What factors do colleges consider when looking at my GPA?

Hey, I'm a bit worried about my GPA and how it will look to colleges. What factors do colleges take into consideration when evaluating an applicant's GPA? Do they look at the difficulty of the courses, or just the raw numbers?

Hi there! It's understandable to be concerned about your GPA and how it might affect your college applications. Colleges do look at various factors when evaluating an applicant's GPA. They consider the difficulty of the courses you've taken, not just the raw numbers. This means that if you've taken challenging classes such as Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, colleges will take that into account when looking at your GPA. They also look at the overall rigor of your course load, meaning how many difficult courses you've taken throughout high school. Additionally, they may consider the trends in your GPA, such as if you showed improvement over time or if there were any dips in your grades. It's important to remember that while GPA is an important factor in the admissions process, it's just one piece of the puzzle. Colleges also consider other factors such as extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation. So, try not to stress too much and focus on presenting a well-rounded application. Good luck!