Calculating Unweighted GPA?

I'm trying to sort out my GPA for my college applications, and I'm a little confused because different schools seem to use different GPA scales. What's the standard method for figuring out an unweighted GPA?

Calculating an unweighted GPA can indeed be confusing. However, the most common method for calculating an unweighted GPA is to use a 4.0 scale. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you:

1. Assign a point value to each of your letter grades for all your courses. On a standard 4.0 scale:

- A (90-100) = 4.0

- B (80-89) = 3.0

- C (70-79) = 2.0

- D (60-69) = 1.0

- F (below 60) = 0.0

If your school uses a percentage-based grading system instead of letter grades, simply convert your percentage to the corresponding letter grade first.

2. Add up the point values for all your courses. This sum represents the total points you earned in all your classes.

3. Count the total number of classes you've taken.

4. Divide the total points (step 2) by the total number of classes (step 3) to get your unweighted GPA.

For example, let's say you took 24 classes in high school. You earned 12 As, 8 Bs, 3 Cs, and 1 D. Applying the point values from step 1, you would have:

- 12 x 4.0 (As) = 48 points

- 8 x 3.0 (Bs) = 24 points

- 3 x 2.0 (Cs) = 6 points

- 1 x 1.0 (Ds) = 1 point

Adding up these points, you would have a total of 79 points from all your classes. Now divide this sum by the total number of classes (24) to get your unweighted GPA: 79 points / 24 classes = 3.29.

So, your unweighted GPA would be 3.29 on a 4.0 scale. Keep in mind that colleges will also consider other factors of your academic profile like course rigor and class rank.