Is it true that colleges really look at the level of difficulty of the classes you take rather than your GPA?

Question

I'm not talking about college like Baylor or Harvord. I don't want to go to their schools because of their self-proclaimed self righteousness as well as their politics. I'm talking about schools like Texas Christian University, Texas Tech, and the University of Texas. Do they look at your competition in awarding the scholarships because I have some stiff competition?

I'm in Regular Biology. Since I don't want to pursue anything in Science and I'm going to study Art and Literature instead, would the colleges care I didn't pursue I higher method of learning in classes pertaining to science?

Answer 1

Honestly, I think for the AVERAGE college/university... grades and SAT scores matter more than anything else.

The typical superlarge state school (eg University of Michigan, University of Texas, Oklahoma University) receives literally TENS of thousands of applications. My old school (University of Maryland at College Park) has over 28,000 undergrads. Thats over 7,000 entering freshman! Imagine how many applications they have.

The reality is, the larger the school is (and the more academically competitive it is), the higher the likelihood is that they're going to filter out at least 1/2 of the applications by doing a number's crunch. They'll plug your numbers (GPA/SAT) into a computer and spit out 1/2 the students. For MOST large state schools, that'll be the end of it. The administration simply doesn't have the time or people available to filter carefully through each and every application.

Is it a perfect system? Heck, is it even fair? Well, probably not. But its really the only way that most schools could possibly do what they do.

Answer 2

The GPA really doesn't mean what it used to, because grade inflation is so rampant. Students are unhappy with anything less than an A, so when everyone has all As, it means less. I think the colleges want to see you interested in a variety of things and that you do well in a variety of things. I don't think they are going to compare the level of difficulty of the various classes you took--it just is not that relevant to what you will learn in college.

Answer 3

The colleges you mention are not very competitive in their admissions. Why not go to the counseling center or college room in your school and check some of the college reference books. They will probably tell you the average SAT scores, and HS GPAs of the kids admitted.

If you are a decent student then you should be able to get into one of these schools.

One thing you should consider is, why are you going to college anyway? Are you going so that they can pat you on the back and tell you that all your ideas are right. Or are you going to take on a challenge and spend some time thinking about why you beleive what you believe. If you are afraid of a challenge, then TCU is a good school for you, their average incoming student only had about a 1100 SAT score, I think. Although, I did hear that their business school was not too bad.

Answer 4

They do consider what courses you have taken it in high school. They track your GPA and all the subject you are taking. Sure i really looks good if you are honor and AP student. It is extra. If you have consider a college go there and make and appointment for an interview. Because lot of time they want to see in kids that how much they are in really life as in application. So Good Luck

Answer 5

Yes, to some extent. They'll look at whether you took honors courses and if you just took the requirements and then a bunch of easy classes. If you get an A in an honors class, it counts for a lot more than an A in a regular class.

Answer 6

No, your GPA is the only/main thing they look at !!!