Selecting courses for next year? A strong transcript is about more than GPA
High schoolers are already picking their courses for next year and considering how that will impact their future college applications. Ambitious and goal-oriented students who aspire to gain admission to selective colleges and universities often prioritize a high GPA as a sure-fire way to get that precious acceptance letter to the college of their choice. There’s no question that a high GPA is a positive, but selective admissions is more complicated than that. When picking your courses for next year, be sure to first take into account the key part of your transcript that moves the needle with admissions committees – rigor.
You can demonstrate that rigor with your course selections. Indeed, course selection is the first part of a student’s academic record that admissions committees will hone in on, even before considering GPA.
One of the biggest misconceptions that families have about college admissions is that there is a universal numeric GPA that is the key to success and entry to the college of your dreams. Grading scales and GPA calculations vary widely across the country; when you consider that selective college admissions offices organize their pools of applicants into regional groups, it becomes more apparent that admissions committees don’t look for a particular number, but instead focus on the choices students make in seeking out the most demanding curriculum at their particular high school.
Having a perfect record in a less than demanding curriculum will not be nearly as impressive as a student who did not achieve all “As” but challenged themselves across the board in the toughest classes possible at that high school.
Students should also challenge themselves across the board. Yes, if you have an interest in Computer Science, excelling in honors and AP level courses in that field is very important; but it would be a huge mistake to turn down the opportunity to pursue high level courses in other subjects. When you get to college, you’ll be expected to take courses outside your major. In a highly selective and competitive admissions process, committees want to know that you’re prepared across the board and have challenged yourself not only in your area of main interest, but in a wide variety of disciplines.
After all, the best predictor of what will happen is what has happened, so your course selection in high school is the best way to signal to college admissions offices that you are ready for the rigors of their institution.
By all means, students should set a goal to do well in their classes! But first, make sure your transcript reveals more than that. At Arthur Smith Advising we set up a strategic, multi-year plan with our students to make sure they are making the right course choices across the board. You don’t need a perfect GPA, but to gain admission to the most selective schools, you do need to start with a curriculum that will challenge you.