<p>My school gives only one GPA: the unweighted. However, when making ranks, they have two options: unweighted rank and weighted rank. I am ranked 1 when AP classes are considered weighted to 4.5 (which I believe is fair). However, because my school has a lot of "successful underachievers", we have 12 people who have a 4.0 unweighted rank. Therefore, I am actually rank 13 in weighted rank. </p>
<p>Now, I understand that the CommonApp allows you to chose which to submit. However, it only lets you submit one. I plan on submitting the Unweighted GPA (its the only option I have and I believe colleges prefer this one since schools have different weighting systems). However, is there any preference in Harvard (and other top schools) for an unweighted RANK. I would really like to submit my weighted RANK as I believe it better represents rank. I also think that the complications that weighted GPA presents (different scales, etc etc impossible for colleges to figure out the right comparison) is absent in weighted ranksince it is a number rank anyways.</p>
<p>I want to submit unweighted. My question is whether or not Harvard has explicitly said anywhere that they want the weighted. Would they look down on me for not submitting my unweighted rank?</p>
<p>which one will be mentioned in your school transcript?</p>
<p>Unweighted will be on transcript though the school made it clear we had both options. (I don’t know if they change the transcript. All I know is if I used my weighted, it would be completely allowed).</p>
<p>can you ask your school to mention both on your transcript? this way you could submit the weighted only in the commonapp</p>
<p>I don’t think I can ask actually. I found out today that they only have unweighted on transcript. But that both were available to use. I think our school is in a transition period from using unweighted previously to weighted (in the upcoming years). Right now, both are available and listed but only unweighted is on transcript. That being said, which should I use? I believe 13 really does not reflect upon me well or even accurately.</p>
<p>Perhaps you can have your counselor mention the situation in the recommendation section?</p>
<p>Since your school has calculated your weighted rank, I’d ask your GC if he/she would mention it in the recommendation letter. In your shoes I’d put the weighted rank in the Common Application slot, but maybe just put a brief sentence explaining your choice in the “Anything else you wish to tell us” slot at the end of the application.</p>