Hey peeps, I've been wondering if colleges typically ask for your weighted or unweighted GPA when you apply. My school does both, but my unweighted GPA is not as impressive as the weighted one. Can anyone clear this up for me?
Colleges typically consider both weighted and unweighted GPAs when reviewing applications. However, they also recalculate GPAs using their own methodology to standardize the scores from different high schools. High schools have varying grading scales, weightings, and course offerings, so colleges create their own system to evaluate applicants as fairly as possible.
How much importance each type of GPA (weighted vs. unweighted) holds depends on the individual college. Weighted GPAs tend to reflect coursework rigor, as they indicate if a student has taken more challenging classes such as honors, AP, or IB courses. An unweighted GPA, on the other hand, provides a more consistent and straightforward comparison of academic performance as it's based on a standard 4.0 scale.
When applying to colleges, make sure to report your GPA accurately according to their requirements. Some schools might ask for both types, whereas others might ask you to report just the unweighted GPA. Regardless of which type they ask for, remember that colleges look at your entire application holistically, so your GPA is just one factor among many, such as extracurricular activities, essays, letters of recommendation, and test scores (if applicable).
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