GPA Averages and College Admissions

I'm a little bit in the weeds with GPAs, for colleges do they usually disclose the average GPA of accepted students? And while we're at it, do colleges look at weighted or unweighted GPA?

Colleges do often disclose an average or range of GPA for their accepted students, although this information can sometimes be a little hard to find. This information might not be directly posted on the university's admissions page, but it could be discoverable through school profiles or data sets the university has provided. Often, these data sets don't distinguish between weighted and unweighted GPAs.

In terms of which GPA colleges tend to consider, weighted vs. unweighted GPA, it varies by institution. Some schools look at your unweighted GPA, which shows your academic performance without any enhancements. Others may consider your weighted GPA, which includes considerations for the rigor of your coursework (like AP or honors classes).

However, what's almost universal is that colleges also look closely at course rigor - in other words, the level of challenge presented by the classes a student has taken. This is where those weighted GPA points from advanced classes show their worth. Schools are likely to be more impressed by a student with a slightly lower GPA who has taken more challenging courses than one with perfect grades but only easy classes.

It's good practice to familiarize yourself with your high school’s specific grading system, and if possible, contact your prospective colleges' admissions offices directly to find out what they specifically consider in their evaluation. What's most important is to strive for a balance: take rigorous classes, but not so many or ones so difficult that your GPA suffers. For example, if you can get an 'A' in an honors course and a 'B' in an AP course, it might make sense to opt for the honors course.