What does cumulative unweighted GPA mean?

I've been hearing a lot about cumulative unweighted GPA recently, but I'm still not quite sure what it means. Could someone clarify what cumulative unweighted GPA is and its significance? Thanks!

Cumulative unweighted GPA refers to the numerical representation of a student's overall academic performance throughout their entire high school career, without any adjustments for the difficulty of the courses they've taken. It is calculated by averaging the grades earned in all courses and does not give any extra weight to honors, Advanced Placement (AP), or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes.

In the U.S., the most common unweighted GPA scale ranges from 0.0 to 4.0, where an A (90-100%) corresponds to a 4.0, a B (80-89%) corresponds to a 3.0, a C (70-79%) corresponds to a 2.0, and so on. Each grade you receive is converted to the appropriate number on the scale, and then all of those numbers are averaged together to determine your unweighted GPA.

The significance of cumulative unweighted GPA lies in its role as a standardized measure of a student's achievement in comparison to their peers. It allows colleges and universities to assess applicants' academic performance in a way that's relatively consistent across different schools. While it doesn't capture the rigor of a student's course load, the cumulative unweighted GPA is still an important factor in the college admissions process.

Keep in mind that selective colleges also consider course rigor and the grades you've earned in those challenging courses, as they help demonstrate your ability to handle college-level work. Although your cumulative unweighted GPA is an essential component of your application, it's not the only aspect that will be evaluated. Admissions officers also consider standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, essays, recommendation letters, and other factors when making their decisions.