Weighted Vs Unweighted
What exactly does it mean for a class or grade to be weighted? Oftentimes students believe that if a class isn't weighted, it matters less. This is not necessarily the case. Weighted classes are typically AP or dual-credit classes while unweighted classes aren't. The main difference simply comes down to calculating a GPA. In calculating the GPA, weighted takes into account the difficulty of classes- giving more "weight" to AP and advanced classes. Unweighted means all grades are counted equally, so a student who gets all As in 5 AP classes would have the same GPA as a student who gets all As in 5 regular classes.
While all of this may seem very confusing and alarming- especially to those students concerned with getting a perfect 4.0- your GPA isn't the only indicator of academic success in high school. Many college admissions counselors examine the coursework a student is taking- and they look whether they are challenging themselves or not. I've heard a multitude of counselors tell me that a B in a challenging schedule is much more appealing than all As in super easy classes.
In the end, my advice is to not pay too much attention to your GPA. Don't focus on making it perfect! Take a variety of classes, challenge yourself, and work hard to get good grades. Your teachers want to help you succeed, so use them: ask for help when you need it and take advantage of the multiple opportunities SRG provides. Talk to your counselors about creating a balanced schedule that pushes you, but doesn't make school impossible. Balance is key!
While all of this may seem very confusing and alarming- especially to those students concerned with getting a perfect 4.0- your GPA isn't the only indicator of academic success in high school. Many college admissions counselors examine the coursework a student is taking- and they look whether they are challenging themselves or not. I've heard a multitude of counselors tell me that a B in a challenging schedule is much more appealing than all As in super easy classes.
In the end, my advice is to not pay too much attention to your GPA. Don't focus on making it perfect! Take a variety of classes, challenge yourself, and work hard to get good grades. Your teachers want to help you succeed, so use them: ask for help when you need it and take advantage of the multiple opportunities SRG provides. Talk to your counselors about creating a balanced schedule that pushes you, but doesn't make school impossible. Balance is key!
How can students know if they are in a dual-credit course? Whys is a balance schedule important to GT students? Why do you think there is such peer and parent pressure around taking weighted courses here?
ReplyDeleteMost classes list whether they are AP and if it's dual credit, someone from DMACC should visit the class and explain how the credits work between the two schools. A balanced schedule is important to GT students so that they can fulfill all their learning needs- including creativity. I think there is a big stigma in having a perfect 4.0 GPA, that it is the only determining factor in how good a student is, but because so many different course levels exist, this is foolish.
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