Coursework and Academic Performance

Your high school transcript is one of the most important pieces of your college application. Equally important is consistency: doing your best each year and showing upward trends where possible. Strong academic performance demonstrates readiness for college-level work and reflects your motivation, discipline, and intellectual engagement.

Coursework

Out of the many factors colleges use for admission, coursework and the grades carry the most weight. It’s easy to get caught up in a GPA, but the letter grades students earn, and the rigor of their curriculum matters as well. Colleges want to see that they have challenged themselves appropriately with course selection and that they have earned solid grades in all coursework. Don’t assume a class doesn’t count. Choose classes that are difficult, but not so difficult that low grades are earned.

GPA v GPA v GPA

Be aware that the GPA that is reported on your high school transcript is most likely not the GPA that colleges will calculate nor is it the GPA that is used for TOPS (LA students only). Every institution uses different courses to calculate GPA, and they are not always forthcoming about the rubric they use to calculate it. For this reason, it is important to note that a 3.5 GPA that appears on your transcript may not qualify you for the highest level of TOPS or a particular scholarship at a university because these other institutions have not calculated your GPA as a 3.5.

AP Exams

AP exam scores won’t affect the high school GPA or chances of college admission – the grades earned in AP classes, however, will affect both. But good AP scores can earn college credit. However, policies vary widely in terms of which colleges grant credit for which tests. Many colleges and universities will allow a student to accumulate credits from their AP exams, while others will give acceleration credits, allowing students to move to more advanced coursework faster. Doing well on APs, particularly earning 4s and 5s, can give students more flexibility and options in college.

In the application process, AP scores are self-reported, meaning students inform colleges about the scores they want them to know about—they do not have to send official score report with every AP score listed on it. This means they can only share the scores that add positively to their academic profile. However, seniors should send all their AP test scores to the institution where they will enroll after they take their last AP exam in the spring.