It’s that time of the year again when grade 11 and 12 students are changing their focus toward strategizing their college applications. A significant part of this strategy is finding a college that fits each student’s academic profile. Within the process, the students and parents face the often debated question: How important are high school grades in college admissions? The answer in one word: Extremely. When looking at your transcript, the college admission counselor is trying to understand if the student’s grades and subjects showcase the student’s preparedness to take on the rigorous college coursework. Keeping this in mind, one must understand the two components of a transcript and contextualize the transcript in the light of the course you are applying for. Within academics, the college counselors will look at two key metrics: - Course Rigor exhibited - Class Rank Both these considerations go a long way in aligning their belief in the child’s ability to deal with the college curriculum. Other things being equal, when the admissions team is comparing students from around the world, they would prefer to induct someone who actually challenged themselves with the more complex classes and yet managed to remain at the top of the class. While most schools will not rank the student, the top colleges would like them to be in the top 5-10% of the class. The high school transcript must demonstrate consistent academic performance in an upward-sloping trajectory. The common misconception is that the predicted scores of a student carry the maximum weight. However, the colleges want to see a clear picture of the student’s path toward these typically high predicted scores. Thus, it is the grade XI and first-term grade XII achieved scores that carry the highest weightage. As a result — with early decision, early action, and regular decision application — colleges ask for mid-year scores to keep track of the student’s progression. While consistent academic performance is key, the admission officers also understand if an odd situation has impacted 1-2 grades. The student also gets an opportunity to explain any extraneous circumstances that may have affected the academic progress. They are very supportive of these circumstances. While grades carry the highest weightage in the complex admissions rubric, they are by no means the only variable. At the end of the day, applications are read by a human admissions officer with a critical distinguishing ability compared to a robot: empathy.
Nitin Jain
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