What do admissions officers really look for when reviewing a high school transcript? Beyond GPA and class rank, colleges evaluate students within the context of their school, course offerings, and academic choices.

During this webinar, Dr. Aya Waller-Bey, former Georgetown University Admissions Oficer, will break down how admissions officers assess course rigor within the context of a student’s high school, how grades are weighed alongside curriculum choices, and why two students with similar GPAs can be viewed very differently. Dr. Waller-Bey will also explain how factors like AP/IB availability, honors courses, grade trends, and school profiles shape transcript review.

Students and families will receive actionable guidance they can use right away. Dr. Waller-Bey will share practical advice on how to choose classes each year, when it makes sense to push for more rigor (and when it doesn’t), how to balance challenge with performance, and how students can position their academic choices to align with college admissions expectations.

With so much uncertainty around college admissions, this session is designed to replace guesswork with clarity - helping students and families feel more confident about the academic choices they’re making now.