Colleges evaluate a student's transcript based on various factors, including the student's overall GPA, the rigor of the courses taken, and the grades received in specific classes. Remember, they will have access to the high school profile, so students are evaluated in the context of their school and peers. Here is what they consider:

Overall GPA: The first thing colleges consider when evaluating a student's transcript is their overall GPA--a calculation of all the grades a student has received over their high school career. Many colleges recalculate GPAs only to include the core classes, and others will accept a weighted GPA as listed on your transcript.

Course Rigor: Colleges also evaluate a student's transcript to see the rigor of the courses taken. This includes advanced classes such as honors, AP, and IB courses. Admissions officers want to see that a student has challenged themselves academically and taken advantage of what is available (as appropriate for each student--do not take this to mean you need to take every AP your school offers!)

Grades in Specific Classes: Colleges also look at the grades a student has received in specific courses, especially in subjects relevant to the student's intended major. For example, if a student plans to major in engineering, the admissions officers will be interested in seeing how well the student did in math and science courses.

Your Selection of Courses: If a student knows what they want to study, ensuring that their transcript demonstrates this aptitude and interest is wise, particularly for schools that admit students directly into a specific major and will be looking to confirm that they are sufficiently prepared to succeed. (think Engineering, CS, and Business as examples). Students can bolster their transcript with their selection of electives.

Overall Trend in Grades: Admissions officers will also look at the trend in a student's grades over time. If a student's grades show improvement over the course of their high school career, it can demonstrate that the student is capable of learning and adapting. Colleges are much more forgiving of students who show a rough start to high school than those who start floundering in junior year.