Since the beginning of elementary school when students first learned the importance of grades and homework, “A” grades have always been highly valued, and for good reason. Gold star stickers have become bold letter grades, sparking the best feeling a student can experience after working hard on assignments and tests. Throughout every grade, a student’s goal is always to do their absolute best, which means one thing: an A.
According to MCPS grading policies, an A is considered excellent, a B is considered above average, a C is viewed as acceptable, a D is deemed below average, and an E is a fail. But what’s wrong with being above average? Why does the official description of a B contrast so blatantly with the actual shared perception of a B that students believe?
Nowadays, B’s aren’t considered bad grades, but they aren’t seen by students as a success. “I got a B in AP Bio, which I wasn’t the happiest about since I really wanted an A,” junior Mahi Sharma said. “It is an AP class and known to be more difficult than other AP classes, and my friends told me I should be happy with my B. But still, I wish I could have gotten an A.”
Looking back, B’s are no longer what they used to be. Honors Biology teacher Jennifer Mockenstrum remembers her own days in education when a B was a generally good grade that students strived to achieve. “If you are working hard for a B it means that you are being appropriately challenged, ” Mockenstrum said. “Productive struggle leads to academic growth.”
The reputation of a B has gotten more and more damaged as college admissions have increased their selectivity across the years. For example, University of Michigan, a highly selective top 10 public university, deems successful applicants having an unweighted GPA of 3.9 and higher, roughly meaning a student would have to have almost all A grades throughout high school. However, according to PrepScholar, in the 1980s, University of Michigan reported typical competitive applicants holding roughly 3.5-3.7 unweighted GPAs, a lower GPA compared to current standards.
B’s are also subjective, with some classes being more a victory to receive a B then others. For example, if a student were to take an AP class and get a B, this would be considered higher value compared to a student getting an A in an on-level class. “I’m in precalculus and I got a high B,” junior Hailey Goldberg said. “A B grade isn’t necessarily bad, but it isn’t the best in my eyes because colleges don’t really like to see too many.”
Although a student’s first goal should always be to strive for the best they can possibly do, a B or two is not as detrimental as it may seem, especially in advanced classes that are already more rigorous and require more effort.
