u/sysoverdr1ve

Basically, I’m trying to decide whether I should apply EA or wait until RA because of one grade.

This semester I got a B+ in dual enrollment Differential Equations. I’m still figuring out with my counselor whether it’ll affect my HS GPA since I might be able to replace it with an A from dual enrollment Prob/Stats, but regardless, the B+ would still appear on my college transcript.

For context, I’ve had very strong academics overall:

• Max rigor at my high school
• My school doesn’t offer many advanced opportunities, so I used dual enrollment heavily
• Took Precalc, Calc 1/2/3, Eng. Physics 1, Robotics/CS class, etc.
• 1550 superscore SAT (760/790)
• Very strong/impactful ECs considering my circumstances
• Doing the LEDA program this summer, which should also help a lot with essays/app quality

Up until now, I’ve gotten all As, both HS/DE, which is why this one B+ is stressing me out.

The reason I’m considering RD is because next semester I’ll be taking Engineering Physics 2 and Linear Algebra, and I’m pretty confident I can get As in both. So part of me feels like applying RD would let me show the Diff Eq grade was just an outlier.

At the same time, I know a single B+ in a hard college math class probably isn’t the end of the world, especially with my overall rigor/course load. But I want my chances to be as good as possible considering how variable admissions are.

So what would you do in my position?

• Apply EA and not worry about the B+?
• Or wait for RD so I can submit stronger senior-year grades with Linear Algebra/Physics 2?

I’m a junior who was accepted into LEDA and shortlisted for SSP (still waiting on the lottery), and I’ve also applied to MITES and SAMS. I’m FGLI with strong STEM ECs, and I attend a very small school with limited rigor and opportunities. To make the most of what’s available, I take all the advanced classes offered (2 APs) and do a ton of dual enrollment. I also try to pursue STEM outside of school through personal projects, clubs, and I'm heavily focused on community service focused on expanding STEM access in my community.

I’m really grateful to have been accepted to LEDA and shortlisted for SSP, but now I’m facing a tough decision about what to prioritize.

I’m hoping to study EE/CS and physics, and schools like MIT and Stanford are my top goals. If I’m admitted to MITES (Summer, I don't think Semester is as good as LEDA/SSP) or SAMS, would it make more sense to attend MITES over LEDA if MIT is my dream school? Or even SSP over LEDA??

I’d really appreciate any advice on how to think about these options. It's a huge decision and I feel like it could really impact what happens with my college results. Thanks!