The academic record – the classes you take and the grades you earn–is the cornerstone of every college application. Grades in college preparatory courses and the difficulty of the curriculum are top factors in the college admission decision.
When admission offices examine your academic record – classes, and grades – they look for:
The level of difficulty in the student's classes and a pattern of increasing difficulty through the senior year
Consistently high grades or grades that trend upward amid increasingly challenging classes
Your academic records reveal your academic ability. This helps admissions officers assess whether you're likely to succeed. So, in typically all universities, academic ability is one of the primary criteria for admission. Moreover, it is one of the most crucial variables in the application.
When college admissions talk about college prep curriculum, words like "rigor" and "challenge" are mentioned often. So, what do they mean?
They mean that they want to see evidence in the course transcript that you are willing to stretch intellectually and academically in the core areas of the curriculum and that your choice of classes demonstrates a pattern of increasing difficulty. However, rigor is more than "how difficult a class is" but more than "how hard a student has to work to earn a good grade." In essence, a rigorous class prepares the student by teaching them (and having them exercise) skills useful in school, the business world, and in life.
Here are some thoughts of Katharine Harrington on challenge and rigor:
"I want to see high grades and tough courses: high grades in tough courses. But, honestly, families, to a great extent (and to a lesser extent, students), are hoping for formulas where they can plug it all in because it gives them what feels like a sense of certainty. Thus, the worry is, "Should I encourage my child to challenge herself intellectually and be more engaged in a classroom, or do we have to make sure she gets A's?" Challenge yourself, for heaven's sake! And for those institutions where we can't admit all the people who can do the work, formula doesn't help. There are already way too many people who can be successful here. So I'm sticking with high grades and tough courses."
Katharine Harrington
Vice President of Admissions and Planning, University of Southern California
Admissions officers are keen on maximizing students' academic opportunities within any given educational context. When they talk about challenge and rigor, they are trying to convey that while college is a transformative, life-changing experience, it requires serious preparation. They believe students who have experienced challenging and rigorous classes are in the best position to maximize their experience at college.
You must show college admissions that you can take on academic rigor and challenge because colleges will not be impressed with the bare minimum. They want to see you stepping out of your comfort zone and working hard to achieve good grades. Therefore, you need to prove that you can handle challenging courses to ensure you will work hard in college.
There are specific ways you can demonstrate your academic rigor apart from your grades and scores. Some ways to demonstrate severity can be through:
School classes
If you are from the IB curriculum, you might have subjects that help you demonstrate your inclination through rigorous subjects.
Standardized Testing
Many universities have different requirements you need to meet to enroll in their programs. You can take various tests to prove your proficiency in a language or particular subjects. For example – TOEFL/IELTS for your English language proficiency, and ACT/SAT for other subjects like reasoning, reading, and writing.
External Curriculums
Apart from your school's academic curriculum, you can also take up other curriculums like Advanced Placements (APs) or the A-levels.
Pre-College Courses
These courses are an educational experience that helps high school students prepare for the transition to a college environment. This can also be one of the distinguishing factors in demonstrating academic rigor.
Summer Programs
If you have relevant summer programs that can contribute to your application, feel free to mention them to demonstrate your academic rigor. For example – John Hopkin's APL Summer Center for Space Science
Online Courses
Online courses in different fields of study and languages are becoming major in academic extracurriculars. These courses can range anywhere from beginner to advanced level.
External Degrees
Apart from your typical degree in academics, many institutes also allow you to take degrees in extracurriculars that involve a lot of theory—for example – a degree in classical dance or music.
Researches
If you have conducted research, you can use that to demonstrate academic rigor. These researches can be something other than published papers; they can also be research projects.
Internships in Research Labs
Even if you have interned in research labs or shadowed a researcher, it could be a good point of academic distinction in your application.
Competitions
To have been a part of competitions also, at times, demonstrates intense academic rigor. For example – Case competitions organized by institutes or universities, MUNs, etc.
If you’re looking to apply to international universities or exploring overseas higher education options, The Headmaster Consulting can help you narrow your selection while also giving you an overview of what life at university would be like. We help you decipher what the universities seek from their candidates through our Dean’s Desk. If you’re unsure about your applications, get in touch with one of our consultants to help you build an extraordinary application and profile.
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