Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA: What's the Big Difference?

I'm trying to wrap my head around the whole GPA situation. I know there's a weighted GPA and an unweighted GPA, but I'm not quite sure what the big difference is between them. How do colleges look at these different types of GPAs? I'm taking several AP and honors classes, and I've heard that might affect my weighted GPA differently than my unweighted one. Should I be more concerned about improving one over the other? Any advice on which one holds more weight (pun intended) in college admissions?

Certainly, understanding the difference between a weighted and an unweighted GPA is integral to comprehending the college admissions process. Unweighted GPAs are simpler, they typically run on a scale of 0-4.0 and are calculated on the basis of grades alone—A's are designated as 4.0, B's as 3.0 and so forth. Therefore, regardless if you're taking an honors course, an AP course, or a standard course, your GPA is averaged the same.

Weighted GPAs, on the other hand, consider course difficulty in the calculations. This means that more complex courses like APs or honors classes could have a different scale, like 5.0 or 6.0 for an A, which gives students the opportunity to earn a GPA higher than a 4.0 to reflect the additional challenge. In essence, the more rigorous classes you take, the more it can positively affect your weighted GPA.

Now, as you asked about how colleges look at these, it's wide-ranging. Some colleges look at weighted GPAs to see course rigor, others unweight all GPAs in order to create an even playing field, while some look at both. And yet, many colleges recalibrate all GPAs according to their own scale!

With regard to deciding whether to focus on improving one over the other, it's more about the balance of achieving high grades and challenging yourself with rigorous courses. Colleges will take into account both your GPA and the rigor of your courses when they make admissions decisions. For example, an unweighted 4.0 GPA from primarily standard level courses may not be as impressive as a 3.7 weighted GPA where the student took multiple AP classes. My advice would be to challenge yourself as much as you can handle without overwhelming yourself or letting your grades drop significantly.

In college admissions, there isn't a simple answer to which GPA holds more weight. It depends on the individual school's evaluation process, so it's best to aim high in both categories—keep those grades up and challenge yourself with rigorous courses.