<p>I take a lot of AP classes in my school, and most of the teachers of those classes DO NOT like to give As (yesterday we had a lab practical for AP Bio, and the class average was a D-). As a result, I got a crapload of Bs, which murdered my GPA. How will I be able to explain the grade deflation? My school profile shows AP scores and SAT IIs (most AP classes have at least 60% 5s), but I don't think that accurately depicts the true extent of the grade deflation. Any ideas?</p>
<p>I should have transferred to a nearby school when I had the chance ><em>> All my friends from there get A+s in core AP classes with minimal studying while most people in my classes struggle to maintain low Bs T</em>T</p>
<p>You don’t explain grade deflation at all. The school profile does. When the colleges see that the top students have 3.5 GPAs they understand.</p>
<p>My school doesn’t report info like that though :(</p>
<p>Do you think it’s worth trying to convince my guidance counselor to send class averages in my app?</p>
<p>“Do you think it’s worth trying to convince my guidance counselor to send class averages in my app?”</p>
<p>No.</p>
<p>Most likely your “top” peers will overlap with you in terms of college applications. As Erin’s dad has said, then colleges will know that the top students have 3.5 GPAs or so.</p>
<p>There’s no need to explain though it would make an interesting essay topic. ;)</p>
<p>And stop complaining!</p>
<p>If you try to explain it, you’ll make it sound as if you’re making excuses for yourself.</p>
<p>OP, I suggest you go talk to your HS college counselor. I think you are mistaken when you say your school doesn’t report information about your school’s curricula, grading system, actual grade distribution of students, etc. Ask if your counselor routinely prepares what is called a Secondary School Report, and if they don’t, what is their method of providing this information to college admission offices.</p>
<p>See <a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Docs/DownloadForms/SSR_School_Form.pdf[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Docs/DownloadForms/SSR_School_Form.pdf</a></p>
<p>The counselors probably indicate if you are in the upper or lower parts of your class.</p>
<p>Well, it should be self evident in your rank. For example, our past valedictorian had 6 B’s.</p>
<p>Your class rank will show it all.</p>
<p>HerroThere, have you seen your school’s profile? That’s the summary information that is sent to colleges along with your counselor recommendation. A well-written profile will explain the grading scale, how/if grades are weighted, and how class rank is computed (e.g. using weighted or unweighted GPA). A high school with grade deflation may also choose to give the highest GPA for the current class, or the range of GPAs that set the top 10% or other brackets. Some schools even list the grade distribution for each course offered during junior year. </p>
<p>If you’re not able to take a look at the profile, ask your parents or guardian to do it. If the profile doesn’t look great, maybe an adult you know can volunteer to revamp it. </p>
<p>You should also ask your school counselors how students with your stats (GPA and SAT/ACT scores) do in college admissions. Admissions folks often know about rigorous grade-deflated schools, and will make allowances. But you’ll have to ask your GC to find out for sure.</p>
<p>There is no need to explain; you’ll come off as making excuses. Some school profiles actually don’t give average scores for each class so that’s tough. School profiles usually talk about the resources (APs, honors), national competitions that students won (National Merit last year) and what colleges accepted their students last year. But you probably won’t need to explain because students applying from your high school will be stuck with similar grades if you’re in the median.</p>