<p>I am worried that my first semester grades for senior year will kill my chances of getting into some selective schools I have applied to (Duke, Georgetown, Tufts, Emory). I am taking two languages, the most rigorous curriculum in my class, and I am applying as a Linguistics/IR major (hence the low math/physics grades). Am I ultimately doomed, or will colleges understand that I am performing well at my strengths?</p>
<p>My classes:
AP Government - Likely an A-
Psychology - A
AP French - A
Physics - Likely a B or B-
AP Literature - Likely an A- or B+
AP Spanish - A
AP Calc AB - Likely a B- or C+ (this kills me the most)</p>
<p>Most likely the latter. You aren’t going to need to perform vector calculus or find the EMF of something for your major. As long as you are trying, chances are that colleges won’t care much about your slightly poorer Physics/Calc grades.</p>
<p>I’m worried about this, too. I have a good GPA, but nothing amazing; I’m going to end up with all A’s and a B- in AP Chem this semester. Chem and Calc are very difficult AP’s, however. Clearly, based on the rest of your grades and the strength of your curriculum, you are not slacking off. I’m sure you will be fine.</p>
<p>I mean, there are plenty of equally qualified students who are intending to major in Linguistics and/or International Relations that DO happen to be getting straight As, even in the classes that aren’t their strengths.</p>
<p>^
I’m fully aware of that, I wasn’t using my strengths and intended major as a rationale for having a lower GPA in classes that I’m weaker in. I was just wondering if the rigor and unique aspects of my curriculum would help to account for that somewhat. And thank you all for your responses, you have assuaged my grief about the severity of my grade drop, and of course I am continuing to work my hardest in all of HS.</p>
<p>And people who are mediocre in everything (trust me, getting an A in high school is NOTHING compared to what you need to do to succeed in the academic arena) will inevitably fail in comparison to people who are good at just their strengths.</p>
<p>The issue is, most of these schools do not admit by major. They know the majority will change majors a few times.</p>
<p>Rationale–now there’s something we see in a lot of posts here. Colleges look at mid term and mid year reports to make sure that as classes get tougher, your grades don’t go down. </p>
<p>We would really have to know where this leaves you rank wise, what your prior grades were and how these grades look in the context of your school to comment on impact.</p>
<p>omg we have the same problem! im getting practically the exact same grades as you in the exact same classes… I am taking AP spanish and AP french as well!!!
I think you will be fine but it will most likely be half and half for your schools considering their selectivity</p>
<p>As someone of asian descent, I find the pseudo-japanese remark almost racist. It’s a good thing you protected yourself by addressing me as a superior. Thanks! :)</p>
<p>Let’s be friends?</p>
<p>Except for Radddd. His logic is pretty faulty. Why would I be defending people getting As if I were not one of them?</p>
<p>I’ll start using a diminutive if you insist, and I wouldn’t be racist against myself now, would I? XD</p>
<p>(You don’t necessarily have to be a part of a group to defend it, as long as it’s logical. A lot of ethical abolitionists were white; they had no obligation to free the slaves, but what they believed to be morally correct led them to do so despite being.)</p>
<p>Aristocrat, Newest Newb, this isn’t the place to conduct your arguments. We’re here to help the OP with their issue. If you can’t provide constructive input (and I’m sure both of you CAN) please take your discussion elsewhere.</p>
<p>To the OP, especially since you’re not applying to say, an engineering school where you’d declare your major, colleges will take a look at this - but only in relevance to your other grades. Hopefully it isn’t indication of a downward trend.</p>
<p>No, my grades have otherwise been very solid, with the exception of chemistry and math in my sophomore year…other than that, with my junior year especially, all of my grades are As.</p>
<p>Like I said before, this year I have had the most work in HS with my schedule and I’m trying to bring everything up before the end of the semester to mitigate the damage. Again, thank you to everyone who has responded.</p>
in AP Chem this semester. Chem and Calc are very difficult AP’s, however. Clearly, based on the rest of your grades and the strength of your curriculum, you are not slacking off. I’m sure you will be fine.</p>