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Are you a student in high school and are looking to apply to colleges using the Common App? If so, you may be wondering how to report your GPA on the Common App platform. This post is here to provide you with an in-depth guide explaining everything you need to know about Common App GPA scale reporting so that you are fully prepared before you begin the application process!
Common App GPA Scale Reporting: Everything Explained
Basic Introduction
Purpose of GPA reporting: Colleges use GPA as a way of determining how well students have done in their high school classes. This is important as it gives them an idea of a student's academic capabilities and provides an indicator of how successful a student will be at a particular college/university. A student's cumulative GPA (CGPA) can also give admissions committees an insight into a student's consistency over time.
Types of GPA scales: There are usually two types of GPA reporting scales - weighted and unweighted. An unweighted GPA is usually reported on a 4.0 scale and does not account for the difficulty of classes taken. A weighted GPA accounts for the difficulty of classes taken. As such, it will give more points when students take harder courses such as AP, IB or honors classes, thus leading to weighted GPAs often having scales greater than 4.0.
GPA and the Common App
GPA scale options: The Common App has a variety of GPA scale options such as 4.0 scale (most commonly used), 5.0 scale (for weighted GPAs), 100 scale (for schools that report GPA as percentages), 12 scale (used less often), as well as some other scales used by schools that don't conform to any of the above scales. You should choose the GPA reporting scale that matches what is stated on your official high school transcript.
How to report your GPA: Go to the "Education" tab and find the "Grades" subsection. Enter your CGPA and choose the GPA scale that your school uses. Select whether your GPA is weighted or unweighted. Enter your GPA exactly as it is from your high school transcript.
Ask for help if needed: If you are unsure what to input, consult your school counsellor to confirm the correct scale and GPA format used by your school. This is to prevent discrepancies between your high school transcript and the information you have entered on the Common App. Submitting an accurate GPA can ensure that your application is fairly evaluated amongst others.
We hope this guide has explained everything you need to know about GPA scale reporting on the Common App. Good luck with your college applications!
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