Do Colleges Look at Weighted GPA for Scholarships?

When applying for scholarships, how do colleges consider GPA? Should I be more focused on my weighted GPA or unweighted GPA when applying? I'm trying to make sense of what schools prioritize.

When it comes to scholarships, whether a university looks at your weighted or unweighted GPA largely depends on the specific institution and the scholarship in question.

Many colleges, especially those that offer merit-based scholarships, prioritize weighted GPA because it takes into account the difficulty of the classes you've taken. For example, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Honors courses are harder than standard ones, and therefore they carry more weight in your GPA calculation. Applicants with more rigorous course schedules, reflected by their weighted GPA, might be considered to have more potential for academic success in college, and thus, could have an edge when it comes to merit-based scholarships.

However, this isn't always the case. Some scholarships focus on unweighted GPA, which reflects a student’s performance without considering course difficulty. This can be beneficial for students who've primarily taken courses of a standard difficulty level, rather than Honors, AP, or IB classes.

In general, while most universities and scholarship programs prioritize a high GPA, be it weighted or unweighted, they often consider additional factors such as your leadership skills, community service, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and essays.

It's important to research the specific requirements of each scholarship you're applying to. This can often be done through reviewing the scholarship's webpage or reaching out directly to the scholarship committee or financial aid office. This will provide you with the most accurate and specific information when it comes to the GPA they consider and other selection criteria.