Hello friends, I'm confused about the difference between a GPA and a 'weighted' GPA. Can anyone shed some light on what a weighted GPA means and how it's calculated? Why would it be beneficial to have a weighted rather than an unweighted GPA?
Sure, I'm happy to help clarify!
GPA stands for Grade Point Average, and it's an average of your grades you obtain in high school. GPA is computed on a scale of 0 to 4.0, with 4.0 being equivalent to an 'A' grade.
Unweighted GPA only considers the letter grades from your classes and doesn't account for the difficulty level of the courses. This means that in an unweighted GPA system, an 'A' in an Advanced Placement class and an 'A' in a standard class both equate to a 4.0.
On the other hand, a weighted GPA takes this difficulty factor into account. Weighted GPAs can go beyond 4.0 because they give added weight to more challenging courses. For example, Honors, AP (Advanced Placement), and IB (International Baccalaureate) level classes can earn a student more than 4.0 for an 'A.' Schools can differ in how much additional weight is applied, but often, an 'A' in an AP or IB course might equate to a 5.0 rather than a 4.0.
Using a weighted GPA can be beneficial as it represents a more accurate reflection of a student's academic achievements. If you take more challenging courses, it helps show universities your willingness to tackle rigorous topics. This can become a critical factor during college admissions, especially when applying to highly competitive schools.
Just be aware that colleges may re-calculate your GPA based on their specific system during the admissions analysis, so while it's beneficial to strive for high weighted and unweighted GPAs, it's also important to focus on course rigor and grades themselves.
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