I currently have a 6.5 (the highest GPA possible at my school), but I’ll most likely receive a B in pre calculus at the end of this semester, so it will drop slightly. The way my school calculates GPA, a student is only allowed to receive a weighted grade point for four core classes (7 grade points for upper level cores, 6 grade points for all other courses). Right now all four of my core classes are weighted, but I’m also taking AP Psychology which my school is not counting as weighted towards my GPA. It’s also a really irritating system (there are like 30 valedictorians every year), because a person who takes four pre-ap classes can have the same GPA as someone in 7 AP classes if they get all As. So will colleges recalculate my GPA to account for ALL higher level courses, or will getting a B in my pre-AP pre calculus class make more of a difference in my GPA than I think?
In answer to your title question: Yes.
In answer to the way you phrased it in the body of your post: No.
(That is, most schools—Alabama’s an interesting exception, given the nature of their scholarships—recalculate GPAs. However, each school does it differently, focusing on what’s most important to them.)
One B in one class over four years will have minimal effect on your GPA.
To answer your question, some colleges will recalculate your GPA, some will not. Some will just use your UW GPA. Few will tell you what they do, and there is not master list. All will see that you got one B. No big whoop.
It depends on the university. Where I worked, we “de-weighted” GPAs.
Some schools do recalculate your GPA, w or uw. Particular for high schools that only provide wGPA as there is no standard in it.
Some schools recalculate, some don’t. The method of recalculation varies from school to school (ex. some are unweighted, some only use academic classes etc.). Few schools specify exactly what they do.
Since most HS give only 1 extra point for AP/IB/Honors courses (hence, a 6.5 GPA – or even a 5.5 GPA --is not possible), colleges are forced to either use unweighted GPA (disadvantage to the kids who take all upper level courses), or recalculate a weighted GPA. It depends on the school.