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

Hey everyone! Could use some guidance on the whole weighted vs. unweighted GPA thing. I just need to understand which one colleges really care about, and how they can impact my college apps.

Weighted and unweighted GPAs are different methods of calculating your GPA, each highlighting a different aspect of your academic performance.

An unweighted GPA is calculated on a scale of 0.0 to 4.0, with A's counting as 4, B's as 3, C's as 2, and so on, regardless of the difficulty of the course. This provides a baseline measurement of your overall academic performance without considering the rigor of your coursework.

On the other hand, a weighted GPA takes into account the rigor of your classes. This means more rigorous or challenging classes, such as AP or IB level classes, are graded on a scale that goes up to 5.0 or sometimes even 6.0. An A in a regular level class might still be a 4, but an A in an AP or IB class could be a 5 or a 6, depending on the scale your school uses. The intention here is to incentivize students to take more challenging courses and reward their hard work.

When applying to colleges, most schools will look at both but they do pay more attention to your weighted GPA because it better reflects the academic rigor of your coursework. Colleges want to see that you've taken challenging courses and have done well in them, as this is indicative of how you might handle college-level coursework. However, colleges also understand that weighting systems vary greatly from high school to high school, and some school doesn’t even offer AP or honors courses. So albeit looking at the weighted GPA, they will look into your transcript in a school context.

To put all applicants on a level playing field, many colleges recalculate your GPA using their own unique system. They might take the unweighted GPA and then add points for honors or AP classes, for instance. Because every high school weights GPA differently, this allows colleges to evaluate your performance under a consistent grading scale.

While colleges often consider your weighted GPA, they will also look at your course list to make sure you are challenging yourself with the classes your high school offers. Therefore, it is important to balance doing well in your classes with taking challenging courses when possible.

Remember, though, that while GPA is an important aspect of your college application, it's one of many factors colleges consider. Other factors such as standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and personal essays are also significant aspects of the application. So, focus on building a well-rounded application, rather than obsessing over your GPA.

I hope this explanation helps! Let me know if you need help understanding anything else.