Do colleges look at rigor when evaluating GPA?

Hi collegevine, I've taken several AP and honors courses throughout high school, and I've maintained a pretty good GPA. However, I'm worried that colleges might not take the rigor of my coursework into account when looking at my GPA. Do colleges consider the difficulty of classes when evaluating GPA, or do they just focus on the raw numbers?

Hello! It's great to hear that you've taken several AP and honors courses throughout high school, and congratulations on maintaining a good GPA. To answer your question, yes, colleges do consider the rigor of your coursework when evaluating your GPA. They understand that students who challenge themselves with more difficult courses may have a somewhat lower GPA than if they had taken less demanding classes. It's important to strike a balance between maintaining a solid GPA and pushing yourself academically. In most cases, colleges would rather see you take on challenging coursework and have a slightly lower GPA than to take the easiest classes available and have perfect grades. Admissions officers will often consider your GPA in the context of your high school, looking at factors such as the availability of AP and honors courses and the average GPA of your graduating class. So, while the raw numbers are important, they are not the only factor in the decision-making process. Keep up the great work and continue to challenge yourself academically. Best of luck with your college applications!