Having gone through this w/many friends who have had kids go through the college process - I would say those colleges asking for unweighted GPA's are the less competitive schools.
Univ of Michigan is quite selective and looks at unweighted GPAs. They DID look at the transcripts and courses for each applicant--not just at GPA and class rank. DS24 got in; DS18 was rejected. Both took honors/IB/AP classes, however, DS24 had attended the county math and science center, which helped him get in to U of M. In retrospect, DS18 said he wished he had chosen the math and science center, too, but of course 5 years ago he was not interested and we did not push him. DS24 had also done better on his ACT.
Like OPs, I agree that HS students should enroll in the toughest classes they can handle without stressing out, and they should get involved in at least a couple of extracurricular activities/organizations, as colleges look at those in a much bigger way than they did when we applied decades ago.
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Then that screws the kids who are taking Honors classes and getting B's in them.
Having gone through this w/many friends who have had kids go through the college process - I would say those colleges asking for unweighted GPA's are the less competitive schools.
Univ of Michigan is quite selective and looks at unweighted GPAs. They DID look at the transcripts and courses for each applicant--not just at GPA and class rank. DS24 got in; DS18 was rejected. Both took honors/IB/AP classes, however, DS24 had attended the county math and science center, which helped him get in to U of M. In retrospect, DS18 said he wished he had chosen the math and science center, too, but of course 5 years ago he was not interested and we did not push him. DS24 had also done better on his ACT.
Like OPs, I agree that HS students should enroll in the toughest classes they can handle without stressing out, and they should get involved in at least a couple of extracurricular activities/organizations, as colleges look at those in a much bigger way than they did when we applied decades ago.
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http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/october/meet_the_new_health_.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQTBYQlQ7yM
Boy I guess I should have just stayed out of this one!
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