Hey guys, feeling kinda stressed about GPA stuff. I've heard the term 'weighted GPA,' but I'm not really clear on what it means. Does it have to do with harder classes counting more or something? Can anyone break this down for me?
Absolutely, happy to clarify things for you. You hit the nail right on the head: 'weighted GPA' does indeed refer to the way harder classes, like AP, Honors, or IB, are counted in the GPA calculation.
Here's how it works. In a regular 'unweighted' GPA scale, all classes are treated the same. So, regardless of how hard they might be, an A always counts as 4.0, a B is 3.0, a C is 2.0, and so on.
In contrast, a 'weighted' GPA scale gives extra points for harder classes to recognize the extra effort required. So, an A in an AP, honors, or IB class might count as 5.0, a B as 4.0, etc. The exact scale varies by school, but the basic idea is to reward taking on the extra challenge.
As a result, a student's weighted GPA can be higher than their unweighted GPA, reflecting the rigor of their course load. However, colleges will look at both figures, and some may even recalculate your GPA using their own system.
Just remember not to stress too much about it. Colleges consider many factors in their decision-making process. They appreciate students who challenge themselves, but they also value consistent performance. So, taking a mix of harder and 'regular' classes and doing well in them is a great strategy. Example: one term you might take an AP class in your favorite subject alongside 'regular' classes where you feel less confident.
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