<p>So my weighted GPA is pretty good, and I know this because that is what I see on PowerSchool (my school's online grading system). The average for the past years sits at nearly a 4.0. I have taken many AP and Honor's classes. I have never gotten less than an A- in High School. I can have speculation about my unweighted GPA, but cannot really know for sure. Which do colleges value more? I know that many even recalculate the GPA with their own weighting system, but do they really take into account my unweighted GPA? </p>
<p>If this helps, I am applying to Stanford, HYPSM, Duke and Cornell as my top choices.</p>
<p>Unweighted GPA is easily calculated by counting A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0 and taking the average of all of the grade values.</p>
<p>Colleges are less likely to consider weighted-by-your-high-school GPA because high schools use different weighting methods. They may recalculate, or they may just holistically look at your courses and grades to see if you took the most rigorous available courses and did well in them.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply, what would an A- be? Like a 3.67? Or is it generally higher? (unweighted)</p>
<p>It would be nice if they looked holistically, because I have taken very difficult classes</p>
<p>At my school, an A- is still a 4.</p>
<p>Since you are in California, note that UC and CSU drop +/- from high school grades when recalculating GPA as described here:</p>
<p>[CSUMentor</a> - Plan for College - High School Students - GPA Calculator](<a href=“Cal State Apply | CSU”>Cal State Apply | CSU)</p>
<p>(UC differs from CSU in that UC does not include 12th grade course grades, while CSU does if they are available. UC and CSU GPAs are weighted, but probably in a way different from what yours and most high schools do.)</p>
<p>for a “+” add .3, for a “-” subtract .3 – there is no single system, but this will get you close enough.</p>
<p>Some hs will report both, some just do whatever they do. It’s true that colleges can’t “trust” weighted, because hs use different bumps. It’s worth it to calc your uw, then show it here. Add .3 for a plus grade and subtract .3 when there is a minus attached to the letter grade (eg, A- at 3.7.) Value any half-credit classes at 50%. Ignore non-core classes like driver’s ed and gym.</p>
<p>Where I read, a highly selective, we no longer recalculate. We do what ucb notes- check the class rigor and grades. We either know the overall rigor of the hs or can see it in the school profile the GC sends. What’s important about a high gpa, in addition to the rigor of those classes, is how it stacks up against your scores, including AP tests. Eg, it doesn’t impress as much if you got an A in an AP, then a 3 or 4 on the test. And, for Stanford and the Ivies, they will most defintely be looking for more than stats.</p>