I have been taking 8 classes every semester since my sophomore year compared to my peers who take only 6-7 classes. however, my gpa is slightly lower then theirs because my extra classes are standard, non AP/H classes.since i have a lower gpa, will this affect college admissions and how they view it?? I probably have more credits, but my Gpa is still low. Please help and let me know!
If you are in Texas applying to state schools, then yes. For others, likely no.
And even then, only if the GPA drops below the autoadmit cutoff. Otherwise it won’t matter.
Why are you taking so many classes?
Only your weighted GPA would take a hit, if you can call it that. Your unweighted GPA wouldn’t be affected, and that’s what the highly selective private schools will be looking at.
If you can explain in your essay why you have taken the classes that you have, then the additional course load will likely be viewed as a plus. But if you are just taking an assortment of electives, then probably not so much.
+1.
No, taking more classes and seeing grades suffer is not an advantage. I agree it’s about unweighted, but adcoms will see the transcript, what you took, what grades. If it’s more of rigorous courses, maybe. But you say non AP/H classes. Are these cores or electives? What?
We’d need to know more.
And what college targets?
^^^^^^^ Bad idea. Don’t waste your essay explaining your class schedule.
@Eeyore123
That’s true. What I meant would probably have been more precisely worded, but also more awkwardly worded, as “if your class schedule is consistent with themes in your essay …”, but even then it’s not a great idea to talk about your classes in your essay, as you say.
@kz1234 What year are you, and also what state are you in? Most selective schools expect five AP, DE or IB classes.
for some reason, I always thought that it would make me look like someone who could take a challenge. I also wanted to take a lot of different classes or double up on science/math.
one of them i would count as an elective, i would also double up on science.
I’m a 2020 and in CA. I’m looking at schools in the east cost, such as NYU, Swarthmore, and WashU inn st louis. I would also be recruited for D3 volleyball at one of those colleges.