Anybody got some tips on how I can calculate my GPA according to the University of Wisconsin's system? Just trying to get a rough estimate of where I stand.
To calculate GPA for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, all you need to do is convert your high school grades into a 4.0 scale and then average them. Here's a rough example of how you might do that:
1. Convert individual grades to a 4.0 scale
A+: 4.33, A: 4.0, A-: 3.7, B+: 3.3, B: 3.0, B-: 2.7, C+: 2.3, C: 2.0, C-: 1.7, D+: 1.3, D: 1.0, D-: 0.7, E/F: 0.0
2. Calculate the average
Add all of the converted grades together and then divide that sum by the number of grades you have.
3. Apply a weighted factor
If the class is an AP or IB course, most high schools (and Wisconsin-Madison) will add an additional point to that grade. So for example, an A in an AP course would be a 5.0 rather than a 4.0. However, a maximum GPA of 4.0 is applied.
Remember this will only be an estimate, as each college recalculates high school GPAs in their manner. Also, keep in mind that extra weight is given to any AP or IB courses and this would be reflected in your weighted GPA. University of Wisconsin-Madison does evaluate the rigor of your high school curriculum, so if you took challenging courses, this could potentially boost how they view your GPA.
Lastly, be aware that the UW system converted from a traditional +/- grading system to a simplified A-B-C-D-F grading system in Fall 2020. The university used to use a +/- system with A=4.0, AB=3.5, B=3.0 and so on but not anymore. This might reflect differently on how they compare your high school grades to their grading system when recalculating your GPA.
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