Can someone lay out how GPA is actually calculated and why colleges care about it so much? It's kind of overwhelming to figure out how this number is going to affect my college chances.
Absolutely, happy to help clarify! GPA, or Grade Point Average, is essentially an average of your final grades converted to a scale, usually a 4.0 scale in the U.S. Every 'A' is typically a 4.0, a B a 3.0, and so on.
Some schools use weighted GPAs to account for harder courses like Honors or AP, which may go up to a 5.0 for an A. Colleges care about your GPA because it is a quick indicator of your academic achievement and consistency over time. It's one snapshot of your performance they can compare against other applicants and their historically successful students.
Knowing your GPA helps colleges gauge whether you can handle their coursework. It's not the only factor, but it's a central one for admissions. Remember, though, that a less-than-perfect GPA isn't necessarily a deal-breaker, especially if you show an upward trend in grades or have taken more challenging courses.
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