Hi,
I took Calc AB 9th grade, Calc BC 10th grade, and Math IB HL 2 in 11th grade. Although I got 5s on the APs, I’ve consistently gotten B’s (save for one A) in those classes and a C in the 2nd semester of Math IB HL 2. These classes were also duel-enrollment with California State University Fullerton, so I am also turning in that transcript along with my HS transcript. How will admissions officers view this combination of extreme course rigor yet subpar performance?
Does it help that my high school’s STEM program is one of the top in the nation, as in admissions officers will forgive the lower grades? I shot for the moon, and I might have missed…either a little bit or by a mile. I plan on applying to top 20 colleges/universities.
My situation is kind of unique, and I’d love some feedback while figuring out my position among applicants concerning GPA vs. course rigor.
Thanks in advance.
Words of wisdom from most admissions officers is that you want to take a rigorous HS schedule and get all A’s. That said, you will probably have to look lower than the top 20 colleges to have a solid chance at an acceptance. Find schools where your stats put you in the top 50th-75th percentile. Going to a competitive HS will be taken into consideration, but you are still expected to perform well in comparison to your fellow HS students. So how do you compare to the top students at your HS?
My school rankings go by deciles ~ I am in the second decile or top 20%. Thank you. I figured my solid chances are now below top 20 colleges, but are my chances at the top 20 completely ruled out or will really strong ECs, scores, and essays still give me a 50-50 or higher shot?
The discrepancy tells colleges how rigorous your high school is. I bet they know that already. But 5’s in the face of lower grades means that grades were based on criteria that is pitched at far higher standards than it is in most schools where 4’s may be associated with A’s.
Thanks lostaccount (btw, hope u find ur account)
No, it’s really not.
They are not completely ruled out, but you will be disadvantaged, particularly if there are others with higher GPAs from your school applying for the same T20 schools. After all, at least 10% of them had higher GPAs with similar courses. But for most of these colleges, it is not only about GPA;the other factors you mentioned count as well.
FWIW, I believe that Lehigh is one school where you have an advantage. They seem to like students who overreach. Prior to a few years ago, at Lehigh, your academic transcript was only “considered”. It was not “important” or “very important”. Course rigor was “very important”. This signaled that they like people who are not afraid to take risks, and go for it. The outcome was less important. They were very unique in this respect. I believe they have changed their answers to the weighting of criteria, but their culture suggests that they still weigh course rigor much higher than transcript.
By the way, schools in Great Britain also don’t consider transcripts only test scores, and for Oxford and Cambridge, rigorous academic oral interviews. Your situation is not crazy and doesn’t reflect badly on you, though many schools will weight transcript higher than AP or IB scores.