I’m a current junior who has taken 2 weighted classes sophomore year and 4 junior year; the issue is that I’m pretty much only applying to UCs or state schools, and on all the gpa calculators it says only 8 weighted points count. I’m wondering if I’ve completely wasted my time taking all these weighted classes or if admission officers still look at the amount of weighted classes students have taken even if some don’t factor into their gpa.
UC’s do consider Fully weighted GPA’s (unlimited semesters of honors points) like UCLA and UCB. Also HS course rigor is very important so not a waste.
It’s 8 semesters in terms of calculating GPA in the a-g requirements. But course rigor does count. Also, if you go to a Cal State, you will get course credits for any AP scores of 3 or higher.
In terms of “wasting time,” did you learn anything? Did the courses spark any thought? Were you exposed to any new material or ways of thinking? Education is about more than GPA.
I don’t think it’s a waste of time for a HS student to learn things at an advanced pace.
4 is a lot…but, if you can manage the work and maintain a 4+ GPA, that courseload will help you be competitive for the top UCs. Most people would struggle with 4 AP classes on one year. .
You will be better prepared for college by taking more challenging courses in high school. Don’t burn yourself out in high school, but learn to manage a challenging workload and you’ll be prepared to handle challenging majors like engineering and pre-med, or to succeed with honors in easier majors.