Understanding Rank and GPA
There are many ways that high schools and colleges calculate grade point average, better known as GPA. The most common is the 4.0 scale. This means an A is worth 4 points, a B rates 3, a C is worth 2, and a D only rates 1. For schools that use this numerical scale, the grade range for each letter should be in your student handbook or in your online portal.
To break this down even further, there are weighted and unweighted GPAs. Your unweighted GPA is the cumulative average of your high school grades converted to a 4.0 scale. But, many schools award additional points for honors and AP courses which results in a weighted GPA over 4.0. Your school’s policy on weighting should also appear in your student handbook or online portal.
Policies about GPA calculation will vary from school to school, so most colleges recalculate GPA for all of their applicants utilizing a standard system. Colleges tend to only include core courses (math, science, English, history, etc.) in their recalculated GPA. They also will standardize the way in which weighted grades are assigned. All of this helps to level the playing field and allows admission officers to assess all students on the same basis. When considering admission, schools also look into other factors, but it is important to remember that some schools could have a minimum acceptable GPA.
Class rank is usually first computed at the end of junior year and could be based on an unweighted or weighted GPA. There are different ways rank can be described as in a position compared to all members in a class, think 3/500; or by a group such as the top 10% or 2nd quartile. Many smaller high schools don’t provide class rank as these numbers within a smaller population can be misleading.
Certain states have mandated automatic admission to the state university system for students who rank in the top certain percentage of the high school class. Students who don’t meet this requirement may be offered admission through other factors.
When you understand your GPA and class rank, you can utilize these numbers throughout the admission process and more effectively gauge your chances of acceptance into a particular school as well as make more informed choices about the colleges that are right for you.