s (A LOT of volunteering, a job, and several clubs) and am vp of two clubs, my essays were read by my guidance councelor and she said they were perfect, and I didn’t read my recommendation letters but I assume that they’re really good. Throughout my four years in high school I’ve gotten mostly 96+ averages in all of my classes. The only thing that’s really concerning me is the 92 in AP Calc BC and 91 in AP English that will show up in my mid year report
D is applying to Ivys and top LAC colleges. She’s taking all AP classes and got a B plus in AP Calc BC. We aren’t worried nor should you be
@scottccoct: Okay, please relax a little bit. If you’d provided the information in post #3 as part of your initial post, I would have suggested that these grade declines – although, obviously, not beneficial – will doubtless be viewed as relatively minor aberrations. In the future, you might want to consider if you’ve provided others with the information necessary to make reasonably judgements.
Ok thanks, I realize now that I didn’t provide enough information in my post. Hopefully you’re right and these grades won’t make much of a difference in my application
@TopTier Why would a 92 or a 91 hurt the applicant? Those are great grades, and not everyone applying to Ivies has perfect scores anyway.
@scottccoct You have nothing to worry about. You grades a fine.
It is extremely unlikely that a drop from a 96 to a 92 or from a 95 to a 91 would be fatal on their own.
@ilovethecity: Theoretically, because he is potentially vying for one of the very last places in the class, with a marginal downward grade trend, and his competitors have upward grade trends. Look, when a university accepts only approximately 10 percent of its applicants, “shades of difference” actually matter. But as I indicated in post #5 – after the OP provided more comprehensive information – this “will doubtless be viewed as relatively minor aberrations.”
I don’t believe those grades in and of themselves will harm you (they are still excellent). It will be your grades in conjunction with the rest of your application packet that will matter. My impression is that you have the goods to get into a great school it will just be a matter of which one.