HS transcripts; quick questions

My d23 is going to apply to some summer programs that look at transcripts/test scores etc.

I’m looking at her transcripts at her new private small school - have quick questions.

1: there’s no unweighted gpa. Does that matter? school has a policy that once a kid takes a weighted class, there is no unweighted gpa. Her weighted isnt impressive as there’s not a ton of AP classes at the school. . . .

2: she’s taking calc AP AB. the description of the class says “calc BC dual credit” – but the school doesnt even offer BC, and no dual credit. Does this matter at all that the description is not what she’s taking?

3: ACT score from a test she took at age 14 shows on the transcript. it’s decent, but not impressive. Do schools care?

4: school doesnt rank - except top two at graduation. she’s been told she’s one of those 2 now. Does it matter if that’s not on transcript, but she puts down ranking if asked on apps? (nothing to prove it)

(she will not be applying to elite colleges; we are merit hunters. so from that point of view, this isnt a huge deal. but want the i’s dotted and t’s crossed) thanks for any thoughts. last kid; paying more attention to this all.

  1. No problem there’s no uw GPA. The program may or may not recalculate GPAs. Weighted GPA will be looked at in the context of your kids’ school, not compared with others’ who have different weighting systems.

  2. That seems weird, does the class say AP Calc AB and the description is wrong? Or is the title of the class ‘calc BC dual credit’? Regardless, I might explain this somewhere on the app. I would also talk with the school curriculum staff to fix that.

  3. I hate test scores on transcripts. First, ask if it can be taken off (tell the school in the test optional world, showing test scores is potentially problematic for the students’ apps, especially those who apply TO). But, the programs/schools will understand your D took it early, so it’s ok.

  4. Most schools don’t rank anymore

Good luck at the programs she’s applying to!

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My kids didn’t do any pay-to-play summer programs, but i wouldn’t anticipate the weighted GPA being an issue at all. Colleges recalculate GPAs anyway, using institution-specific methods, but typically focusing on the unweighted value of core classes. These summer programs likely do the same.

I would see if you could have the ACT score removed from the transcript if she is applying to colleges test optional. Even though an AO will say they don’t use them, it’s hard not to un-see something, especially if she is competing for merit.

If you would like her rank known, and being first or second is certainly helpful, you might see if the guidance counselor would be willing to mention it in her letter.

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ha! have never done pay-to-play either with the 3 older as well!
this kid - who does competitive dancing - is interested in physics, Aeronautical engineering, mech e, math – so she says! i think that’s why we are looking at some STEM programs and camps - to see if she really is interested in this all before going to college. it’s been hard for all this age - not being able to shadow or do the explorer groups the others did. thanks for your thoughts btw.

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Yours/hers seems like a great reason to do one!

My son was rejected at Purdue STEP with a 32. But resubmitted Gus 34 and was accepted. So some do have requirements.

Depends on the program.

A transcript is a transcript…unless the school is brand new, I’m sure theirs work for colleges.

But you should question the calc descriptor to the guidance counselor in case the school has a bigger error.

STEP would be good for her. One week.

When we visited Rose Hulman it was during Operation Catapult. We talked to a few kids and they were pleased.

May be two to look into.

that’s one of our targets. Purdue STEP, they havent had a program for the last two years, so i wonder if the competition it tough this year.

what do you mean by Gus 34? (his 34 ACT?) – and yikes. she is in low 30s now for ACT; and the program looks great; but not sure she’ll have time to “up” that act before apps are due - and that’s not the ACT on the transcript.

Too many typos. My phone changes words.

He initially applied with a 32 and was rejected.

A few days after he got his updated 34 and they offered him a spot. So it’s not really pay to play. I mean not everyone gets in.

Yes ACT

As an aside, he applied to Purdue for Mech Engineering and was offered $10k. You rarely hear that from Purdue. He had two friends with higher GPAs and ACTs (36) who got nada and are at UTK. Of course my son also unexpectedly to me did not choose Purdue and is at Bama. I always wondered if his attendance at STEP drove the merit offer ?

But he came back from that program jazzed !!

A third one we looked at …he didn’t …was a 3 week Physics of Rollercoasters at Michigan.

Good luck.

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For college application purposes, even a selective program is considered a “pay to play,” unless your tuition is fully funded.