How do Regents grades affect my college application?

I'm from New York and we have these thing called Regents exams. I was curious as to how much influence these grades have on my college application. Do out of state colleges even consider them?

Regents exams, which are specific to students in the state of New York, are important insofar as they often contribute to your overall GPA and class rank. In this context, they can indirectly influence your college applications because these two factors (GPA and class rank) are key components that colleges look at when making decisions about admissions.

However, out-of-state colleges typically do not focus heavily on the outcome of these exams specifically, because their criteria are not as well-known outside of New York. Instead, admissions officers will lean more heavily on universally recognized markers such as your SAT/ACT scores, AP/IB exam scores, your coursework, GPA, and other factors.

That being said, these exams should not be dismissed or taken lightly. Beyond their role in determining graduation eligibility within the state, consistent high performance on the Regents could indicate to admission officers a robust academic foundation and a commitment to expanding your knowledge base.

Remember also that colleges want to understand your academic abilities within the context of the educational opportunities available to you. Excelling in state-specific requirements like the Regents exams indicates that you've taken advantage of the academic opportunities presented to you, which admissions officers note favorably.