What are the differences between unweighted and weighted GPAs?

I'm a little confused about the difference between unweighted and weighted GPAs. How does each one affect college admissions, and which one should I focus on improving if I want to impress colleges?

Unweighted and weighted GPAs are two methods high schools use to measure and report academic performance, and there are key differences between each.

1. Unweighted GPA: Unweighted GPAs are standardized on a scale of 0.0 to 4.0. Regardless of how easy or rigorous a course might be, the highest grade you can receive is an 'A', or 4.0. For instance, if you take an introductory course and get an 'A', it'll count the same towards your GPA as an 'A' in an Honors or AP course. This means the unweighted GPA gives an overview of your general performance but doesn't put weight on the difficulty level of your classes.

2. Weighted GPA: Unlike unweighted GPAs, weighted GPAs do take course difficulty into account. Schools often use a scale of 0.0 to 5.0 (sometimes even higher) for weighted GPAs. For example, while an 'A' in a standard-level class would still be a 4.0, an 'A' in an Honors class might be a 4.5, and an 'A' in an AP class might be a 5.0.

When it comes to impressing colleges, both weighted and unweighted GPAs matter, but in slightly different ways. The unweighted GPA gives colleges a snapshot of your overall academic performance. On the other hand, your weighted GPA demonstrates your willingness to push yourself academically and take more challenging courses.

Remember, colleges are interested in students who challenge themselves and take rigorous courses -- it's part of what they consider to be your 'academic index.' Therefore, it's a good idea to focus on both by not only getting good grades but also challenging yourself with tougher courses when you can.