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Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
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| 800 verbal
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Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Colleges Valuing Rigorous Schedules?

Hey, could you help me understand which colleges care the most about the strength of our academic schedules? I've taken an arduous load of AP and honors classes, and I'm wondering where that might help me stand out?

9 months ago

Your pursuit of an academically rigorous schedule will definitely help your college application across the board, but it tends to be especially important to top-tier and highly selective colleges. These schools usually strive to admit students who will excel in high-level college courses and are able to handle the academic workload at the collegiate level. Here's why.

Highly selective colleges, those that have low acceptance rates and high academic profiles, place a lot of emphasis on a student’s course rigor. For instance, colleges in the Ivy League (Harvard, Princeton, Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth, UPenn, Yale, and Cornell), along with other competitive institutions (like Stanford, MIT, University of Chicago, etc.) often consider the strength of a student’s schedule in their admissions process.

Many highly selective colleges, especially private ones, use the Academic Index to gauge the academic strength of applicants. Course rigor is a key part of the Academic Index, along with grades and test scores. Having a schedule full of AP and honors classes can improve your Academic Index and make you a stronger applicant.

However, keep in mind that while a rigorous schedule can make you a more competitive applicant, it's essential to balance that rigor with maintaining a strong GPA and participating in meaningful extracurricular activities. Overloading on demanding courses at the expense of your GPA or involvement in other activities isn't usually the best approach.

So, in short, your rigorous academic schedule could stand out at any college, but it's particularly valued at selective institutions. However, be sure to maintain a balance in your overall high school experience.

9 months ago

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