I know this may be a dumb question, but I have heard that the CSUs rank applicants based on EI, a formula combining test scores and GPA, and then they accepted students based on their rank. So, if this is the case, how do they take into account the courses in which the applicant took, like AP, IB, and Honors?
The CSU GPA calculation includes up to 8 semesters of extra honors points for AP/IB/DE or UC approved Honors courses. This is how HS course rigor is considered for the Cal states.
https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
They will also look at your a-g courses that are self-reported on the CSU application and as an applicate you indicate which courses are Honors/AP/IB or DE.
CP SLO has a very different formula, giving points for specific courses. The rest of the CSUs only reflect ‘rigor’ in the weighting of the GPA and you are capped at 8 semesters of ‘bonus’ gpa points.
Here’s everything you ever wanted to know about the CSU EI
http://www.csumentor.edu/planning/high_school/elig_index_calculator.asp
The reason I asked this was that I took many of my school’s honors courses (we are a fairly new school, so we don’t offer AP or IB). The thing about my school’s honors courses is that they are not UC/CSU approved, meaning that I don’t get the extra point in my GPA. Does that mean that the CSUs will not look at my honors courses at all? How can they accurately compare me to a student of another school where AP classes are offered? @Gumbymom @NCalRent
If the Honor courses are not UC/CSU approved, they will not be considered Honors courses on your application; however, your school counselor should send a school report indicating that no AP/IB or UC approved courses are available. This should not impact your chances since you are not given the opportunity to take these type of classes, but you have taken the most rigorous courses available to you at your HS.
@Gumbymom Sorry! I have one more question: So if this is the case then how can my GPA be compared and ranked against those of other schools. Will they compare unweighted GPAs? Or am I at a disadvantage since my GPA is not weighted?
Quote from UC website on application review: they look at your academic performance relative to the educational opportunities available in your high school. They will look at the individual grades for each a-g course so your unweighted GPA will be considered.
You are truly so helpful! Thank you 
@Gumbymom
For CSUs, if the honors course isn’t listed on this site as honors or AP, they won’t adjust your GPA
https://hs-articulation.ucop.edu/agcourselist#/list/search/institution
That would put you at a disadvantage to other applicants who took qualified courses.
Of course they look at rigor! I have yet to hear of a school that doesn’t. I agree with the above post, you will be disavantaged, but I also have advice: keep you’re grades up and you’ll be an “elite applicant” something they only tell admisisions counselors. The way it was explained to me is that you get a lil’ extra consideration. Best of luck to you and your college enebers. endeavors!