Hello group, I need some help.
MY daughters is a raising senior, and her school only gives out unwieghted GPA. In the common app, I assume we can then only enter that, even though my daughter has taken several college level courses (as she is in a middle college). How would this get considered by the colleges ? Do they re-compute the GPA based on the course level (like College, AP etc), or just use the value given. If they just use the value given, then would it disadvantage compared to those entering weighted GPA ? thanks
Most colleges do not use the courses and grades section in the common app. You can make a college list on the common app and check how many of the colleges in your list use this section. Some do use and you raise valid concerns.
The college courses can be entered in the additional info section i believe.
This is not an issue at all.
–Admissions officers will review the actual transcript, not just the GPA. They will pay attention to çourse rigor as well as grades.
– Each HS sends a school profile along with each transcript. This school profile will describe the level of courses offered and school’s grading system (among other things). This will insure the transcript is viewed in the proper context.
–Many high schools only provide an unweighted GPA. This is not unusual at all.
–Some colleges recalculate GPAs using their own criteria (ex. unweighted, academic courses only, etc.) and others do not. In all cases though the details of the transcript are reviewed.
–FWIW my kid’s HS did not provide weighted GPAs and students did extremely well in terms of college admissions.
3 Likes
Colleges recalculate GPA as per their forumula, which can be different at each college. They will do it based on her transcirpt. Dont worry about it.
Some colleges do this…not all.
@fd97616 please don’t worry about this. Weighted GPAs are calculated in hundreds of different ways by high schools. Many colleges don’t use weighted GPAs at all…but colleges will see your kid’s course rigor on their transcript.
Yes, rigor is always going to provide context for GPA, as will the counselor’s school profile.
I believe it it is quite standard for colleges to do this. Maybe not. But in general, “Many colleges recalculate your GPA (grade point average) using a 4.0 scale, and then add points for AP, IB, AICE, dual enrollment/college and honors classes to arrive at a modified GPA.” It’s probably safe to assume that most/many colleges also take grades for gym, art, and other non-academic classes out of the GPA.
On a different note, my friend’s daughter was a recrutied athlete at an Ivy. Her sport wasn’t at her school. She kept missing gym because of her sport, her gym grade dropped to a D, and the college she was planning to attend insisted she bring the gym grade back up. Maybe because our state required a certain passing grade in gym?
Anyway, dont worry, your child’s colleges will know what to do with her GPA.
The GPA question in the common app is optional, but if completing it, match it to the HS transcript. As others have said AOs will review the transcript in detail and/or have your D enter her course/grade info elsewhere (courses and grades section of common app, SRAR, etc.)
Are her middle college classes on her HS transcript? If not, enter those in the education section, under colleges and universities. She can provide detail for those classes in the additional info section. Most colleges will want a copy of that transcript.
2 Likes
yeah they are on the official HS transcript. So we still enter on the additional section ? or not required ?
No need to put that info in the additional information.
1 Like
Many colleges recalculate, some don’t. Some use weighting, some don’t. Some will use an unweighted GPA that they’ve recalculated and will score curriculum rigor using a separate scoring category and range. All will review the HS transcript for types and levels of classes taken or planned.
And many don’t provide GPA at all.