Why did they calculate my high school GPA so differently?

Applying to College
1

<p>This might seem like a pointless question to ask, because this happened over three years ago. But after two years at one college (and a semester part time at another) I am now preparing to transfer. These colleges want to see my high school transcript, and I am wondering what they might view my high school GPA as being.</p>

<p>Anyway, I got rejected from a school that, according to statistics, appears to be easier than one of the ones I got accepted to, and subsequently attended for two years. My mom called them after I received my letter because we were surprised I didn’t get in. And they said it was because my GPA was a 2.45 - they weren’t accepting anyone with below a 2.5. But I was told I had a 2.7 or a 2.8. I don’t understand how it could have been so low! I’m pretty sure these GPAs weren’t weighted - you couldn’t have above a 4.0 I don’t think, so it didn’t matter if you were in honors classes. I only took 7 my entire time in high school, so that probably wouldn’t have made a difference anyway.</p>

<p>There was only one explanation I could think of. I was enrolled in a class for students with learning disabilities (even though I don’t have one, LONG story) which I believe they very well might not have counted. Could that have been the case? That and the fact that they may not have counted the few electives I took (including one where I got straight A’s, and it was an honors course.) It just doesn’t make sense that they could have calculated my GPA that low. Why did that happen?!?!</p>

<p>Also, I was under the impression that the first-semester grades of senior year carry the same weight as your final grade when applying to college - is this true? Or have people just been lying to me?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

2

<p>Many colleges only use certain classes to calculate GPA (like math, sciences, english and language). And you’re right - it doesn’t matter anymore.</p>

3

<p>The “college prep” courses colleges most often use to calculate GPA are math, lab science, English, foreign language and social studies. Any nice grades you got in health, art, shop, vocational studies, PE, a science that had no lab or anything else not included in the above college prep courses was likely ignored. Whether first semester senior grades meant anything depends on college, many ignore them entirely if you are a high school senior applying for college, others require them to be submitted after you apply as a high school senior and use them but how can vary.</p>