Weighted vs. Unweighted

Applying to College
1

What’s the difference?

Well, I gave my secondary school report to my counselor today, and she put a tick at the weighted box.

Well, I never took any AP class as our school doesn’t offer any, nor any honors (everything is regular here…).

But when I asked her that this GPA (3.75/4) is supposed to be unweighted (judging from some posts I’ve read), she was like… no, weighted means that it is weighted upon the number of classes for each subject… what BS is this?

Should I keep it as it is or ask her to change it…?

thanks.

2

<p>Weighted is when you get extra credit for taking more advanced courses. I'm not sure what she means by "number of classes for each subject..." If I were you, I would email (or call, since deadlines are fast-approaching) a college and ask them specifically just so you can be like "Well, I called [College] and they said that weighted is when..."</p>

3

<p>lol I googled "What is weighted gpa" and the answer was similar to yours. (under the definition part)</p>

<p>Anyways, I am printing the search result and sending it to her tomorow..</p>

<p>As for the "number of classes for each subject...", what she meant is that weigted gpa is the gpa in respect to how many credit hours you take for each subject..</p>

<p>like for physics (5 classes a week): 5 x 95 etc.. would make a weighted gpa..</p>

<p>thanks for your reply.</p>

4

<p>My school "weights grades" by boosting select classes up a 1/3 of a point. For example, a A- is put on your transcript but becomes a 4.0 for the GPA instead of a 3.73. So, kids at my school get lots of A-'s in hard classes but still have a 4.0.</p>

5

<p>I assure you that this is not the case, Safiamilke.</p>

<p>The thing is, here at our school, they specify a regular curriculum for everyone.</p>

6

<p>Weighted rank is better, and preferred by colleges too, because it allows them to see where you fit in among your peers better than an unweighted gpa allows them to do so.</p>

7

<p>Erm - but still - it won't sound logical to weight gpa as we don't have AP offered or anything.. [honors, etc..]</p>

8

<p>What is not the case? I was only speaking for my school's use of weighted grades.</p>

9

<p>Well, it really shouldn't matter in that case then.</p>

10

<p>Make sure to keep gpas in perspective. Coming to this forum, I always feel like my 3.5 is low, but then I remember I go to a very competative private school, and not only does my school not weight gpas, we also don't have A+ grades, and the teachers are though graders and don't "give you a break" so to speak. For example it was a miracle for anyone to get above a B in a certain english class because the teacher actually thought a C was "base-line". As a result, in the last ten years TWO people have graduated with a 4.0!</p>

11

<p>hmm.. ask her to explain in the secondary school how the courses are "weighted", even if your school does not offer any honors/AP courses.</p>