<p>What is a weighted GPA versus a non-weighted GPA?</p>
<p>A weighted GPA is a calculation of your grade point average based on the rigor of your courses. For example, if you were to take all honors or AP classes and get straight A's in them, you could have a weighted GPA of up to 5.0 depending on your school</p>
<p>An unweighted GPA is just the regular grade point average without adding the extra points of the honors/IB/AP classes.</p>
<p>Takes into account the difficulty of the courses (extra points for AP, IB, and honors)</p>
<p>Why would a college look at one's unweighted GPA? I get A-s and B+s in APs, so my unweighted is about 3.5, while my weighted is much higher, at ~4.15. Seriously, it's really stupid if they look at one's unweighted GPA.</p>
<p>many schools recalculate your GPA based on your grades, since every high school weights differently. For example, at my school, it is impossible to get higher than around a 4.7, but I've seen people with GPAs of 5.0+... so the college will most likely look at your grades and calculate your GPA using their own formula.</p>
<p>Okay, good. So unweighted GPA really doesn't matter.</p>
<p>Because there's so much variation among schools, the colleges end up having to look deeply into what your transcript really indicates about you anyways. My HS unweighted GPA was 3.89 or something lke that. But the seven APs and about another 15 honors classes would have shot me beyond any recognition. As it were, the colleges just looked to see what was offered and what I actually took.</p>
<p>Basically, don't worry about it. The adcoms will know what to do with weighted or unweighted numbers.</p>
<p>But what about schools like mine that don't offer AP/IB/Honors. Are we just screwed becuz we cant really compete in the rigor of our courses compared to students that had a chance to take higher courses. I hate my school SO much. No opportunities, barely any extra interesting courses that you can take, they really only have the required science, math, etc. and nothing else. When I get to college Im gonna be SO behind everyone else.</p>
<p>kenshinsan -- when you apply for college, your school sends with your transcript a brief explanation of the school's available courses, grading policies, etc, so it's important that you take advantage of what is available to you, but if there is nothign available, you shouldn't be penalized.</p>
<p>also, don't worry about being behind in college. something like 60% of college students end up taking remedial courses anyway. because just because someone can memorize facts and get As on tests doesn't mean that person actually LEARNED the material anyway.</p>