I still think you guys are missing my point (not that it is very important). A strong GPA without rigor is next to meaningless at more selective schools…however it is recalculated or not.
Merit scholarships at those schools generally go to the top 25% of admitted students. If you are not in that bracket as defined by GPA , with curriculum considered (if you don’t like the phrase recalculated) and SAT/ACT you aren’t in the game. Not to knock UA, but I wouldn’t put it in the selective category I’m referring to, solid school though.