Weighted or Unweighted GPA: Which do colleges look at?

Hey everyone! I'm in my junior year and a bit confused about GPAs for college applications. Do colleges typically check the weighted or unweighted GPA? If they look at both, which one is generally prioritized?

Hello! The truth is, colleges typically look at both weighted and unweighted GPAs during the application review process, but they might prioritize one over the other depending on their admissions criteria and institutional preferences.

Unweighted GPAs are usually on a 4.0 scale and offer a straightforward comparison of academic performance across students, as they don't account for the difficulty level of the courses taken. However, they might not fully capture the picture of a student's academic rigor if they've taken a challenging course load with many honors, AP, or IB courses.

Weighted GPAs, on the other hand, are on a higher scale, typically up to 5.0 or 6.0, and they assign extra weight to grades in more advanced courses. This can demonstrate a student's ability to handle academic challenges and their willingness to go above and beyond regular coursework.

Although both GPAs are considered, many colleges recalculate a new GPA based on their own weighting system or convert the GPA into a universal scale, to ensure fairness and consistency across applicants. Admissions officers also look closely at applicants' transcripts to examine the courses taken, the difficulty level, and the overall progression throughout high school.

In general, it's important to focus on both earning good grades and challenging yourself academically. Building a strong foundation in rigorous courses will not only boost your weighted GPA but also signal to colleges that you're dedicated to intellectual growth.

Ultimately, while GPAs play a significant role in college admissions, they're just one part of a holistic process. Extracurricular activities, essays, recommendation letters, and other components also contribute to your overall candidacy. So, it's essential to focus on every aspect of your application to make the best impression possible. Good luck with your college journey!