What selective colleges may look for on high school transcript?

Selective colleges often look for a rigorous course load, including honors, Advanced Placement (AP), or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes, to assess a student's academic challenge and readiness for college-level work. They also consider overall GPA, emphasizing both grades in core subjects and any upward trends in performance. Extracurricular involvement and leadership roles may also be reflected in a student's transcript through participation in clubs or activities linked to their coursework. Additionally, colleges may evaluate consistency and improvement across semesters to gauge a student's commitment and resilience.