How does the GPA calculator work at Indiana University?

Hey guys, I'm a junior and I’ve been considering Indiana University (IU) for college. I keep hearing about this thing called a 'GPA calculator' they use. Does anyone have any info on how it works? Do they factor in AP and honors classes differently?

Absolutely, Indiana University does indeed use a GPA calculator in processing applications. It's important to understand that they calculate GPAs on a 4.0 scale. Your GPA can be increased by getting A's in AP or honors classes, since these are considered more difficult than regular classes.

Each letter grade you receive is assigned a certain value: e.g., an A is a 4.0, a B is a 3.0, a C is a 2.0, and so forth. Plus and minus grades also reflect slight variations in value. The course credits multiply by the grade value to calculate the Grade Points for that course.

Now, discussing AP or honors classes - these are given extra weight in the calculation. For most high schools, an A in an AP or honors class would be worth a 5.0 rather than a 4.0. Indiana University takes these weightings into account, so your GPA could technically go above 4.0 if you've taken advanced classes.

To calculate your total GPA, IU will add together all of your Grade Points and then divide by the total number of credits earned. This number is what's used in admissions decisions. Here's an example to clarify things:

Let's say you took three classes, each worth 3 credits. You got a B in an honors class, an A in a regular class, and a C in another regular class. The B in the honors class would be equal to 3.0 (grade value) 3 (credits) = 9. The A in the regular class would be 4.0 (grade value) 3 (credits) = 12. The C in the regular class would be 2.0 (grade value) 3 (credits) = 6.

To find the GPA, you sum the Grade Points (9+12+6 =27), and then divide by the total credits (3 + 3 + 3 = 9). 27 divided by 9 equals a GPA of 3.0.

So, the GPA calculation at IU isn't just simple addition and division - it involves a bit of multiplication too, and honors grades bring another layer of complexity. But at its heart, it's simply a standardized way of interpreting your high school grades.