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Duke University
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UCLA
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Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

What Counts as Good Grades?

Hello everyone! I'm a bit curious, what do you think are considered 'good' grades in high school? I want to have an idea of how well I'm doing in comparison to what colleges might be looking for. Thanks in advance!

a year ago

Hey there! "Good" grades can vary depending on the context and the colleges you're aiming for, but I'll do my best to give you a general idea.

High-performance grades in high school usually mean having a GPA above 3.8 If your school uses a weighted GPA scale where honors and AP/IB classes receive additional points, good grades can be considered as having a 4.4 or above out of a 5.0 scale. Of course, the closer your GPA is to a perfect 4.0 (or 5.0 if weighted), the better.

However, it's important not to place too much emphasis solely on the GPA itself. Colleges also pay attention to your class rigor, which means they'll be looking at the difficulty of the courses you've taken relative to what's available at your school. A student with a 3.9 GPA and a challenging course load (including honors and AP/IB courses) may be seen as more competitive than a student with a 4.0 GPA who only took standard-level classes.

When considering admission prospects, keep in mind the type of colleges you're applying to as well. More selective and prestigious colleges tend to have a higher expectation when it comes to grades. For instance, to be competitive at Ivy League schools, you'll generally need a GPA very close to, if not at, 4.0 (unweighted), and have taken a robust course load. Nevertheless, many other colleges admit students with a wider range of GPAs, so it always helps to research the average GPA of accepted students at your target schools.

Lastly, remember that colleges employ a holistic approach when evaluating applicants—grades are just one factor they consider. They'll also look at extracurricular activities, recommendation letters, essays, and standardized test scores (if applicable). It's important to focus on maintaining strong grades, but also remember to cultivate your passions and interests outside the classroom.

In summary, while there's no definitive answer to what counts as "good" grades, aiming for a solid A or A- average and taking challenging courses can be a strong starting point when applying to most colleges. Best of luck!

a year ago

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