When colleges look at our cumulative GPA, are they seeing the unweighted or weighted version? I'm trying to figure out which one I should be more focused on when applying.
When colleges look at your cumulative GPA, they tend to consider both your unweighted and weighted GPAs. Unweighted GPA is based solely on your academic performance, typically on a 4.0 scale, while weighted GPA takes into account the difficulty of the courses (honors, AP or IB) and may use a higher scale (for example, up to 5.0).
However, colleges usually recalculate your GPA to have a standardized metric to compare all applicants. This is because different high schools may have different grading scales or methods of assigning weights to courses.
That being said, don't stress too much about the specific numbers—just focus on maintaining a strong academic performance. Colleges do take note of your course rigor, so challenging yourself with advanced courses while maintaining solid grades can help demonstrate your academic abilities. Ultimately, both weighted and unweighted GPAs matter, as they provide a comprehensive view of your academic profile.
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