Weighted GPA vs Unweighted GPA - which one do colleges care about?

I'm a little bit stressed about this whole wgpa vs gpa thing. Can someone please explain the difference between these two types of GPAs and which one is considered more important to colleges? Do they usually look at both or just one of them?

The difference between weighted GPA (wGPA) and unweighted GPA (GPA) lies in how they're calculated. Unweighted GPA is the most simple version, with all classes graded on a standard 4.0 scale (A=4, B=3, C=2, etc.). In contrast, weighted GPA accounts for the rigor of courses taken; an extra grade point is added for advanced courses like AP or honors classes. So, an A in an AP class would be worth 5.0 instead of 4.0.

Now, to answer your question about which one colleges care about: it depends on the college and their admission policy. Some colleges may prefer the weighted GPA because it reflects a student's academic performance in a challenging course load. Others may focus on the unweighted GPA while also paying close attention to the rigor of the classes taken. In general, colleges look at both weighted and unweighted GPAs and consider other factors like course rigor, class rank, and test scores when evaluating applicants.

It's essential to remember that high schools have different grading systems and course offerings. Therefore, colleges usually recalculate GPAs to create a standard measure for all applicants. This means that even if your high school uses weighted GPAs, your college may recalculate your GPA using their unique scale.

In summary, both weighted and unweighted GPAs are important, but the emphasis varies by college. What truly matters is challenging yourself with rigorous courses while maintaining a strong academic performance.