What is the deal with GPA's?

<p>Hey guys. I keep hearing different variations in regard to GPA's. Some say an "A" means 90-100, and therefore, if your average is above a 90, then you have a 4.0 UW (Btw, I am only discussing UW GPA's, seeing as my school does not weigh GPA's, regardless of the course). Others say and A+ , which is a 95-99 is a 4.0. But my college guidance said that we had to calculate GPA's by the 4 method, meaning that whatever our composite average was, we had to take that and multiply it by 4, then divide it by a 100. So, with my 96.7 average, I'd only end up with a 3.87! That's totally unfair. How do so many people have 3.9's and 4.0's? I'm in every honors course, and I work pretty darn hard.....</p>

<p>It just depends on the school. My school does a 4.0 scale. For me, ANY A is a 4.0. So for me, all A’s=4.0. Some schools have other systems. Like yours, for example. Colleges know this.</p>

<p>Colleges look at GPAs in the context of your school and its grading system.</p>

<p>It really sucks… my school weights on a 4.3 scale I think… I am on the honor roll (A- and A’s) but I still have a 3.6 GPA and I’m in all honors classes. We don’t even offer but 2 AP classes (only available in certain years) so I’m not even able to get a better weighted grade.</p>

<p>It really sucks because I was looking through a college handbook that offers like $1000 bucks for each 0.1 difference in your GPA on a merit scholarship. With a 3.6 I barely even qualify (w/out my testscores & rank).</p>

<p>Oh, and with a 3.6 GPA I am on the track to being valedictorian (yes, it’s possible), our school weights things super difficult, and NOBODY makes A’s. So, I guess my rant is over. Either way, I think you should be proud of your GPA, bets are that you’re probably on a 4.3 scale like me, and as the above poster said, colleges will see your GPA in context, esp. with your testscores.</p>

<p>@ZinOxide: My school has about 20 AP’s, but they won’t even weigh anyone’s GPA, or rank them. Likewise, if so, your GPA is stellar as well. But why are our schools’ systems so flawed??!</p>

<p>If it is on a more difficult scale like my school then you’re probably in good shape, even for difficult colleges (even if these “chance” threads tell you differently)… since I know one kid got into an ivy w/his 3.7 GPA. That is, he was making straight A’s…</p>

<p>The only reason I can think for a difficult scale is there are some people who are able to somehow bust their butts and get A+'s and only A+'s all through HS which at my school seems to = 4.0 unweighted. So don’t worry about it, because if you’re taking the most advanced classes offered and making the best grades (and can back it up with test scores)… you’ll be in good shape. I was shocked to learn I had a 3.6… but it doesn’t seem so bad comparatively to my classes and scores.</p>