Which GPA matters more: weighted or unweighted? (2024)

So, I'm kinda confused about which GPA colleges value more – weighted or unweighted. My school offers a lot of AP and honors courses, and I've taken quite a few. Does this mean colleges will consider my weighted GPA more important? Please help!

4 months ago

It's understandable that you might be confused about which GPA matters more in college admissions. In general, both weighted and unweighted GPAs can play a role in the process, but the importance of each can vary from school to school.

The weighted GPA takes into account the rigor of the courses you've taken, with extra points given for AP and honors classes, whereas the unweighted GPA is a more straightforward calculation based only on the grades you've earned. Many colleges recalibrate your GPA based on their own methodology, so they can effectively compare applicants who come from different high schools with different grading systems.

Colleges often prefer to look at weighted GPAs because it provides a better indication of your academic abilities and willingness to challenge yourself with a more demanding course load. However, unweighted GPAs are still useful, as they allow colleges to understand your academic performance on a consistent 4.0 scale.

In general, it's not so much about which GPA is considered "more important," but rather that colleges want a comprehensive picture of your academic background. As a result, college admissions officers will take into account your course rigor (the difficulty of your courses) and performance in those courses (reflected in your weighted GPA) alongside your raw academic achievement (reflected in your unweighted GPA).

It's great that you've taken a number of AP and honors courses, as this demonstrates your dedication to challenging yourself academically. In the end, both weighted and unweighted GPAs matter, and colleges will likely consider both when evaluating your application.

4 months ago