On transcripts
Got straight As? This entry won’t be for you.
You may be panicked that you got one B in 10th grade and you’re sure that will keep you out of Harvard. You may be worried that your freshman year grades don’t reflect your abilities. You may wonder how it’s going to look that your science grades are lower than your other grades. Or, you may wonder whether admissions officers really mean it when they say that it’s better to have a B in an AP or IB course than an A in a regular class. These are very common concerns.
Your guidance counselor will help you decide which schools are within reach, but if your dream school is a stretch and your counselor advises against applying, remember that you’re the one applying and potentially attending the school. Don’t be discouraged too easily from applying where you want – just keep the perspective of a counselor in your mind as you manage your expectations.
Read on to hear more about what admissions officers at selective schools sometimes think about when looking at an imperfect transcript.
Admissions officers who say that it’s better to get a B in a higher level course than an A in a lower level class do mean it. Your GPA will be examined in the context of your course selections and admissions officers like to see that you challenge yourself. They also realize that you have strengths and weaknesses. Often, colleges will be more interested in a student with an imperfect GPA who is willing to take chances and accept challenges than a student with perfect grades who looks to have coasted. You are not expected to be perfect.
Some students like to include notes, and place asterisks next to parts of their record in order to explain reasons behind lower performances. If your one B was because you had mono that semester, or had a 102 fever the day of the exam and had trouble seeing straight, or had a cast on your writing hand and had trouble finishing the test in time, go ahead and let the admissions officer know. Or, better yet, ask one of your teachers or your guidance counselor to address that in a recommendation. Otherwise, trust that your acceptance will probably not hinge on one grade on your transcript and you do not want to sound like you’re making excuses.
If, on the other hand, your one B was because your AP Biology teacher tends to grade more harshly than the other AP Biology teacher, don’t put that in your application. May seem crazy to do such a thing, but it’s been done. Admissions officers recognize that this is all part of the nature of courses, grading, and the misfortune of high school placement.
If your grades trend upwards, great, admissions officers like that. It can be viewed as a sign of maturity, growth, focus and also a pattern that may continue once you get to their campuses.
If your grades trend downward, know that the most selective schools will frown upon such a trend and may very well select other students for acceptance. Keep in mind, though, that what matters tremendously is the context. Many situations exist where a downward trend can be contextualized and justified. Your job is to present your best self and accept and stand behind your coursework.
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Posted on October 12, 2007 under Advice |
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Comments (11)
Hi! I know this is a little off from topic, but I was wondering if you should send a letter of recomendation even if it is not requested by the school.
Thanks,
Paula
Posted on October 15, 2007 11:19 AM
Paula -
I will post about this soon, but the quick answer is that it depends on the school. If there's one school you're curious about give them a call to see, or ask your guidance counselor. In the absence of a specific college, and without seeing the application, I can't really say in the abstract.
Posted on October 15, 2007 7:23 PM
Thanks for this. :)
I got an 89 in Honors Trig/Advanced Algebra and an 90 in Honors Algebra II and I have been worried about the grades.
I took credit Algebra I in 8th grade though and I seriously regret not retaking it in high school. Our Algebra I teacher got fired the year after we left for not teaching well. :K That's completely my mistake though since I had the opportunity to choose not to accept the credit.
Anyway, thanks for everything as usual guys!
Posted on October 16, 2007 4:08 AM
I sometimes don't think that they really care if you're in more advanced classes or not because the people in all regular classes may have a 4.0 GPA and be in top ten percent and get automatically admitted to any school ( in the state of Texas). And here I am with AP everything with a 3.5 GPA and I'm under review. I just don't think it's very fair.
Posted on October 20, 2007 8:04 AM
what if it was a situation that affected more than just one grade and lasted more than one year? during my freshman year all the way untill my junior year my grades seriously suffered do to some family issues I was going through, and I also wasn't able to participate in any after school activities. is there something I can do about this or will most colleges look at it as a failure on my part to focus and push through my circumstances.
Posted on October 27, 2007 10:08 PM
Michelle -
My recommendation would be to have your guidance counselor, or someone who knows you well, explain the situation and how it impacted you academically. I would hope that colleges, with enough information, would take that information into account when making a decision about you and not hold it against you. Especially if things have smoothed out and you've rebounded academically, colleges should look favorably upon this and find signs of strength, resiliency and perseverence.
Posted on October 29, 2007 8:32 PM
I know I'm late, but I have a question. I also took high school courses in the eighth grade (Algebra I and Physical Science). I got a credit for Algebra I, but the Board of Education, didn't allow me or anyone else in my class to receive the credit (and I had all A's). So, the next year we had to retake Physical Science. I had all A's the whole year, but almost in the last part of the year, I got a 57 on my report card. I talked to the teacher and she said it was an 87. She made a grade change request.
That was 2 years ago. Now she's at a new school and the guidance counselor who was supposed to change it is gone. I still have a 57! How can I get this changed with no proof?
If it helps, I had a 94 the next grading period. Do you think that could help prove that I'm a decent student and that grade must've been a mistake?
Posted on November 11, 2007 4:46 PM
Hi!! Quick question...If you recieved a bad grade, your freshman year of highschool do you think that the colleges would look at that a lot? more or less if you are doing early graduation?
Posted on November 13, 2007 7:08 PM
THis article didn't really help my situation. I have straight a's in all of the 'average' classes, but will that hurt me? I'm not sure if next year, as a senior, i should attempt to take more challenging classes as AP, honors classes, or just focus on maintaining my perfect grades in the classes I consider easy???
Posted on November 17, 2007 10:41 AM
How will colleges look at dual credit? Is it on par or above an AP class? I'm about to finish Calculus 2 and Physics 1 at ULL, and it's pretty hard, lol. I'll probably get Bs in both.
Posted on November 30, 2007 6:42 PM
Hi! I was wondering that if I have semi-low grades, but I am in a lot of extra-curricular activities does that help or count against me
Posted on February 26, 2008 4:22 PM