So, I go to a school in which A’s in a regular class are worth 4 points, A’s in honors classes are worth 5 points, and A’s in AP classes are worth 6 points. My weighted GPA is 4.87, and when I was filling out the Common App, it asked me what the scale was. I was sure that it would be 6 because that’s the highest possible GPA you could have, so I didn’t even think to ask. I submitted my application, and later found out that it should’ve been a 4 point scale. With this being said, can this have any impact on my admissions decisions? I worked hard to get that 4.87 and I’d hate to have all that work tarnished because I entered a wrong number. Since the colleges get the transcripts and school reports from high schools, does that mean that they go off of that and the value that I report is arbitrary? Help!!!
Most colleges recalculate your GPA to their own scale so I wouldn’t worry. They also base it off your official transcript and not what you self-report so I think you are ok but maybe ask your counselor if they can mention it to the school?
No. Applicants make this mistake every year. Your transcript and school profile will list the grading scale, and colleges will use that, just like they will use the transcript for your GPA.
Colleges that ask for a transcript and official score report will use a transcript and SAT/ACT score reports for your scores. Listing them on the app is just a formality.
Don’t do that. It’s not a big deal.
@skieurope So colleges won’t get the wrong impression when they get to my application and see 4.87/6? Would they be put off that I didn’t revise my application correctly or something (which I did, rather thoroughly, was just under the impression that 6 was the definite answer to this particular question). I guess it’s just the OCD kicking in, I feel bad having given the college misinformation, haha. Anyways, my above questions still stand, and any further clarification would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
@adp106 We did the same thing because the COUNSELOR at our private school told everyone wrong at a college prep meeting, (ha, go figure) so tons of people put it as a 5 scale instead of a 4 scale. She corrected herself long after he had sent in his common app. @skieurope is right, this happens all the time. Plus the colleges have the profiles of the high schools, they know the scales, and/or they recalculate. Just like you, mine had a 4.67 or something like that, and we stressed that for the longest time. I can feel your concern, been there done that, but you should let it go. He got into 14 of 15 schools including one Ivy, UCLA, UCB, etc. The one he didn’t get into was Stanford, I don’t think it was having the scale wrong that kept him out of there. 
It will be ok. Relax. Seriously, it’s ok.
And my answers still stand. As @blueskies2day says above, it’s not that big of a deal.
@skieurope Alrighty then! Thanks for the information, I appreciate it, if you couldn’t tell I was very stressed about this.
Which schools would those be?
I think you did it right and your counselor is wrong. If your GPA is 4.87 than the scale is not out of 4. Most colleges recalculate GPA, and they give their own weighting to honors/AP classes. DO NOT worry about this.
SIGH. The counselor got it right; it is a 4.0 scale. However, the fact that some people are confused about this is why I said before that it is not a big deal.
Some students I work with attend a school that puts their specific class rank on their transcript, but then reports to the schools in deciles (even though the rank is on the transcript). SO these things are variable. Don’t sweat it too much.
@jym626 Can you clarify what you just said? You mean they do it by top 10, 20, 30, etc. or top 10%, 20%, 30%, etc? Thanks.
They do by deciles-- top 10%, 20% etc
@jym626 Okay, thanks for clearing that up. It’s starting to be clear to me how different all these schools handle this so I’m not as worried because it seems that colleges barely even consider the self-reported number but go straight off the transcript and school profile.