How does the RIT GPA scale work?

I've been looking into applying to the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and I'm trying to understand how their GPA scale works. I've heard that different schools can have varying GPA scales, which can affect how your GPA is calculated. Does anyone know what kind of GPA scale RIT uses? Is it a 4.0 scale or something different? Also, how do they consider weighted vs. unweighted GPAs during the admissions process? Any advice on how to make my GPA stand out when applying would be appreciated!

Most U.S. universities and colleges, including the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), generally use a standard 4.0 GPA scale where the highest grade (A) corresponds to a 4.0 and the lowest pass grade (D) corresponds to a 1.0. Therefore, if you have a perfectly straight A average, your GPA on the 4.0 scale is a 4.0.

In terms of weighted vs. unweighted GPAs, RIT would have access to both if your high school provides them. Weighted GPAs account for the difficulty of the classes you took, assigning more "weight" to honors, AP, or IB classes. For example, an A in an AP class could count as 5.0 instead of 4.0. However, RIT, like many schools, will recalculate your GPA based on its own scale to achieve consistency when comparing GPAs of students from different schools with different grading policies.

To make your GPA stand out when applying to colleges, it not only matters that you earn good grades, but also that you challenge yourself academically. Colleges like to see that you're pushing yourself and taking rigorous courses such as honors, AP, or IB classes, as this is a better preparation for college-level classes. Going beyond the minimum graduation requirements in areas of interest or strength can also help differentiate your academic record.

Lastly, while GPA is an important factor in college admissions, remember to pay attention to other components as well: standardized test scores, class rank, extracurricular activities, recommendation letters, and college essays. They all play integral roles in the holistic application review process.