Welcome to the tenth installment of our weekly column, “Too Embarrassed to Ask,” where we’ll examine a hot topic from the world of recruiting that parents and student-athletes may want to know more about, but may shy away from asking because it is considered assumed knowledge.
Think of this column like a cheat sheet for those instances it is no longer acceptable to ask a question, say, having met someone three times but still not knowing their name.
This week’s issue: Academic transcripts.
The question: Is it better to have great grades in regular classes, or take AP classes at the expense of GPA?
The short answer: AP classes. Always AP classes.
The actual answer: College admissions officers want to see student-athletes that are consistently challenging themselves. This could not be more true than it is in the classroom.
While having an outstanding GPA is a great goal, it’s also just as important to take on new and difficult classes.
It’s a better way to broaden your horizons and learn. But, yeah, eating vegetables is a good way to get healthy. Harder in practice than in reality. Totally understandable.
However, if you need incentive, think of it this way: AP classes will boost your resume. If your grades are consistently great in regular classes, it will look better to be taking more difficult classes with a slightly less better GPA.
The College Football Playoff Selection Committee quote that explains current understanding: “I’ll just say we haven’t seen the depth and breadth of [North Carolina’s] resume.”
-Jeff Long, Chairman of the Selection Committee, December 1, 2015
What the quote says in our context: Ok, so I cheated and opted for a topical quote this week from the world of college football. But it is perfect for this situation, so you’ll have to wait until next week for an esoteric movie quote.
Anyway, in college football this season, North Carolina is 11-1, with no wins over competition of note outside of their conference, as well as an early loss. As a result, they are ranked 10th heading into the ACC Championship game, and may not reach the top 4 (aka, the playoffs) even with a win over No. 1 Clemson.
So why are they ranked behind teams with 2 losses? The answer is their strength of schedule. North Carolina did nothing to challenge itself outside of it conference tilts in the ACC, playing two FCS schools and a 3-9 South Carolina team (which it lost to). As Long explains in this quote, their resume is lacking depth as a result.
This is almost identical to our conversation of academic transcripts. A college admissions board will not be impressed with a huge GPA if it was done in classes that are clearly beneath your capabilities as a student.
Much like the committee values a 2-loss Stanford or Notre Dame team ahead of an 11-1 UNC squad because those teams challenged themselves with difficult schedules, so too will a college admissions officer look more favorably upon a lower GPA with a higher degree of class difficulty.
Our Advice: College admissions offices will view you as a motivated student if your high school transcript features AP and honors classes. While your GPA may not be as high as if you stayed in a regular class, your resume will be more impressive as a result. You will also show the willingness to challenge yourself – a trait that most colleges will value very strongly.
Having said that, it is wise to take these classes in areas of strength. Usually this will be self-policing, as there are various prerequisites to qualify. If your math grades are good, focus on things like AP Calculus. If you are good writer, look into AP Language & Composition or similar courses.
While on this academic note, work hard each year, and avoid “senioritis” at all costs. Colleges will notice if you drop an AP course, take an easy schedule, or let your GPA slide in your senior year.
Simply put – do not coast, but work as hard as you can.
Your transcript is the most important piece of your application, so make it as impressive as possible.