Most people applying to college in the US will be familiar with the acronym GPA, but in this article, I’m going to dig deeper — to understand the different types of GPAs, how they are calculated, and their significance in the college application process.
What is a GPA?
GPA stands for Grade Point Average. In the USA, it serves as a measurement of academic performance, calculated from the grades you receive during high school. While GPA isn’t the sole indicator of success, it’s a crucial reflection of your academic consistency and engagement.
Your GPA is typically on a scale from 0.0 to 4.0. However, how your grades translate to your GPA depends on the marking system of your curriculum. For example:
| Letter | Percentage | GPA |
|---|---|---|
| A | 90–100% | 4.0 |
| B | 80–89% | 3.0 |
| C | 70–79% | 2.0 |
| D | 60–69% | 1.0 |
This is a simplified breakdown. Many schools include intermediate grades like A- (3.7) or B+ (3.3). Some curriculums, like the IB or British A-levels, may have different scales or weightings.
Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA
Not all courses are created equal. Advanced courses, such as IB Higher Level, AP (Advanced Placement), or honors classes, demand more rigorous study. This is where the distinction between weighted and unweighted GPA becomes essential.
- Unweighted GPA: Uses the standard 4.0 scale. All courses are valued equally.
- Weighted GPA: Accounts for course difficulty. An advanced course (e.g., AP or IB HL) might be graded on a 5.0 scale, where an A earns 5.0 points instead of 4.0.
For example, a student earning an A in AP Physics might receive a 5.0, while an A in a standard physics class would earn 4.0. This rewards students for taking on more challenging coursework, providing a clearer picture of their academic capabilities.
How to Calculate Your GPA
Calculating GPA involves averaging the grade points from each course. Let’s walk through an example:
Student J’s Unweighted GPA:
| Subject | Grade | GPA |
| English | B | 3.0 |
| Maths | A | 4.0 |
| Physics | A | 4.0 |
| History | C | 2.0 |
| Economics | B | 3.0 |
| Spanish | C | 2.0 |
Total GPA: (18 ÷ 6 courses) = 3.0
Student J’s Weighted GPA:
If Student J took AP versions of Maths, Physics, and Economics, the weighted GPA looks like this:
| Subject | Grade | Weighted GPA |
| English | B | 3.0 |
| AP Maths | A | 5.0 |
| AP Physics | A | 5.0 |
| History | C | 2.0 |
| AP Econ | B | 4.0 |
| Spanish | C | 2.0 |
Total GPA: (21 ÷ 6 courses) = 3.5
This jump in GPA shows how advanced classes reward academic ambition — something colleges recognize.
Why is GPA Important?
Colleges use GPA to gauge how academically prepared you are for their programs. It’s often a key factor in admissions, honors programs, and scholarship decisions. However, GPA is just one part of a holistic review, which also considers extracurriculars, essays, recommendations, and standardized test scores (where applicable).
Knowing your GPA helps you build a realistic college list. Many schools publish the average GPA of admitted students. Understanding where your GPA falls in comparison helps you categorize schools into target, reach, or safety options.
What’s a Good GPA?
Selective schools generally expect higher GPAs, especially for weighted calculations. Here’s a snapshot of average GPAs for top colleges (source: PrepScholar.com):
| College | Average GPA |
| Columbia | 4.12 |
| Cornell | 4.07 |
| Harvard | 4.18 |
| Yale | 4.14 |
| U Penn | 3.90 |
| Stanford | 4.00 |
| Santa Clara | 3.96 |
| UC Berkeley | 3.86 |
| UIUC | 3.83 |
| Georgia Tech | 4.07 |
While GPA is crucial, it’s not the only piece of the puzzle. Competitive applicants balance a strong GPA with extracurricular leadership, compelling essays, and robust recommendations.
In the next article, I’ll explore practical strategies to boost your GPA — whether you’re just starting high school or looking to recover from a rocky start.
