Comments on: Weighted or Unweighted GPA? http://greatcollegeadvice.com/weighted-or-unweighted-gpa/ Expert Advice on College Admission Tue, 15 May 2012 22:50:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Mark Montgomery http://greatcollegeadvice.com/weighted-or-unweighted-gpa/comment-page-5/#comment-9909 Mark Montgomery Fri, 30 Mar 2012 21:44:44 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=123#comment-9909 Raul, Your chances at all these universities is going to be very low. The are low for all human beings, no matter what achievements they have amassed. For me to pinpoint your chances more carefully, I'd need a lot more information. If you are a resident of NC, then your chances will be best at UNC. Let us know if you'd like to consider getting a more detailed picture of your admissions chances. Best of luck! Raul,
Your chances at all these universities is going to be very low. The are low for all human beings, no matter what achievements they have amassed. For me to pinpoint your chances more carefully, I’d need a lot more information. If you are a resident of NC, then your chances will be best at UNC. Let us know if you’d like to consider getting a more detailed picture of your admissions chances.
Best of luck!

]]> By: Raul http://greatcollegeadvice.com/weighted-or-unweighted-gpa/comment-page-5/#comment-9891 Raul Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:44:31 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=123#comment-9891 So I have so far a 4.1 weighted GPA and a 3.5 unweighted GPA. I took a few AP courses and at least 15 Honors. I play Varsity Soccer and Varsity Tennis as well as a member of Beta Club. I have no doubt that my SAT scores will come back 2000+ this time. I also have awards in Art and I'm a Romanian and Canadian citizen and fluent in English and Romanian. What colleges should I be looking at? What are my chances at the following schools? I live in NC by the way. Washington University in St. Louis Johns Hopkins UNC Chapel Hill University of Pennsylvania So I have so far a 4.1 weighted GPA and a 3.5 unweighted GPA. I took a few AP courses and at least 15 Honors. I play Varsity Soccer and Varsity Tennis as well as a member of Beta Club. I have no doubt that my SAT scores will come back 2000+ this time. I also have awards in Art and I’m a Romanian and Canadian citizen and fluent in English and Romanian. What colleges should I be looking at? What are my chances at the following schools? I live in NC by the way.

Washington University in St. Louis
Johns Hopkins
UNC Chapel Hill
University of Pennsylvania

]]> By: Katherine Price http://greatcollegeadvice.com/weighted-or-unweighted-gpa/comment-page-5/#comment-9889 Katherine Price Thu, 22 Mar 2012 22:25:10 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=123#comment-9889 Hello Arjun, Very good questions. Transferring high schools from another country can be tricky. Most high schools will be able to take the grades you received in India and "translate" them into their GPA scale. Some high schools may restrict the number of APs you can enroll based on the courses you have previously taken. Others have a more "open" enrollment policy. You would need to research the high schools in the area you are planning on moving to. With regards to your questions about AP courses, you should take ones that interest you and that you would do well in. You have to find a balance between being academically challenged and still being able to achieve strong grades. Good luck! Katherine Price Senior Associate Hello Arjun,

Very good questions. Transferring high schools from another country can be tricky. Most high schools will be able to take the grades you received in India and “translate” them into their GPA scale. Some high schools may restrict the number of APs you can enroll based on the courses you have previously taken. Others have a more “open” enrollment policy. You would need to research the high schools in the area you are planning on moving to. With regards to your questions about AP courses, you should take ones that interest you and that you would do well in. You have to find a balance between being academically challenged and still being able to achieve strong grades.

Good luck!

Katherine Price
Senior Associate

]]> By: Katherine Price http://greatcollegeadvice.com/weighted-or-unweighted-gpa/comment-page-5/#comment-9887 Katherine Price Thu, 22 Mar 2012 22:19:36 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=123#comment-9887 Hi Patti, This is a pretty common question and the answer is that it is better for your son to take the honors course and get an A! Really, you need to talk to your son about course load vs. quality of life. If he feels that taking the honors level course would be too much of a stretch for him, then he should consider the regular course. Katherine Price Senior Associate Hi Patti,

This is a pretty common question and the answer is that it is better for your son to take the honors course and get an A! Really, you need to talk to your son about course load vs. quality of life. If he feels that taking the honors level course would be too much of a stretch for him, then he should consider the regular course.

Katherine Price
Senior Associate

]]> By: Patti http://greatcollegeadvice.com/weighted-or-unweighted-gpa/comment-page-5/#comment-9847 Patti Tue, 13 Mar 2012 01:31:28 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=123#comment-9847 Okay so know I am really confused my son just chose his 9th grade classes. Has been taking all honors classes and getting A's now got accepted for all honors for 9th grade. I told councilor I was concern about the English and would it be better for him to take reg english and get A's or honors and possibly get b's she said honors B's are more important then reg class A's. What should we do ? Don't want to mess up my sons future college choices. Okay so know I am really confused my son just chose his 9th grade classes. Has been taking all honors classes and getting A’s now got accepted for all honors for 9th grade. I told councilor I was concern about the English and would it be better for him to take reg english and get A’s or honors and possibly get b’s she said honors B’s are more important then reg class A’s. What should we do ? Don’t want to mess up my sons future college choices.

]]> By: Arjun Krishna http://greatcollegeadvice.com/weighted-or-unweighted-gpa/comment-page-5/#comment-9844 Arjun Krishna Sun, 11 Mar 2012 14:08:54 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=123#comment-9844 Hi Mr. Montgomery! I am an American citizen, and relocated to India when I was 8. I am now in Grade 10, and kinda want to move back to the US (for Grade 11) so that I can qulify as a resident and get the in-state fee waiver and/or possibly qualify for a scholarship. Now, since I did Grades 9 and 10 in India, and (maybe) about to do Grades 11 and 12 in the US, how will my 9th and 10th Grade GPA scores be converted? Do I just have to submit my avergae in each subject over that year? Also, how many APs should I take so that I can get into a really good university? I can handle a lot of workload, I think. And, I still don't know what course/subject field I might me interested to do in college. Should I choose AP courses that I score well in, or am interested in? (As, sometimes, I might not be the best at a subject, although I might adore it - this might change though, as evaluation in Indian education systems is despicable, it requires rote learning, and answering from memory, not from our understanding.) I am considered quite a good student here. I hope that doesn't change. So basically, by moving back for Grade 11, would I be missing out in any way? Thanks for your time!:) Arjun Hi Mr. Montgomery!
I am an American citizen, and relocated to India when I was 8. I am now in Grade 10, and kinda want to move back to the US (for Grade 11) so that I can qulify as a resident and get the in-state fee waiver and/or possibly qualify for a scholarship. Now, since I did Grades 9 and 10 in India, and (maybe) about to do Grades 11 and 12 in the US, how will my 9th and 10th Grade GPA scores be converted? Do I just have to submit my avergae in each subject over that year? Also, how many APs should I take so that I can get into a really good university? I can handle a lot of workload, I think. And, I still don’t know what course/subject field I might me interested to do in college. Should I choose AP courses that I score well in, or am interested in? (As, sometimes, I might not be the best at a subject, although I might adore it – this might change though, as evaluation in Indian education systems is despicable, it requires rote learning, and answering from memory, not from our understanding.) I am considered quite a good student here. I hope that doesn’t change. So basically, by moving back for Grade 11, would I be missing out in any way?

Thanks for your time!:)
Arjun

]]> By: Mark Montgomery http://greatcollegeadvice.com/weighted-or-unweighted-gpa/comment-page-5/#comment-9752 Mark Montgomery Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:42:52 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=123#comment-9752 DeAnna, Colleges look at the grading scale a school uses, and they look at the "Profile" of the school, too. So she will be judged in the context in which she is educated. As for scholarships, she will not "lose out" just because the grading system is different--at least not at the colleges themselves. They know how to interpret a 7-point scale. Best regards! DeAnna,
Colleges look at the grading scale a school uses, and they look at the “Profile” of the school, too. So she will be judged in the context in which she is educated. As for scholarships, she will not “lose out” just because the grading system is different–at least not at the colleges themselves. They know how to interpret a 7-point scale.
Best regards!

]]> By: Mark Montgomery http://greatcollegeadvice.com/weighted-or-unweighted-gpa/comment-page-5/#comment-9747 Mark Montgomery Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:25:34 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=123#comment-9747 Hi, Luis. Congratulations on your improvements. The answer hinges on what you define as "good." Harvard? Probably not: you haven't taken the hardest classes. Your state university? Depends on which one in which state. One thing is certain: your performance has improved. Keep it up. And as you choose classes for next year, step it up, too. Take harder classes in the things you are good in and that you enjoy. College is all about academic preparation. What you do today is not only going to help you get INTO college, it's going to help you GRADUATE from college. Take the long view, Luis. Best regards! Hi, Luis. Congratulations on your improvements. The answer hinges on what you define as “good.” Harvard? Probably not: you haven’t taken the hardest classes. Your state university? Depends on which one in which state. One thing is certain: your performance has improved. Keep it up. And as you choose classes for next year, step it up, too. Take harder classes in the things you are good in and that you enjoy. College is all about academic preparation. What you do today is not only going to help you get INTO college, it’s going to help you GRADUATE from college. Take the long view, Luis.
Best regards!

]]> By: Mark Montgomery http://greatcollegeadvice.com/weighted-or-unweighted-gpa/comment-page-5/#comment-9743 Mark Montgomery Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:15:21 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=123#comment-9743 Benjamin, Each college is different. But every college will consider a B+ to be better than a B-. Because it is, isn't it? Thanks for writing in! Will the +/- be on your transcript? If so, colleges will take them into account. Good luck! Benjamin,
Each college is different. But every college will consider a B+ to be better than a B-. Because it is, isn’t it? Thanks for writing in! Will the +/- be on your transcript? If so, colleges will take them into account.
Good luck!

]]> By: Mark Montgomery http://greatcollegeadvice.com/weighted-or-unweighted-gpa/comment-page-5/#comment-9738 Mark Montgomery Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:29:05 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=123#comment-9738 You're welcome. Glad to know the information was helpful. But be careful...As in the mainstream program will not get him into the most selective colleges. Most selective colleges also will look at the rigor of his curriculum. So, yes, an "A" is an "A". But an "A" in AP Chemistry is much more valuable--overall--than an "A" in regular junior year physical science. Best of luck. You’re welcome. Glad to know the information was helpful. But be careful…As in the mainstream program will not get him into the most selective colleges. Most selective colleges also will look at the rigor of his curriculum. So, yes, an “A” is an “A”. But an “A” in AP Chemistry is much more valuable–overall–than an “A” in regular junior year physical science.
Best of luck.

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