Hi friends! Working on the Common App and I'm at a crossroads – do colleges prefer the weighted or unweighted GPA listed? My school provides both, but I'm not sure which is more beneficial to submit. What's the standard procedure here? Insight would be awesome!
The Common Application provides a space for you to list your GPA, and it can be a bit confusing to know which one to enter. There's no one-size-fits-all answer, but I'll give you the general advice we share with students.
If your school reports both weighted and unweighted GPAs on your transcript, and there is a place to put both, then do so. If you must choose one, the unweighted GPA is often considered the 'standard' as it provides a level playing field to compare all students. However, if your weighted GPA is significantly higher due to challenging courses such as honors or AP classes, it might better reflect the rigor of your coursework.
Most colleges re-calculate your GPA according to their own scale anyway—so whether you submit your weighted or unweighted GPA, admissions officers will look at the context of your schooling, like how difficult your course load was relative to what's available at your high school. Thus, submit the GPA that you believe, in context with your course rigor, presents you in the best light. Remember to report your GPA exactly as it appears on your transcript to avoid any confusion or misrepresentation.
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