Weighted VS Unweighted GPA
When applying for scholarships, it is important to provide accurate and up-to-date information about your academic performance. This includes your GPA. The question of whether to provide your weighted or unweighted GPA on a scholarship application depends on the type of scholarship, the requirements of the application, and the academic system of your school. Weighted GPAs are generally higher than unweighted GPAs and include honors, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate courses. These courses are often given extra points which are added to a student’s GPA. This increases the student’s overall GPA, making them more competitive for scholarships. In addition, some scholarships require applicants to have a minimum weighted GPA. If this is the case, then it is important to provide a weighted GPA on the scholarship application. In contrast, unweighted GPAs are not affected by honors, AP, or IB courses and are the standard measure of a student’s academic performance. Unweighted GPAs are the most universally accepted GPA in higher education. Many scholarship applications request an unweighted GPA, as it is the most reliable and accurate representation of a student’s academic achievements. The academic system of your school can also help you decide which GPA to provide on a scholarship application. For example, if your school does not offer honors, AP, or IB courses, then your unweighted GPA would be the only option. Additionally, some schools use a different grading system than the traditional 0–4.0 scale. If your school does not use the traditional 0–4.0 scale, then it is important to provide the GPA that is accepted by the scholarship committee. Ultimately, when deciding whether to provide your weighted or unweighted GPA on a scholarship application, you should consider the type of scholarship, the requirements of the application, and the academic system of your school. If the scholarship requires a minimum weighted GPA, then it is important to provide your weighted GPA. Otherwise, it is usually best to provide your unweighted GPA, as it is the most accurate representation of your academic performance.
For another perspective, we asked Judge Josh at Outlaw Student the same question — here’s what he said: https://www.outlawstudent.com/2010/12/weighted-gpa-nonweighted-gpa/