Which GPA do Colleges Look At?

Hi everyone, I'm a little confused about college admissions. When colleges evaluate our applications, do they consider our weighted GPA or unweighted GPA, or both? Any clarification would be great!

Hello! This is a common question, and the answer is that colleges generally look at both your weighted and unweighted GPA. However, they might emphasize one over the other based on their specific evaluation process.

Unweighted GPA represents your performance on a 4.0 scale without considering any weight for advanced/honors courses. It's a more standard measure, allowing colleges to compare applicants from different high schools more easily. Weighted GPA, on the other hand, takes into account the difficulty of the courses you took, with extra points typically given for honors, AP, or IB classes.

When reviewing applications, colleges usually receive a high school profile from your counselor, which provides context about your school's curriculum, grading scale, and course offerings. Admissions officers use this information to better understand your GPA within the context of your high school's academic environment.

Many colleges also "recalculate" your GPA to create a uniform standard for comparison with other applicants. This process may involve applying their own weighting system to your courses, accounting for the rigor of your schedule, and possibly even converting your GPA to a different scale altogether.

In short, while both your weighted and unweighted GPA play a role in the evaluation of your application, the emphasis placed on each can vary based on the college's preferences and the context of your high school. It's important to focus not only on your GPA but also on taking challenging courses and maintaining a strong academic record overall. Good luck!