JCG posted:An argument I've heard is that GPA is unreliable because a 3.0 at school A could be harder to come by than a 4.0 at school B, and therefore schools rely on standardized test scores more. But your point about rigor makes me realize that rigor has a built-in standardized testing component, because if a kid has taken 10 AP or IB courses, he also should be in the process of taking 10 AP or IB tests, and those should be a good tool for comparison.
Concur JCG, I think the ACT or SAT are the first bona fide filters the High Academic Coaches use. The Coaches probably don't even scrutinize a transcript of a Soph or Junior until they see an initial ACT or SAT. Then comes the level of difficulty of course load (AP's/Honors)