Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA - Which do colleges look at?

I'm a bit confused about whether colleges look at weighted or unweighted GPAs during admissions. I've been taking a ton of AP and honors classes, so my weighted GPA is significantly higher than my unweighted. Does anyone know which one colleges prefer to see? Any help is greatly appreciated!

The answer to this depends on the college, but in general, admissions officers will look at both weighted and unweighted GPAs. They are aware that students take different levels of rigor in their courses and want to evaluate your academic performance in context.

Weighted GPAs account for the increased difficulty and challenge of AP, IB, and honors courses, so it's beneficial to have a higher weighted GPA. Colleges appreciate seeing that you challenged yourself with more rigorous coursework, as it shows you're dedicated to your education and willing to push yourself.

However, unweighted GPAs are also considered, as they provide a standard baseline for comparing applicants from different schools and educational systems. This is helpful for admissions officers who need to evaluate applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Colleges often recalculate applicants' GPAs based on their own unique systems to ensure an apples-to-apples comparison. For this reason, it's crucial to focus on maintaining strong academic performance in both weighted and unweighted GPA contexts. Make sure you continue to take rigorous courses, but also strive for excellent grades in those classes.

In summary, colleges look at both weighted and unweighted GPAs, with each offering a different perspective on your academic performance. To increase your chances of admission, aim for strong performance across the board, including excelling in challenging courses and maintaining a high unweighted GPA.