Hey everyone! I have been wondering about something and hope someone might help me out. When colleges look at our transcripts, do they consider weighted or unweighted GPA primarily? Which one do most colleges prefer?
Hello! Great question. When colleges review your application, they're often looking at both your weighted and unweighted GPA for a fully-rounded understanding of your academic capabilities. However, the emphasis might vary based on the institution.
The unweighted GPA gives colleges a clear picture of how you perform on a standard scale (4.0), without additional points from honors or AP courses. It helps them gauge your academic performance on a universal scale and make an apples-to-apples comparison between students from different high school systems.
On the other hand, the weighted GPA reflects the level of rigor in your coursework. Colleges appreciate students who push themselves and take challenging courses, so a strong weighted GPA can suggest that you're ready for college-level work. It shows that you've taken Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), honors, or other advanced courses— and how you've performed in them.
Although both GPAs are important, some colleges do one of two things: (1) they'll recalculate your GPA according to their own scale, considering both your grades and the rigor of your classes, or (2) they will look at both your unweighted and weighted GPA as you’ve reported on your application but might still recalculate the GPA they use for admissions decisions.
However, keep in mind that your GPA, whether weighted or unweighted, is only one factor that colleges consider. They also look at things like your extracurricular activities, essays, letters of recommendation, and more while making their decisions.
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