Need Clarity on Unweighted GPA

I feel sort of silly asking, but what exactly does unweighted GPA mean? I've heard it used a lot but don't quite understand how it affects my college application.

An unweighted GPA is a numerical representation of your academic performance in your high school coursework, without taking into account the difficulty or level of the classes you've taken. This means that all classes, whether they're regular, honors, AP, or IB, are treated equally.

The scale typically runs from 0.0 to 4.0, with an A being awarded 4 points, a B awarded 3 points, a C awarded 2 points, and so on. Those points are then averaged for all the classes you've taken to form your GPA. So for example, if you have an A average across all your classes, you'd have an unweighted GPA of 4.0.

In the context of your college application, an unweighted GPA provides a straightforward and universal measure of a student's academic performance. However, since it doesn't account for the rigor of your coursework, colleges typically consider it alongside other factors.

If your school uses a weighted GPA (which gives extra weight to Honors, AP, or IB coursework), colleges may also review that in order to gauge the rigors of your academic schedule. Note that it’s important to challenge yourself with a rigorous curriculum, as taking more challenging courses can show colleges your willingness to push your intellectual boundaries.

In conclusion, while unweighted GPA is a crucial part of your college application, colleges often take a holistic approach in admissions, so they'll also consider factors like your course rigor, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, personal essays, and standardized test scores.