I am a current high schooler, simply curious about the process of college. I have some questions about things I do not understand. My first being can colleges tell if your high school weighs GPA. My high school does not weigh its GPA for students and I take AP’s. Will I not stand out because my GPA will be about 3.8 rather than above a 4.00? Secondly, my question being on can high schools pad their course titles on transcripts to make them more appealing to colleges? If you don’t know what I’m talking about disregard the question). Finally, what is the fine line about if you should apply to a college. I will begin applying next year but have not received my test scores yet, I’m interested in University of Virginia, UCLA, Bucknell and Notredame. Those are very prestigious universities or in my mind they are. Should I apply to all? How can I determine which ones would be the best.
- Your HS transcript will give the grading scale and weighting information. Colleges generally unweight anyway when they look at your transcript, for the very reason that some high schools don't weight.
- I don't think HSs pad titles. Nor does it matter; colleges care if you have had a certain number of years of given subjects, and notice if you took a challenging schedule within what is available.
- You apply next fall for entry in Fall 2018. Get a copy of the Fiske Guide to Colleges. Figure out what your parents can pay, and run the net price calculators on college websites. Don't worry about prestige. Worry about cost, strength I your major, and pick a range of schools including safeties, matches, and a couple of reaches.
I appreciate the feedback!