{"id":1195,"date":"2022-11-22T13:58:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-22T13:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/solomonadmissions.com\/?p=1195"},"modified":"2026-01-22T08:16:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T13:16:40","slug":"can-grades-affect-college-admissions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solomonadmissions.com\/in\/post\/can-grades-affect-college-admissions\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Grades Affect College Admissions?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There is no question that the landscape of higher education and specifically, college admissions, has been momentously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of colleges and universities across the United States observed an influx of applications in 2021 with the volume of their applications jumping up by 11%, some even up to 21%. Standardized testing such as the SAT and ACT – a de facto requirement across the vast majority of institutions – were quickly made optional, providing students who may have found standardized testing to be a barrier with an opportunity to submit their best application based on the quality of their performance across high-school grades.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Do Grades Matter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Grades have been an essential component of college admissions since the beginning, demonstrating to admission officers across the country a student\u2019s capability to succeed at their particular institutions. Day in and day out, a student\u2019s ability to dedicate the required time and effort to do well in their high school courses and build good study habits has been shown to be the best predictor of their academic performance later in college. Over 81% of colleges and universities surveyed in 2017-2018 by the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) agreed that grades gave \u201cconsiderable importance\u201d in their admissions evaluation. Public opinion of the significance of grades in admissions decisions follows similarly, with 61% of Americans saying it should be a major factor and 93% of Americans saying it should at least be a minor factor in admissions decisions. Unlike standardized tests, grades demonstrate academic performance in subjects over time and are less impacted by situations such as test anxiety, test center distractions, and lack of exposure to testing format and structures that can greatly influence a student\u2019s ability to execute in a singular moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Nuance of Grades<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is clear that excellent grades are important; however, academic performance is always evaluated in the context of the curriculum rigor and, if available, a student\u2019s demonstrated specialty (i.e. intended college major). A high school may offer a variety of curriculum offerings, ranging from standard and advanced courses to honors to Advancement Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) offerings. Some schools may offer only 5 or 10 AP or IB courses, while others have over 20 such courses in their curriculum. Admissions officers are trained to consider the context of each high school\u2014what their curriculum looks like, the percentage of students going to 4-year colleges, and other factors\u2014and for the most part, evaluate students in the context of what is available to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When offered, students taking AP or IB courses are essentially receiving credit for college-level courses while in high school. As such, they are considered to be taking the most rigorous course load available in that subject. Students taking the highest level of academic work across the fundamental areas of English, Science, Math, History, and Language are observed to be taking the most rigorous course load available to them. Admissions officers will look more favorably on a student who has received a B in an AP course over a student who has received an A in a standard course. The effort and initiative to challenge one\u2019s self (and do well) in advanced college-level courses is desired and bodes favorably for a student\u2019s success once at college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A student\u2019s demonstrated interest in a particular college major or track can also affect how college admissions perceive their grades and transcript. For example, a student who attests to have an affinity for Computer Science and who wants to work in the tech industry will be expected to show high achievement in those areas. Success in Advanced AP or IB level courses in Math and Science will be more or less required, especially in a student\u2019s junior and senior years. At Solomon, our college admissions consultants<\/u><\/a> coach students on course selection and planning that is related to their strategy. Prior to confirming high school courses each year, students (and their families) should consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n