The Common App lets her choose. In the same section, she has to report her class rank, which is based on weighted GPA. But then it seems she can report either. Which one should she report - the one that looks better? If so…4.32/5 or 3.98/4?
Thanks!
Oops, I have just been informed that the weighted would actually be 4.32/4 so that’s definitely the one to report.
Per the Common App instructions, if the school provides both, report the weight one.
https://appsupport.commonapp.org/link/portal/33011/33013/Article/64/Reporting-Class-Rank-and-GPA
That said, it really does not matter. Keep in mind that admissions will look at the transcript before they look at the app for this information. Additionally, given the lack of a common weighting rubric, admissions will either consider the UW GPA, or will reweight to their parameters.
I’m confused about this too. My D just submitted 5 applications via Common App and said her GPA was x out of 5.0 scale. She used the weighted GPA. But then I saw our high school’s college and career counselor said in an email to the seniors that for Common App to use “The Weighted Academic GPA on your transcript (we use a 4.0 scale).” This doesn’t really make sense to me since like you @jillpnk I would have thought it would be out of a 5.0 scale since one can potentially have a weighted GPA up to 5 I guess. So now I wonder is that an error she should try to contact the schools to correct so it doesn’t sound like her GPA is worse than it is? (Her weighted GPA is not over 4.0 so it may be unclear). Or will they just look at her transcript and figure it out themselves? If they are looking at the transcript anyway, why do they make the students self-report it also? It’s so stressful when they all want something different!
@CAtransplant I agree it’s stressful and confusing!!! I would contact the schools to correct the error. I do think they will probably look at the transcript and/or calculate their own weighted GPA, but better safe than sorry.
Ehhh Personally, I would not waste the time or energy. It is a very common mistake. As I said upthread, the college will look at the transcript anyway.
@skieurope I’m sure you’re right, but it is the kind of thing that would bother me (and it sounds like it would bother the OP) so I would contact the schools. I’m annoying that way 
@jillpnk this is how I am too, I would stress about it! I wrote to our College and Career Counselor and she replied that when D’s guidance counselor sends the School Report via the Common App it will say the GPA and that it’s weighted and that they use a 4.0 scale but she also said if it would make my D more comfortable, she can send an e-mail message to the Admissions Representative who is in charge of our local area (you would find this by going to each college website and searching for the admission counselor who covers our area or territory) and restate her GPA and 4.0 scale. This also gives her an opportunity to connect with the admissions rep and express her interest in the college:-) I don’t know that my D is that concerned but I’m the neurotic one so I think I’ll have her do that