Hello, I'll be applying to LSU next year and I read somewhere that they calculate GPA a bit differently than other schools. Could someone please explain this process to me? I want to make sure I understand the expectations. Thanks for your help.
Sure, happy to help clarify the GPA calculation at Louisiana State University (LSU). At its core, LSU uses a 4.0 GPA scale just like many other institutions. However, there are a couple of specifics to note:
Firstly, only your academic core courses are considered in the calculation. Core courses are the ones that meet the Louisiana Board of Regents' requirements, and typically include English, math, sciences, social sciences, and foreign languages.
Secondly, LSU does use weighted GPA for its calculation, meaning that Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), gifted, honors, and dual enrollment courses are given additional weight on your GPA. Regular level courses are weighed on a 4.0 scale, while these advanced courses are weighed on a 5.0 scale.
For example, an A in an advanced course (AP, IB, etc.) will give you 5 points, whereas an A in a regular course will give you 4 points. That's important because it encourages students to take these challenging courses and gives them a boost when calculating their GPA.
Of course, grades aren't everything. LSU also places importance on the rigor of high school curricula, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, etc. But understanding how your GPA is calculated will help give a clearer idea of where you stand academically. Hope this helps!
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