The EDUFAX Educational FAQ

Question #151:

I have a BIG problem. I attend a small school, there are only 40 students in my class. Even though I get grades of B+ and A in AP/Honors classes and my GPA is 3.9, other students in my grade, who are getting A's in regular level classes, end up with higher GPAs than mine. Because class rank is calculated by unweighted GPA, my rank is lower than theirs. Should I drop the AP and Honors classes and take the regular ones? How else can I convince the colleges that I work hard?

Answer #151:

The colleges to which you apply will be quite familiar with the courses offered at your school and will be aware of the rigor of your academic schedule. Each admissions office has regional representatives whose job is to familiarize themselves with situations exactly like the one you have described. Unfortunately, there may be some students in your class who have a higher GPA, but any experienced admissions officer will know how to evaluate whether or not you are taking the most challenging curriculum your school has to offer. Don't drop the AP or Honors classes. Do the best you can and it will be recognized. Make sure that your guidance office sends a description of your school's unweighted GPA calculation policy with each college application you submit. EDUFAX provides services for the Collegebound High School Student.

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