Mastering Academic Rigor & GPA

A high GPA on its own isn't enough—colleges look for a challenging course load that proves your readiness for university-level work.

Strategic Course Selection

Colleges prefer seeing B's in **AP/IB/Dual Enrollment** classes over A's in standard classes. The rigor of your curriculum is a major factor.

Advanced Placement (AP) Strategy

Prioritize AP classes directly related to your intended major (e.g., AP Calculus if you want Engineering).
Aim for a score of **3 or higher** on the exams to potentially earn college credit.
Consistency is key: maintain a challenging load across all four years of high school.

Weighted GPA vs. Unweighted

**Unweighted GPA:** Based on a standard 4.0 scale (A=4, B=3). This shows raw performance.

**Weighted GPA:** Adds bonus points for Honors (0.5) and AP/IB/Dual Enrollment (1.0). This reflects the difficulty of your course load.

Focus on maximizing your **Weighted GPA** by taking appropriate challenging classes without burning out.

Study & Time Management Toolkit

Success in difficult courses relies on adopting effective study habits early on. Don't just study harder—study smarter.

1. The Pomodoro Technique

Work for **25 minutes** on a single task, followed by a **5-minute break**. Repeat four times, then take a longer 30-minute break. This prevents burnout and maintains focus.

2. Active Recall

Instead of passively rereading notes, test yourself. Use flashcards, cover your notes and summarize the topic aloud, or try to solve problems without looking at the answer.

3. Spaced Repetition

Review material at increasing intervals (e.g., 1 day, 3 days, 1 week). This moves knowledge from short-term to long-term memory, crucial for AP exams.