How does your school calculate GPA for colleges?

<p>On the transcript sent to colleges, DD's small prep school gives a GPA that only includes year-end grade for Junior year and mid-term for Senior year. That means if applying ED, it would only include Junior year. I know that many colleges re-calculate the GPA from the transcript, but it sounds odd to me. When I asked the Dean about it, she implied that only public schools include all 4 years in the GPA. </p>

<p>Oh, and if your school provides a weighted GPA, how do they weight it?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>So you’re saying your D’s school just totally disregards grades from freshman & sophomore years? That’s pretty bizarre, IMO. Both D & S went to private schools – D to an all girls day school and S to a Boarding School ( as a day student). Both their schools calculate GPA using all 4 years. D’s school gave more weight to Honors and AP classes in calculating. I actually have no idea how S’s school calculates GPA – but since he’s currently in college, I guess I won’t worry about it! :)</p>

<p>For college applications, S’s school calculates GPA based on 10/11th grades. Honors and AP courses are weighted by an additional 0.4. The GPA does not include summer courses. Although I’m uncertain of the reasoning, I presume the school excludes freshman year grades because those grades may tend to be lower as the students adjust to boarding school in their first year.</p>

<p>Thanks for the info. Yes, my daughter’s school includes ONLY junior and senior year grades in the GPA they send to colleges. And since Fall semester ends in January, that means after most application deadlines, so only junior grades will be included. Her grades were actually best in freshman and sophomore years, before all the AP courses kicked in. They only add 0.2 for AP and 0.1 for honors.</p>

<p>I have no clue why they would do this, it seems to put their students in a bad light. Of course, many colleges will recalculate, but it still is an inaccurate first impression for the admissions committee.</p>

<p>Have you ever talk to her college guidance about your concern?
Maybe they have a better explain.</p>

<p>

Yes, especially since colleges always seem to talk about looking for an upward trend in grades and rigorousness of courses. Without listing all the courses, how can colleges get an accurate picture of your D’s progression?</p>

<p>The school does send an official transcript with all courses, grades and AP/honors indicated for all classes taken at the school. Colleges could recalculate their own GPA from the information given. My concern is that the first impression for ad coms is this idiosyncratic, unique version, GPA. I will talk to the college guidance person. I just want more info about other schools. It is not so easy to find out how other schools grade, or weight their GPA’s or what info they send to colleges.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone for the info you are providing</p>

<p>D’s BS said they don’t count GPA but when we got the password to their Navience and of course there is GPA everywhere.
D went to college guidance office to figure out her GPA, they said the GPA system is very complicate, they don’t give honor and AP classes more weight, same as regular classes.<br>
With all honor and APs, D is a B/B- student, not so good GPA (under 3.0), rank 50% at class. I wonder how colleges think about it? D said maybe next year, for better GPA, she will give up any AP and just take the easiest classes (I knew she won’t do that).</p>

<p>D’s prep school calculates unweighted GPA for each individual year, but not cumulatively…no rank offered; only bands of %based only on junior year GPA…all courses and grades on transcript…</p>

<p>If official transcript has all courses and grades listed, not sure why this preliminary GPA is a concern? Colleges will calculate and interpret as they choose to…but I do agree it doesn’t really make sense…</p>

<p>what is an average gpa for freshman at a top tier prep school?</p>