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Hello. My son, who is a junior, was very disappointed to get his first B ever in an honors class. He would like to apply to some ivies next fall. Do you think that the B will hurt him? Every year, only about 3-4 people are admitted to ivies from his public school.

By asdf on Sunday, February 02, 2003 - 12:31 pm: Edit

One B won't ruin his chances for admissions!

By Morgantruce (Morgantruce) on Sunday, February 02, 2003 - 12:50 pm: Edit

Ivy mania is discussed at length on this website. The chances are good that your son will match up even better with a non-ivy... and wind up getting a really first class education. When you read about all the great schools there are, you can stop being a worried dad.

If you look at all the postings under "what are My Chances At..." you will soon have to agree that most of the students seem to have been whipped up into an ivy frenzy---and it's probably not doing their studies or their outlook any good at all.

By aa on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 06:26 pm: Edit

Don't worry... one B is okay for an ivy. I know lots of people who have been accepted with a few scattered Bs. So many people get turned down for myriad reasons that everything is a game. I'd look beyond the ivies- not because of the B, but because they are such a reach for even perfect students. Also, ivy doesnt equal a good ed.

By realistic on Tuesday, February 04, 2003 - 09:55 am: Edit

Is he a legacy? If he is, don't worry. I know legacies with Cs who got into Ivy league schools.Also, if it was in a tough class like physics or calculus, that may be acceptable.

By worried dad on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 02:29 am: Edit

Thank you for your feedback. The B was in the honors physics class. No, he is not a legacy, and yes, he will be applying to other great schools like U Michigan, U Chicago, Northwestern, UCLA, and USC.

By Smiles on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 04:33 am: Edit

Hi. I also have the same concern. I'm afraid that I'll have 1 B/B+ on my transcript... Mine will be in AP Latin. I'm a junior in a very small, competitive class with some of the best students from the senior class and with students who have had AP Virgil as I have not... My concern and that of my friend who is the same position is that colleges won't know the details and will just see the "B." Other than that, I have all A+/A/A-s. This year, I'm taking 3 other APs and prob/stat. How much impact would one B/B+ have with regard to admission to colleges such as Brown, Harvard, Wellesley, Amherst? Thanks!! :-)

By Morgantruce (Morgantruce) on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 10:02 am: Edit

Smiles,
In a nutshell: no impact.

My daughter is a Latin minor (English major) at Wellesley---doing well despite no Latin in high school.

The majority of top colleges seem to have a special warm spot in their hearts when it comes to the study of Latin. It's like a secret decoder ring! Even the attempt at studying this essentially dead language seems to make a favorable impression.

But be warned: this is being written by fellow who can barely translate the Latin on a dollar bill...

By Smiles on Saturday, February 15, 2003 - 07:07 pm: Edit

Thanks for the advice, Morgatruce... I appreciate it :-) Anyone else?

By a parent on Sunday, February 16, 2003 - 09:00 am: Edit

One B does not matter! I know a student at Harvard with several Bs on his transcript. Relax!

By joanne on Saturday, February 22, 2003 - 05:42 am: Edit

hey, sounds familiar, the whole high-a low-a system..

how's that look?

my situation's worse - it's an 8 point scale:
8 - high a
7 - low a
6 - high b
5 - low b
4 - c
3 - d
2 - e
1 - f

so say i only get two 8s, but five 7s, and a 6...i mean what does that say to them?

does that mean 7 As to them?

By Morgantruce (Morgantruce) on Saturday, February 22, 2003 - 07:42 am: Edit

Education would greatly improve if the emphasis shifted from grading to learning.

"Keep your eye on the doughnut... not the hole."

By joanne on Sunday, February 23, 2003 - 11:00 am: Edit

hey morgantruce, was that directed towards me?

i do put emphasis on my learning. i'm not one to shy away from the higher courses even if i could get the 8 hands down in the easier one.

i agree though, but this whole college craze thing is rather eye-brow rasing.

i still remain a hypocrite.

nemore help?

By Elenavega (Elenavega) on Saturday, April 05, 2003 - 10:19 pm: Edit

Oh my gosh!!! Grades aren't all that matters. The student must be well rounded, be involved in school, after school and in the community. Standardized test scores are also important. ONE B will not kill him. He needs to take a chill pill.

By Emeraldkity4 (Emeraldkity4) on Saturday, April 05, 2003 - 10:30 pm: Edit

My daughter had a 3.3 GPA in high school, got into all the colleges she applied including some of the top schools, with money besides.
Schools are looking for much more than numbers ( caveat big U's are just looking for numbers- she didn't apply to any big U's)

By Tenisghs (Tenisghs) on Saturday, April 05, 2003 - 11:24 pm: Edit

Yeah, my GPA is a 3.4 overall, and I still got into UMichigan, Northwestern, and George Washington!