Students all around the world worry about only one thing – admissions and scholarships. Well, why would anyone want to pay when they can get a scholarship instead. To achieve it students try their best to score a good score and GPA? There is both a weighted GPA and an unweighted GPA. Colleges mostly look for unweighted GPAs for scholarships and weighted GPAs for ranking the students. But many feel and believe that GPA is not the deciding factor for admissions and scholarships. Let’s see-> Do colleges look at weighted GPA for scholarship?
What is a GPA and how does it work?
GPAs is also known as Grade Point Average, are scores that students gain in their bachelor’s or master’s degree as grading for their overall performance in the course. It usually ranges from 1.0 to 4.0 or is based on the college. It determines whether you meet the standards for the course set by the university or the university itself.
Your average GPA is a number that shows what you scored in your classes throughout the year. Your GPA scores can go up and down all over your time at the university and will change according to how much you improve your overall grades. There is also a CGPA-cumilative grade point average which is scored each semester combined to form your total GPA
There are particular subjects you need to pass in your semester to score credits and complete the semester. As it affects the overall GPA students have to complete the course. Many times students work hard to maintain their GPA by writing supplementarity even after passing the subjects.
What is the difference between weighted GPAs and unweighted GPAs?
GPA being a metric to grade a student for the courses they have taken has its drawbacks. They do not take advanced classes, AP classes, and honor classes given in high school. Weighted GPA considers these classes and provides grades.
An unweighted GPA does not consider these classes. Different schools calculate GPA on different scales. It may be 100 point scale or a 4.0-grade scale.
Your GPA is calculated by your school itself thus reach out to them if you have any queries about its calculation. Now let’s discuss the steps that will help you get your hands on a full scholarship.
The 5 steps you need to follow are:
- Searching for your college early-
It makes a lot of difference when you search for your college early. You can then figure out where and which college you want to join for a particular course of your choice.
- Research about the college-
Research about the college as it helps you get an idea of how much GPA is required to get into the course of your dreams in the right college.
- Keep your choices open-
Do not stick to one college and feel disoriented later. Keep a list of a minimum of 4 to 5 colleges you want to join if you miss another. And applying for many colleges keeps your chances open for getting into anyone of them.
- Maintain your grades-
You don’t have to excel in every subject. You just need to keep your grades to the minimum so that it does not affect the GPA you and the college you want to join are expecting.
- Building your resume-
The one thing that can compensate for your low GPA is your experience and the extra cultural activities you do at the time of your college. Most schools also want students to have these things in their resumes with a good GPA.
But is GPA really important?
Many believe it is just a way to get into a good college and nothing more. And some believe it’s a better way to filter those who are not worthy of their college.
It’s just a way to promote themselves as a good college and make you believe that nothing is more important than GPA to get into the college. Even a sports scholarship is given only if the student has a certain score. Most of the time colleges decide on the course a student should take based on their GPA. But what and who decides whether the student is worthy or not for these colleges?
Conclusion
GPAs – a grade bench that makes students want to and has to achieve to get into their dream college. Many colleges require to have GPA from students to get into their colleges setting benchmarks of 2.7 to 4.0.The student’s skills and merits are often ignored and only their GPA counts to get into college. This, directly and indirectly, affects the students mentally and physically pressurizing them to earn such high grades. But things are changing slowly and steadily. Till then GPA is important, mostly.
Frequently asked questions?
What are the other things I can focus on other than GPA?
Things you can focus on are developing your skills and personality. Join a certificate course and expand your knowledge. Participate in school activities and competitions. Join school clubs. Find a good teacher or mentor for yourself. Apply for internships. They can be a great addition to your resume.
What are the different types of scholarships available?
There are many but mainly classified into
academic or merit-based – given on the basics of your GPA and resume.
Need-based – given on the basics of financial needs.
Race, Ethnicity, or Gender scholarships – the common requirements for a scholarship.
Sports-based – based on the level of achievement you are in a particular sport.
Is 3.9 a weighted and 4 an unweighted GPA?
As a just completed high school student, 3.9 is a good score. You can easily be in the good books of many colleges and even the college of your choice. And yes 3.9 is a good weighted GPA. but if you still want to increase your grade you can try taking harder courses in your interest. 4.0 will be the unweighted GPA of 3.9. Which is a great score.
