Weighted v. Unweighted GPAs

[Anonymous]

As far as the numbers game of college admissions go, should an average-to-good student stretch into all Honors courses?

My high school sophomore DD is freaking out that most of her friends are taking "all Honors" and at least one AP course and she wants to switch two of her courses into Honors. She is convinced this is critical to her achieving a competitive weighted GPA. She notes that a B+ in an Honors class would give her a slightly higher weighted GPA than an A- in the non-Honors class. She seems to think that the Honors classes will be only marginally more difficult than the non-Honors classes. She is a good, but not great, student (3.5 GPA after freshman year) and this is not a situation where the non-Honors classes seem too easy or she is passionate about the subject areas and wants to dig deeper....Her desire to switch to Honors is all about GPA. Would B+ in Honors courses really serve her better in that respect than A- in non-Honors? Has anyone experienced a situation where pushing for Honors courses has backfired? -- I could see DS underestimating the challenge of Honors courses, becoming overwhelmed, and the decision adversely impacting her GPA. . . Also, do some universities ignore the weighted average completely? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

She should take the most rigorous and challenging classes she can handle.

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP. Go talk to GC and find out what GC recommends.

[Anonymous]

From your description of her, she is likely not going to be looking at/targeting highly competitive places for admission, for those places Honors is not really relevant, those kids are taking 100% AP and Honors, not deciding between Honors and non-Honors. So in that case having a solid GPA without so much emphasis on the weighting may be absolutely fine, any colleges beyond top 50 are mostly looking to find students, not vice versa. If she is from Virginia and looking at UVA, may not be realistic regardless. If Maryland, worth talking to counselor about U Maryland and whether this would make a difference if that is a place to be considered going forward. The college age population is dropping now not expanding and schools are very worried about filling their classes

[Anonymous]

OP -- Depends on school, but my advice is that if you DD wants to more honors or an AP class, by all means encourage her to try. In many MCPS high schools, honors courses have become the new regular, pre-college classes, with -- as a prior poster said -- most students taking some APs during high school and those seeking admission to very selective schools taking quite a few APs. We were reluctant to let our kids take AP courses on the theory that they should enjoy high school before trying to do college work, but the world has changed a great deal. We yielded, and our child rose to the occasion and did extremely well. I am moved by the fact that you said most of her friends are taken more honors or AP classes. Unless your daughter has a real deficit in a subject or a learning disability, let her try to take the classes with her friends. This will very much impact college choices, and you don't want to be the one to hold her back there unless you have a very good reason to do so for her own good. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

It's really not the weighted GPA the colleges are looking for, it's rigor of the curriculum. In fact many colleges ignore weighted GPAs. Yes, the competitive schools will want to see honors/APs. But they will also want to see As in those classes. So if you assume those are out of reach then focus on what will be the best experience for your DD. If honors classes in some subjects make sense then she should take them. She may have to work harder than in the on-level classes - make sure she is prepared for the workload and not just the title of the class.

At our school (in MCPS, which I assume you aren't in since you mention +/- grades, which we don't have) they say the honors classes cover about 35% more content, and thus work at a 35% faster pace, than on-level. AP can be double pace. Maybe find out what the comparison is at your school.

[Anonymous]

+1 re rigor. On a college visit to UPenn, someone asked is it better to get an A in a regular (or honors) class or a B in an AP class? The admission's officer calmly replied, "it is better to get the A in the AP class." That about sums it up, except that not all AP classes are equally rigorous, and colleges know the differences. .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:+1 re rigor. On a college visit to UPenn, someone asked is it better to get an A in a regular (or honors) class or a B in an AP class? The admission's officer calmly replied, "it is better to get the A in the AP class." That about sums it up, except that not all AP classes are equally rigorous, and colleges know the differences. .

Of course that's what the admission's officer is going to say, knowing very well that the AP exam formats are very outdated. It's also not difficult to cheat on AP exams or to enhance the answers before submitting them.

[Anonymous]

Yes, some Universities ignore the weighted GPA completely. Op, there is no one answer. Best to know what is most likely from the U's she's most likely to target. This is where you may want to let DC decide. Doors may close based on not-taking, or taking and being overwhelmed. Let her live with this decision because you really can't guarantee which will have a better outcome. (I'm being dramatic re: "doors may close", but you get the idea)

[Anonymous]

"it is better to get the A in the AP class." I have no respect for that answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: "it is better to get the A in the AP class." I have no respect for that answer.

Yup. It isnt' helpful. Just says "we don't want you."

[Anonymous]

If your DC's school has honors/AP classes then a school may look unfavorably if they are not taken.
Every school tour has said, "our school wants to see that you have taken the most rigorous classes available." So if you school has an honors/AP track they would like to see you taking classes on that track. Child doesn't have to take all honors but should try in the subjects they like most. Also know that you don't have the AP exam if you take the class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 re rigor. On a college visit to UPenn, someone asked is it better to get an A in a regular (or honors) class or a B in an AP class? The admission's officer calmly replied, "it is better to get the A in the AP class." That about sums it up, except that not all AP classes are equally rigorous, and colleges know the differences. .

Of course that's what the admission's officer is going to say, knowing very well that the AP exam formats are very outdated. It's also not difficult to cheat on AP exams or to enhance the answers before submitting them.

AP exam results are not connected to the grade in the class. You don't even get results until July, which is after grades are final.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: "it is better to get the A in the AP class." I have no respect for that answer.

Yup. It isnt' helpful. Just says "we don't want you."

No, it says "You'd better get an A in the AP class or you're not {fill in the blank} University material".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: "it is better to get the A in the AP class." I have no respect for that answer.

Yup. It isnt' helpful. Just says "we don't want you."

No, it says "You'd better get an A in the AP class or you're not {fill in the blank} University material".

You and the other PP are saying the same thing.