How important are straight A's vs. A's and B's in college admissions?

I've been pretty consistent with getting A's and B's throughout high school. Just wondering how important is it to have straight A's rather than a mix of A's and B's when it comes to college admissions?

In college admissions, maintaining a high GPA is important, but it's not the sole factor that colleges consider. While straight A's might be more impressive, a mix of A's and B's can still make you a competitive candidate, particularly if your course load demonstrates rigor (taking advanced or honors courses) and you exhibit strong extracurricular involvement, test scores, and well-developed essays.

Moreover, colleges often consider grade trends alongside overall GPA. If you got more B's earlier on in your high school career, and have gotten mainly A's later on, or your B's are limited to particularly challenging subjects, admissions officers may be more forgiving. In contrast, if you have all A's but a downward grade trend, this may raise concerns.

Do keep in mind that, at top schools, the admissions process is incredibly competitive, so having a handful of B's may have more of a negative impact on your application. If you're wondering how you stack up at your top choice schools, consider checking out CollegeVine's free chancing engine, which accounts for all elements of your profile to give you personalized odds of acceptance at the schools you're interested in: https://www.collegevine.com/admissions-calculator.

Ultimately, while straight A's can certainly make your application stronger, a mix of A's and B's is not necessarily a deal-breaker. Focus on showcasing your strengths, commitment, and growth in all aspects of your application to demonstrate that you'd be an asset to the college community. Best of luck with your future academic pursuits!