Understanding How Cornell Calculates GPA

Hey, guys. I'm an aspiring Cornell applicant and trying to get my head around how they calculate GPA. I tried a 'Cornell GPA Calculator' online, but it was a bit confusing. Can anyone explain their process or provide some insights?

Cornell University doesn't provide an official GPA calculator or a specific calculation process because they evaluate your academic achievement within the context of your high school's curriculum. This means that they consider the opportunities and resources available to you.

For example, if your high school offered many Advanced Placement (AP) classes and you took several, Cornell would weigh this fact heavily in their evaluation. Conversely, if AP classes were not available at your school, Cornell won't hold that against you.

Cornell considers the actual grades themselves (A, B, C, and so on), the level of the class difficulty (Is it an honors class? AP? Regular?), and your overall academic trend (Are your grades getting better or worse over time?). Additionally, Cornell has mentioned in the past that they will recalculate applicants' GPAs unweighted, and will focus on your grades in academic subjects, which does not include classes like PE or art, unless the latter is related to your intended major.

When it comes to GPA calculation, each high school profile can drastically influence the result. Thus, when your application is reviewed, Cornell takes into account the grading scale of your high school and its profile, which helps them understand how your grades compare to the grades of your peers.

Finally, keep in mind that while GPA is an important part of your application, Cornell does also practice a holistic review of applicants. This means that they also consider other factors beyond GPA, such as your extracurricular activities, recommendation letters, essays, and more. So, while it's good to understand your GPA, don't forget to devote attention to other components of your application as well.