Hey folks, I'm trying to figure out how colleges look at GPAs. Can anyone explain the difference between a weighted and an unweighted GPA? And does one hold more weight than the other when put under the admissions microscope? Thanks!
Sure, happy to explain!
A student's unweighted GPA is calculated solely on the grades they receive in their classes, without consideration of the course's difficulty level. Typically, in an unweighted GPA scale, an A is a 4.0, a B is a 3.0, and so on. This scale ranges from 0.0 to 4.0, regardless of whether the course is regular, honors, or AP/IB.
On the other hand, a weighted GPA takes into account the rigor of the courses in which the student is enrolled. So, for example, some schools might give an extra point for an A in an AP, IB, or honors class, meaning that the scale goes up to 5.0 instead of just 4.0. So, an A in an AP course might be a 5.0, an A in a typical classroom would be a 4.0.
In terms of college admissions, colleges look at both unweighted and weighted GPAs. They primarily consider unweighted GPA as it allows them to compare students across different high schools more easily. However, they will also look at your weighted GPA to account for the rigor of your classes--if you're taking more challenging coursework and earning high grades, that will certainly be taken into account favorably.
Do keep in mind that each college has its own method of evaluating GPAs, so it is important to do research on specific schools you're interested in. Also, note that your GPA is just one component of your application, amidst many others like extracurriculars, essays, and recommendation letters.
I hope this explanation helped clarify things for you! Any more questions, just let me know.
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