<p>In my school, classes such as Orchestra, Science Research, and numerous art and music theory classes are weighted the same amount into your GPA as the classes in the "core-cirriculum", such as Pre Calc Y, or AP World. </p>
<p>Let's say you only took two classes in high school, AP American and Orchestra. You got a 90 in AP American, and a 100 in Orchestra. That would mean that your highschool GPA would be a 95.</p>
<p>NOTE: Our school does not give extra points, AKA weight, a GPA for advanced or more difficult courses.</p>
<p>So when a college admissions board looks at my transcript and sees my GPA (Let's use mine for instance), is a 3.2, including the "joke" courses, will they recalculate my GPA using only my core cirriculum grades, or will they just leave it be?</p>
<p>From what I've heard, most colleges do recalculate your GPA. It probably depends on where you apply, though. Of course schools that focus on visual/performing arts would pay close attention to your record in art and music. I don't think there would be any real point for universities to count classes like P.E. or sex ed in your GPA, though.</p>
<p>Most colleges will recalculate your GPA to include only core classes. However, I know of some schools that will only calculate a certain number of core classes. For instance, 3 English classes, 4 math classes, 3 history classes, and two foreign language classes. In this case, if you have more than the required number, the school will calculate the highest grades only. That could be beneficial to you.</p>
<p>For math classes it would help, as my grades are starting to go up from high 80's to low 90's. English classes and history classes, it wouldn't really matter, since I rock the box at all those. Foreign language is the killer though. The KILLER.</p>