<p>Does Miami use weighted or unweighted GPA for auto Merit Money?
They state a 4.0 scale... but not sure which GPA to convert? Thanks.</p>
<p>When my son, who is now a junior, applied a few years ago, they use the best GPA that is shown on the transcript. If a weighted GPA is provided - and is higher than the regular GPA - it is used.</p>
<p>However, just to be sure, I would give a quick call to your regional admissions person (you can find that person on the website) or the admissions office to confirm. I would assume that they still accept a weighted GPA since the new automatic scholarship program implemented this year allows for a range of scholarship amounts - based upon the academic rigor of the courses. I’m sure this was to prevent students who takes easy “blow off” classes from getting the same or higher scholarships than a student who challenges themselves with AP classes.</p>
<p>My D and I were on one of our college visits.
We asked the ad official whether the merit GPA requirements she mentioned were weighted or unweighted.
She said they’re “based on a four-oh scale.”
We responded that W and UW are both “based” on a 4.0 scale, so which is it?
She replied again with the exact same quote.
I imagine all schools use that same line and it annoyed the heck out of us.</p>
<p>Thank you … I checked. It is whatever is on the transcript… in our case… both 
So they take the most advantageous for the student which I thought was nice 
We are on a 5.0 so we have to convert to 4.0.</p>
<p>Our real-life experience is that they use the average that is most advantageous for the student. But double-checking with Admissions is probably a good idea.</p>
<p>Is it still possible to get scholarships from Miami if you don’t have a gpa 3.70+ I’m close to a 3.6 gpa</p>
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<p>Not to beat a dead horse but, sorry, seriously, that makes no sense to me.</p>
<p>A weighted GPA is always going to be higher than an unweighted GPA.</p>
<p>How could a lower GPA ever be more “advantageous?”</p>
<p>an unweighted GPA, standard classes… all A’s = 4.0</p>
<p>an unweighted GPA, Honors & AP’s, couple of Bs = 3.8 0r 3.9
you essentially penalize kids for taking honors classes
with weighted… Bs are still a 4.0</p>
<p>However, to Miami’s credit, they use whichever is advantageous,
and they look at course rigor</p>
<p>sorry forgot to say… all scores get converted to the 4.0 scale
So a 5.20 may convert to a 4.15 better than a 4.0… right?</p>
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<p>Well, I’m not only going to beat a dead horse, I’m going to converse with him too. ;)</p>
<p>What you describe is a different issue and not the question I posed.
What you are referring to is that Honors and APs are harder classes and presumably result in lower letter grades than regular classes.
No argument there at all.</p>
<p>The question is … no matter what classes an individual student winds up taking, their weighted Grade Point score will always be higher than their unweighted Grade Point score.</p>
<p>So, therefore, there is no reason why a college should say “we’ll take both and use whichever is higher.”</p>
<p>See the point?</p>
<p>You are comparing one student’s 2 possible GPAs.
Some students will only have one possible GPA, the one on their transcript. Miami is being kind in stating that they will use the most advantageous. Which was the answer to my question. If you want to parse words, be my guest.</p>
<p>The point of this thread however is to discuss how our kids get merit money. So pls. take your argument to the Golf Course.</p>
<p>^^^ Well, that’s a very relevant and helpful thing to say.</p>
<p>Sorry, I have keep reminding myself that some people act like jerks online.</p>
<p>If posting that made you feel better about yourself, I’m happy. Have a nice day.</p>
<p>If it is any help, D’s HS did not weigh any classes. It does not matter, college can always look at rigor of your HS classes. We were told at information session at another college, that they strip all weighted down. I have no idea, D. ended up on full tuition Merit awards. What was very important at her time was to follow recommendation to file FASFA for full range of MERIT awards. I do not know if Miami still recommends it. D. received much more at Miami than all other publics. One exception was Case (private) where she recieved more.</p>
<p>My son’s tests scores were well above the range for the highest merit awards. His GPA, however, was not. He had a very rigorous course load through all four high school years. Our high school does NOT weight the GPA. Son received no merit award.</p>
<p>Concerning GolfFathers observation:</p>
<p>Not that it would apply to anyone here on CC, but it is technically possible to have a weighted GPA lower than a non-weighted GPA in our high school district. (One of the largest districts in suburban Chicago.) </p>
<p>Like many districts, AP classes receive an extra 1 point and honors an extra 1/2 point compared to general education classes. However, preparatory classes (for remedial students who can not handle the material in general education classes) receive 1/2 point less than general education classes. So, while it would not apply to college prep students, a remedial student would likely have a non-weighted GPA that is higher than his weighted GPA.</p>
<p>bkbmom… Isnt it 2 out of 3 for Merit money? He’s not top 10% either?
Maybe i am confusing Miami with IU but I thought it was a sliding scale to take into
account rigorous coursework? Higher ACT allows for lower rank, etc.</p>
<p>I too am from a large suburban Chgo. school district ChicagoBear…I understand your point. You made it better than me.</p>
<p>ldavis - are district 214? I just saw you are on the 5.0 scale.</p>
<p>Our school also does not rank. And we’re OOS</p>
<p>We just went for a visit last weekend and they said they take the GPA that is reported by your high school. If it is not on a 4.0 scale they have a system that will convert the GPA to a 4.0 scale. This system takes into consideration the rigor of the classes (i.e. ap, honors). She said that once you submit your application, you can call them and ask them what the converted GPA is, but they can’t tell you the system or formula they used to compute it.</p>
<p>Wow, Ohio University sure offers some sweet merit awards. My D received a mailer card today that said 32+ ACT and GPA 3.70 Non-Ohio resident award is $57K to $114K. He more than qualifies. Miami of Ohio is a school we never considered but this tempting for me as a parent :). I wish some of the colleges he was interested in (Columbia, NYU, Duke… ) offered such opportunities.</p>