Howdy.

I recognize that a lot of high schools calculate their GPA for class rank due to a weighted scale (level vs. advanced/honors vs. AP/dual credit) and I also know that a lot of colleges prefer to see GPSs on an unweighted scale on applications.

My question is:
Does everyone use the scale below for unweighted GPA calculation for college applications?
Unweighted GPA scale


I remember when I was a student at TAMU, the scale was even less "precise" (90-100 = 4 grade points, 80-89 = 3 grade points, etc.).

Thank you for your insight on this.

I don't know the answer but I'm not sure how an unweighted GPA does much to help the admissions folks gather intel on the likelihood of college success

Example. My kid makes an A in his AP Calc class (at a 6A school). Not sure how that is synonymous to another kid making an A in a regular calc or pre-calc class at some small, rural school.

I've always wondered how the admissions folks get the bead on this. Does the high school get weighted based on their academic standards? Does the kids transcript get weighted based on the rigor of their course load?

It's all confusing to me, especially now since standardized tests are not required.

I hear you loud and clear, fellow Class of 2000'er. I am equally perplexed.

I am learning that many prestigious schools (Ivys and the like) want to see the unweighted GPA, which does not seem to be an accurate means of measure (especially in light of some institutions distancing from standardized tests, like you said).

I am hopeful that the forum's expect, Double B, Owner of the local College Prep Services company Avant Garde (avantgardeprep.com), will weigh in on this.

My apologies for taking a bit to respond, as I am just now seeing this. As you can imagine, with the end of the summer here and with college applications now open, I'm working about 12-13 hour days to keep up with the demand. However, thank you AggieJohn, and I am happy to provide more insight.

Honestly, I think too many parents and students worry about this part of the application. Each college has its method of recalculating a student's GPA. Most colleges ask for both Weighted, but some will also ask for Unweighted too.

Once the college has the student's grades/transcript, they will conduct their own analysis that includes academic grades and course rigor. Also, each college will compare the student's grades to the historical data that the college has collected from previous application cycles. Colleges have mounds of data, and they know what a rigorous courseload looks like from the student's school, along with what are competitive GPAs (according to their internal calc) for each student. They also know and track how students from each high school perform in college, and can predict with a large degree of certainty which students will succeed based on their academic course rigor/GPA combination. Their data is that precise. I used to work on the retention side, and we would comb through such data to predict future student success.

So I guess the main takeaway is don't worry too much about what you provide them. Do your best according to your school's scale because they will determine the student's GPA according to their own calculation method.

I hope that helps! Please feel free to ask any individual questions, and I'll do my best to answer them in a timely manner.

KatyAggie2000 said:

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It's all confusing to me, especially now since standardized tests are not required.

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AggieKatie, when you include academic grades, course rigor, activities, and TEST SCORES, us retention folks could predict academic success (3.5 + GPAs or higher) with an extremely high degree of success.

At one point, with my work in higher education, we determined with about 75% certainty which students would make 3.5+ GPAs. Compared to the normal student population, only about 16-18% would earn GPAs of that level or higher.

When coupled with other data, test scores are instrumental in predicting early college transitional success, which was always their original intent.

AvantGarde-CollegePrep said:

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KatyAggie2000 said:

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It's all confusing to me, especially now since standardized tests are not required.

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AggieKatie, when you include academic grades, course rigor, activities, and TEST SCORES, us retention folks could predict academic success (3.5 + GPAs or higher) with an extremely high degree of success.

At one point, with my work in higher education, we determined with about 75% certainty which students would make 3.5+ GPAs. Compared to the normal student population, only about 16-18% would earn GPAs of that level or higher.

When coupled with other data, test scores are instrumental in predicting early college transitional success, which was always their original intent.

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That's really interesting. Do you think schools universally employ this technique as a "screening mechanism"? How else could a high end university that is getting tons and tons of applicants realistically go through them all, read the letters of recommendation and personal statements, etc.?
Personally, I would think that standardized testing scores are going to go by the wayside for "elite" schools, as the disparity in accepted students by race served as proof of discrimination in the recent Supreme Court cases.

He Who Shall Be Unnamed said:

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AvantGarde-CollegePrep said:

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KatyAggie2000 said:

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It's all confusing to me, especially now since standardized tests are not required.

---

AggieKatie, when you include academic grades, course rigor, activities, and TEST SCORES, us retention folks could predict academic success (3.5 + GPAs or higher) with an extremely high degree of success.

At one point, with my work in higher education, we determined with about 75% certainty which students would make 3.5+ GPAs. Compared to the normal student population, only about 16-18% would earn GPAs of that level or higher.

When coupled with other data, test scores are instrumental in predicting early college transitional success, which was always their original intent.

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That's really interesting. Do you think schools universally employ this technique as a "screening mechanism"? How else could a high end university that is getting tons and tons of applicants realistically go through them all, read the letters of recommendation and personal statements, etc.?
Personally, I would think that standardized testing scores are going to go by the wayside for "elite" schools, as the disparity in accepted students by race served as proof of discrimination in the recent Supreme Court cases.

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..

He Who Shall Be Unnamed said:

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AvantGarde-CollegePrep said:

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KatyAggie2000 said:

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It's all confusing to me, especially now since standardized tests are not required.

---

AggieKatie, when you include academic grades, course rigor, activities, and TEST SCORES, us retention folks could predict academic success (3.5 + GPAs or higher) with an extremely high degree of success.

At one point, with my work in higher education, we determined with about 75% certainty which students would make 3.5+ GPAs. Compared to the normal student population, only about 16-18% would earn GPAs of that level or higher.

When coupled with other data, test scores are instrumental in predicting early college transitional success, which was always their original intent.

---

That's really interesting. Do you think schools universally employ this technique as a "screening mechanism"? How else could a high end university that is getting tons and tons of applicants realistically go through them all, read the letters of recommendation and personal statements, etc.?
Personally, I would think that standardized testing scores are going to go by the wayside for "elite" schools, as the disparity in accepted students by race served as proof of discrimination in the recent Supreme Court cases.

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They are already employing this mechanism. When applying to the "elite" schools, I always tell clients that college admissions is similar to an exclusive nightclub. To enter the nightclub, you need a certain rubric of academic rigor, GPA, test scores (SAT or ACT and AP), then a strong resume of ECs, service hours, and leadership. If you make that cut, you're permitted to enter the nightclub, but now you're trying to gain access to the VIP area, including college essays and your personal narrative. Essentially, what kind of story are you selling about yourself?

The process for these elite schools starts EARLY! Many begin in 8th/9th grade developing/crafting their narrative for college applications, where someone like myself helps to create that narrative for them.