Section I: Key Takeaways
Get Good Grades

“To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive, and the true success is to labor.“
Robert Louis Stevenson
A student's curriculum and academic performance provide a clear indication of their preparedness and aptitude for college-level work. Admissions officers consider the rigor of a student's high school curriculum, their grades, and their standardized test scores to determine if the student is capable of handling the demands of college coursework.
Admissions officers consider such factors as these for different reasons. Ultimately, though, they want to ensure that they are admitting students who are well-prepared for the academic rigor of college and who have a good chance of succeeding. This helps to maintain the academic standards and reputation of the institution and also ensures that the students admitted are a good fit for the college community.
Through the end of junior year, and well into senior year, too, grades matter: they can play a significant role in admissions decisions. Taking challenging courses and achieving academic success throughout their time in high school can help students make an impression on their reviewers—or, the individuals reviewing their applications and other college admissions materials.
Ultimately, demonstrated rigor in a high school transcript can be an indicator of two important aspects of a student’s potential as a prospective college admit: academic success and diligence.
When it comes to academic success and scholarly achievement, it pays to focus on grades. Getting good grades—or, doing well in school—can play a “big” role in college admissions.
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