<p>that our seniors are in for a big change next year...:(</p>
<p>Today at school, a bunch of people at lunch were talking about how a few teachers (accidently) mentioned next year our gpa's will probably be converted from the current unweighted to weighted!?! I mean...come on...wth?? </p>
<p>Some people probably have never even attempted an AP class; others have taken many AP/Honors. Some go to voc-ed or work/study half of the day...not a problem with that personally, but what about those of us who have worked their arses off the past three years? We are going to be seniors and have eight potential vals (4.0/4.0)...but it's like comparing apples to oranges at this point. The powers that be do not like that many potential vals...so, where does this leave the upcoming seniors?<br>
My class has always had lots of smart and talented people...and I am sure there is some grade inflation factored in somewhere...but this year there is not one senior with a 4.0/4.0 (out of about 200 kids) and maybe one or two in the soph class...have no idea about the frosh class, but a few teachers have said the last two classes (frosh and soph) were the worst they've had in a long time. </p>
<p>I have taken my share of AP/Honors classes, but also could not get into a few AP's because of scheduling conflicts. I have no idea how this would affect my current rank/GPA, and think this really sucks for the upcoming seniors! grrrrrrr!</p>
<p>Have any of you ever had this happen at your school senior year? Any surprises at the end of first semester senior year? Did it impact where you applied for admissions?</p>
<p>Most colleges recalculate gpas anyway based on their own criteria. Many colleges add extra weight to honors, AP & IB courses. Many also don't include courses like health, phys ed and even possibly arts courses when they calculate gpas. It all is done up to the colleges' systems.</p>
<p>The ones that have taken the harder classes do not always get the top grades so the additional weight would definitely be a factor in distinguishing them...as I mentioned, it does not matter to me what track other students chose to take...our schedules are set for next year and it will just be one more semester for admissions. I wondered if others who have experienced this were met with any disappointment/happiness in their own class rank/standing.<br>
Personally, I felt the school board could have implemented the change for the incoming class only and leave us to love/hate our own unweighted gpa's and ranks.</p>
<p>Well, no complaint nam3less...just wondered if others have experienced this their senior year.</p>
<p>We have not been rewarded for the past three years, so this could be very good for the top students...and mess up more than a few ranks for others.</p>
<p>My school converted to weighted grades going into my junior year. They did not weight any of the grades that where already taken, so for my AP class I took during sophmore year I got no extra weight. So you might ask how they are going to impliment the weighting system.</p>
<p>I think it is good that your school is going weighted. Our school is and I can imagine that a lot of students would slack off in easier classes and still get great GPAs. I think the boost given by AP and honors really motivates some students to reach higher, or at least provides an incentive. I don't think everyone should take as many honors/APs as possible but I do think that students who do should be rewarded.</p>
<p>I can see where some people would get angry, if they made course decisions to get a high unweighted GPA, but honestly, those students don't belong at top schools. If you consciously choose a lower class level because you know you can breeze through it and get a 4.0, you (at least in my opinion) don't deserve a spot at top schools. In these schools they are looking for intellectual passion, initiative, and drive, not for laziness.</p>
<p>Thanks-I will check in with gc
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So, for you Josh_AK, it appears you were penalized in not having prior AP's weighted...that is what I am thinking will happen...that seems very unfair. I think it should be all or nothing.</p>
<p>I think that what they did was the probaly the best way. I know before weighted grades teachers in AP classes would give their students a boost anyways.</p>
<p>Whether or not your schools weighs or not and how it weighs does not make that much of a difference. Colleges will see your GPA as well as your courseload and how well you did in honors/AP courses. Essentially, if your school does not weigh GPA - adcoms will - maybe not with a direct formula but difficulty of classes will be taken into account. If your GPA is lower than someone else's because you took harder classes and your school GPA is unweighted - you still have a better chance to be accepted than the person above you with all easy classes.</p>