Recalculated GPA's- Can someone help me out?

Applying to College
1

<p>I would like to better understand how colleges recalculate the HS GPA. Please correct me if I am wrong: The guidance office lists what classes the school offers and what classes the student actually has taken and the grades. Then, the college recalculates and takes out the "fluff" courses? BUT do they ADD points if the classes were AP? </p>

<p>If a college says they recalulate a GPA, and they are looking, say, for a 3.5 and over, is that weighted?</p>

<p>Also, when you see stats on Princeton Review and College Board, or even Collegedata.com, are those "avg. GPA:___" based on recalculating, then weighting?</p>

<p>We are trying to get a good read on all of this!
Daughter has taken all AP classes and has grades that are in the 90 range. We are just trying to target better what kinds of schools she should be looking at and also Merit Scholarships ( I know, they are based on SAT tests too:)</p>

2

<p>All colleges calculate GPA differently, and some do not recalculate at all. However, [this</a> article](<a href=“http://facweb.eths.k12.il.us/leej/CCC_WebSite/Reports/GPA.pdf]this”>http://facweb.eths.k12.il.us/leej/CCC_WebSite/Reports/GPA.pdf) should answer a few of your questions.</p>

<p>So in general: “fluff” courses are not counted, and at more selective colleges taking AP courses does not add to your GPA, but at others you may receive a bonus (but in either case, the rigor of your courses is still considered). And the GPAs listed on the college websites and in review books are probably unweighted (since they’re usually listed on a 4.0 scale).</p>

<p>There are also some answers in this thread:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/333056-how-does-colleges-calculate-gpa.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/333056-how-does-colleges-calculate-gpa.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>I wish every school would just use the same GPA system. :/</p>

4

<p>Rank is much more important than grades at most highly selective schools. Even when schools don’t officially rank. So in selecting schools it’s a much better indicator as value of GPAs vary tremendously from school to school.</p>

5

<p>Is top 10% decent? Our school isn’t terribly impressive, but the cream of the crop is all at the top (as is at most schools).</p>

6

<p>Top 10% an an average high school is decent for all but the top 3-5% of colleges.</p>