<p>Many students including me chose to waive some non AP classes to boost up the weighted GPA. In my case, I waived computer application, programming and orchestra etc. My weighted GPA is 4.58 while my unweighted GPA is 3.89 (out of 4) due to three B+ grades all in AP classes. Looking back, if I did not waive some of these non AP classes, my weighted GPA will be lower while unweighted GPA will be marginally higher. </p>
<p>I plan to apply to several highly selective colleges. Will my unweighted GPA 3.89 kill my chances? Weighted GPA vs. Unweighted GPA, which one is more important? </p>
<p>It may depend on the particular college. The UCs for example, recalculate the GPA and weight (for UC recognized weighted courses - usually AP and some honors) when they do but up to a maximum number of weighted courses (I think 8 but haven’t checked in a while). Higher end colleges tend to like to see students take more rigorous courses rather than the ones they can get the easy A’s in.</p>
<p>Are you saying that you took more AP classes to help your GPA?</p>
<p>If so, that is a GOOD thing. When your transcripts are sent, your hs sends a list of its course offerings. Colleges like to see that you took the more challenging curriculum (conversely…no penalty if your school doesn’t offer AP or IB classes). My son’s friend found out that Georgetown rejected him because he took statistics during his senior year instead of Calculus (which was offered).</p>
<p>Different schools have different rules. Some colleges take the weighted GPA, some may not. Does anyone know which schools do not accept weighted GPAs and will only accept unweighted???</p>
<p>I’m not an expert on this at all but my understanding from visiting a half-dozen highly selective schools is they all do it slightly differently. Some recalculate based upon an unweighted scale, some (like Duke) make a grid and count up the # of A’s, B’s, etc (that is what they told us when we did the tour) while checking to see if you took the most rigorous curriculum available (it’s on the sheet that your GC checks off and sends in). Some recalculate your grades based upon your core curriculum. </p>
<p>The ‘problem’ with WA is every HS has a different system for who they allow to take advance level courses (some let anyone who requests the course take it, while some have very stringent rules). Also, an AP class at one school doesn’t equal an AP at another (witness the fact that less only 60% of the kids who take AP courses and the AP exam can actually pass the AP exams and finally, there is the issue of grade inflation or deflation depending upon the school. The most important thing is about GPA is where the student stands in relation to his or her classmates. It doesn’t matter if your school ranks or not. The school provide statistics in the school profile that make it very easy to see where a student stands in the class.</p>
<p>My guess is the schools look at both WA and UWA as well as test scores and ECs, teacher recommendations, etc. and make a determination based upon what kind of picture it paints of a particular student. True, you need good grades to get into a highly selective school but you also have to have more than that.</p>
<p>Morninggrain - you have great grades -I won’t worry about the 3.9 UW average - you can’t get much higher than that unless you’re perfect. I know kids who have gotten into Ivy league schools with less than a perfect GPA - weighted or unweighted.</p>
<p>No. He may want to <em>believe</em> that because it gives him something to point to, but admissions at a school of that caliber aren’t so plug-and-chug.</p>
<p>^I have to agree with Pizzagirl. I find it hard to believe that an otherwise stellar student would be rejected simply because he chose to take Statistics over Calculus. There were other reasons this student was rejected.</p>
<p>“Will my unweighted GPA 3.89 kill my chances?”</p>
<p>So…you’ve got 3 B+, and all of the rest of your grades through HS are A’s? And…you’ve taken whatever advanced classes you could? It would appear you’ve done the best you could, within your HS transcript, to obtain admission to a select college.</p>
<p>Many schools re-calculate GPA for what they consider to be “core” courses…so programming and orchestra might not even be part of the calculation.</p>
<p>If all that you’re concerned about is admission, there are plenty of 4.0/5.0 students who will not get into the most selective schools. There are plenty of 3.9/4.6 students who will get in. And visa versa. Don’t worry about what is likely an insignificant issue from the past, at this point. Hopefully, your senior year is filled with the toughest courses you can take, and you’ll do well in them.</p>
<p>If you’re concerned about local ,and some national, scholarships, your concern may be more valid depending on how they calculate GPA, and how important it is in their selection criteria.</p>