Unweighted GPA scale vs. weighted GPA: what's the difference?

I'm confused about the difference between unweighted and weighted GPAs. How do colleges view them? My high school uses a weighted GPA scale, but I've heard some schools don't. How should I be calculating mine for applications?

You aren't alone in your confusion. Understanding the difference between unweighted and weighted GPAs can be a bit tricky, but I'll do my best to explain it clearly.

Firstly, an unweighted GPA scale traditionally runs on a scale of 0 to 4.0 and grades are usually assigned in this manner: A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0. This scale does not account for the difficulty level of courses; all courses, whether AP, honors, or standard are graded on the same scale.

In contrast, a weighted GPA scale considers the difficulty of the courses a student is taking. In most high school systems, there's an extra point given for honors, AP, and/or IB classes. So, the scale is 0 to 5.0 (or sometimes even higher).

As for college applications, colleges often re-calculate your GPA based on their own grading scale. It's very common for colleges to convert a weighted GPA into an unweighted GPA so they can compare all applicants on a uniform scale. Hence, both types of GPA are important.

When you're applying, you might be able to submit your weighted GPA, but you should prepare to also have an unweighted one handy. You can usually find this information in your high school or district's academic policy or speak with your guidance counselor.

With weighted GPA, it's not just about how high your GPA is, but also the rigor of the courses you took to get there. That's why it is often a good idea to take challenging courses if you can handle the workload. Remember that colleges value students who challenge themselves.

An excellent approach to calculating GPA for applications is to calculate both. This gives you a good sense of where you stand on either scale. However, also remember that GPA is just one aspect of your application. Admissions officers consider other factors like your essays, extracurricular activities, recommendation letters, course rigor, and more.