Utah GPA calculator - weighted or unweighted?

Howdy! I'm from Utah and curious if the GPA calculator provided by my school and the state considers both weighted and unweighted GPAs? Is it the same across all schools in Utah or do some school districts use different methods? Also, which GPA do colleges typically care more about? Thanks in advance for your help!

Hello! In Utah, the GPA calculation method may differ between schools and districts, as there isn't a state mandate that requires all schools to use the same method. When using the GPA calculator provided by your school, it's best to check with your school counselor to understand whether it's calculating your weighted or unweighted GPA, or potentially both.

That being said, it's not uncommon for school districts to calculate both weighted and unweighted GPAs. Weighted GPAs typically account for the difficulty of the classes you take, such as honors, AP, or IB courses, and assign extra weight to the grades received in those courses. On the other hand, unweighted GPAs don't account for course rigor; they assign a uniform weight to all your classes, regardless of difficulty.

Regarding college admissions, both GPAs can be considered, depending on the college. Most colleges will review your transcript holistically to get a sense of the rigor of your coursework and your performance in those classes. They will also recalculate your GPA based on their own weighting system or consider your class rank. Thus, it's essential to focus on both maintaining a high GPA and taking a challenging course load to demonstrate your academic potential.

In summary, it's important to talk to your school counselor to understand the specific GPA calculation method used by your school and district. Remember that colleges will be interested in both your weighted and unweighted GPAs, along with the rigor of your coursework. Good luck!