I'm trying to get my head around this whole college admissions thing and I can't figure out how my cumulative GPA is calculated. Does it include every single class I've taken in high school from freshman year? Also, do colleges look at weighted or unweighted GPA? Somebody, please break it down for me.
Hey there! I can understand why calculating cumulative GPA might be a bit confusing, but don't worry, I'll help clarify. Yes, your cumulative GPA includes all the classes you've taken in high school from freshman year onwards. To calculate it, you'll add up all your grade points earned (different schools might use slightly different scales, but generally, an A = 4.0, B = 3.0, etc.) and then divide by the total number of classes you've taken.
Regarding weighted and unweighted GPAs: unweighted GPA is calculated without considering the difficulty of the classes, while weighted GPA factors in the difficulty of your coursework (like honors, AP, or IB classes). As for what colleges look at, it depends on the school. Some look at unweighted GPAs, and some at weighted GPAs. Keep in mind they'll also look at your transcripts, which show the specific classes you took, your grades in those classes, and the course rigor, which helps them understand your academic performance better. Good luck!
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