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Which is better? Most rigorous or higher GPA?
Jh123
3 replies2 threads New Member
If you are not aiming for top 20 schools (but more in the 30-100 range), is it better to take the most rigorous load or less rigorous load with higher GPA?
For example, unweighted GPA of 3.6-3.7 in the most rigorous course load or 3.9-4.0 unweighted in a less rigorous load (ie: 4-6 APs rather than 7-9 APs)
62 replies For example, unweighted GPA of 3.6-3.7 in the most rigorous course load or 3.9-4.0 unweighted in a less rigorous load (ie: 4-6 APs rather than 7-9 APs)
Replies to: Which is better? Most rigorous or higher GPA?
"Even" schools in the 20-50 range will expect that.
But don't miss what the right combo of ECs is, for you and your plans. Learn enough about your targets to understand what does matter in your record.
Though 30-50 can still have high expectations, there will be great colleges in the 30 (or so) to 100 range that want to see you stretch, can take on the higher challenges, are a thinker, etc. Not just the rat race of more AP and solid A grades.
And a lot depends on what your major may be, how you use available opportunities around you.
4-6 AP is fine. Slacking is a different extreme.
For us, the course decision was to get the highest GPA he is capable of achieving (8-hr sleep everyday with two extensive ECs) with the most rigorous courses that my DS also was most interested in, so instead of IB History, he chose IB global politics (which is considered not as rigorous as history); instead of doubling science, he picked ib physics and ib music.
How will this play out in the college application game? We will find out soon, but DS loves his HS, is having a great learning experience and enjoys it tremendously. That to me, is priceless.
But, if it has to be an either/or question, then rigor over easy GPA is the path you'd want to take. For one, taking rigorous courses will prepare you better for the college irregardless of where you'll end up at. College admission is one thing; surviving and graduating is another. Secondly, the college adcoms aren't going to just take a quick glance at your GPA; they'll thoroughly inspect and analyze the courses you took to determine your academic fitness level.
Similar to the “is it better to have a A in an honors class or a B in an AP course”. The inevitable answer is “we prefer an A in the AP course” when this comes up at T30 info sessions.
It’s a matter of increments and degrees. “Only” 6 AP course instead of 11 is very different than none instead of 5. A tenth of a point in GPA is different than three tenths.
Both are important and I don’t think there will ever be a “right answer”.
In your specific scenario, I think the 5 or 6 solid AP course while maintaining a 3.9+ would be best. Once you get over 5 or 6 the incremental value to rigor decreases, especially if it’s at the expense of grades.
I think OP is asking a simple question, based on wondering if he CAN get an A in a rigorous class. I don't think it's a hypothetical question.
To get admitted (for the higher ranked schools) and for lower on the list (to be admitted AND get merit aid)
For example, what would be better for a school like Ohio State or UC Irvine? Higher GPA and less AP courses OR lower GPA and 2-3 more AP courses. Would it matter if the major is STEM or history/philosophy?
Some students can handle a long list of AP classes. Some will find this too stressful. Personally I was fine with any math or non-biology science class my school could throw at me, but I would have died in AP literature or AP Euro.
Ohio State is a pretty big university. I have to think that they have room for any student who does does well and gets a lot of A's and not much else, regardless of whether they were getting A's in honors classes or B+'s in AP classes.
Higher GPA in harder courses is always the answer.
Note that some choices of AP courses may not look better to an admissions reader. Skipping precalculus to take AP statistics, skipping physics to take AP environmental science, or skipping foreign language level 3 or 4 to take AP human geography would not necessarily look better.