Re: Vibes for College Apps!
Posted: August 17th, 2010, 7:53 am
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I don't know the real answer to your question, but I think that if you put down 4.8 they would know/assume it's a weighted GPA since it's over 4.0. Then again, if it is an online application, it may not allow you to put down more than a 4.0. Plus, they'll see your transcript and see all the honors and AP classes you've taken, so it probably doesn't matter much.Native wrote:Thanks again for all the vibes, guys!![]()
On the Common Application, I don't think it lets you report both your weighted and unweighted GPA's. I have a 4.0 unweighted and a 4.8 weighted. Which should I report? 4.0 is impressive, but a 4.8 shows the rigor of my coursework. If it's the same as my class rank is determined, then it's weighted.
Truth. Thanks for the advice! There is a space to say whether the GPA weighting is weighted or unweighted, so that's not what matters. I'll put 4.8 because I'm pretty sure that's how my class rank is computed as well.OZZIE4DUKE wrote: I don't know the real answer to your question, but I think that if you put down 4.8 they would know/assume it's a weighted GPA since it's over 4.0. Then again, if it is an online application, it may not allow you to put down more than a 4.0. Plus, they'll see your transcript and see all the honors and AP classes you've taken, so it probably doesn't matter much.
OZZIE4DUKE wrote: As to ED (nice to know it's being read here as Early Decision and not the "other thing"), back in the day I applied to Duke, Ga Tech and Cornell, all early decision, and was accepted by all three. I didn't know I was only supposed to do that with one school. I wanted to make an early decision, and that's what mattered to me. Of course, back in the fall of 1971 the institutions weren't all interconnected by computers...
Upon further review, isn't the 4.0 unweighted GPA more impressive than the weighted 4.8? I interpret the 4.0 as meaning that you never got any grade less than 4.0, since those over 4.0 (the weighted courses) are reported as 4.0, but the non-honors/AP courses could be much less than an A/4.0, and way back in 9th grade you didn't get a B in some course you didn't care about - you got an A.Native wrote:Truth. Thanks for the advice! There is a space to say whether the GPA weighting is weighted or unweighted, so that's not what matters. I'll put 4.8 because I'm pretty sure that's how my class rank is computed as well.OZZIE4DUKE wrote: I don't know the real answer to your question, but I think that if you put down 4.8 they would know/assume it's a weighted GPA since it's over 4.0. Then again, if it is an online application, it may not allow you to put down more than a 4.0. Plus, they'll see your transcript and see all the honors and AP classes you've taken, so it probably doesn't matter much.
I did. I have a perfect 4.0 unweighted GPA with 5 AP's under my belt and I'm taking 4 more this year. I expect to have a perfect 4.0 by the end of my school year and I hope to break a 5 weighted. Meaning, hopefully, I will have never gotten anything below an A in any class. Ever.OZZIE4DUKE wrote: Upon further review, isn't the 4.0 unweighted GPA more impressive than the weighted 4.8? I interpret the 4.0 as meaning that you never got any grade less than 4.0, since those over 4.0 (the weighted courses) are reported as 4.0, but the non-honors/AP courses could be much less than an A/4.0, and way back in 9th grade you didn't get a B in some course you didn't care about - you got an A.
Any idea what the absolute maximum weighted GPA could have been if you got all perfect A grades in your honors/AP classes? Or did you do that?!!!
There have been reports of some HS kids taking 7 AP courses during each semester (instead of the usual 6 with standard/non-block scheduling) by scheduling a class instead of lunch. Also, some students will take a course at a local college and get a 6 instead of your standard 5 which is earned for an A in an AP class. This can further augment one's GPA well into the 5.XX range. We regularly see the valedictorians in Wake County HS reporting GPAs of 5.3 and 5.4 in the newspaper each June.OZZIE4DUKE wrote:Upon further review, isn't the 4.0 unweighted GPA more impressive than the weighted 4.8? I interpret the 4.0 as meaning that you never got any grade less than 4.0, since those over 4.0 (the weighted courses) are reported as 4.0, but the non-honors/AP courses could be much less than an A/4.0, and way back in 9th grade you didn't get a B in some course you didn't care about - you got an A.Native wrote:Truth. Thanks for the advice! There is a space to say whether the GPA weighting is weighted or unweighted, so that's not what matters. I'll put 4.8 because I'm pretty sure that's how my class rank is computed as well.OZZIE4DUKE wrote: I don't know the real answer to your question, but I think that if you put down 4.8 they would know/assume it's a weighted GPA since it's over 4.0. Then again, if it is an online application, it may not allow you to put down more than a 4.0. Plus, they'll see your transcript and see all the honors and AP classes you've taken, so it probably doesn't matter much.
Any idea what the absolute maximum weighted GPA could have been if you got all perfect A grades in your honors/AP classes? Or did you do that?!!!
Well, my school awards 6 grade points for an A in an AP class, 5 in an honors, and 4 for academic. We're on block scheduling, though, so I can only take 4 classes a semester and my freshman and sophomore years were primarily devoted to completing the prerequisites necessary to take AP's. I took one my sophomore year, four last year, and four this year. Hopefully with the three honors I'm also taking this year I can break the 5 barrier. I still think a 4.8 at the time of application isn't too shabby though.devildeac wrote: There have been reports of some HS kids taking 7 AP courses during each semester (instead of the usual 6 with standard/non-block scheduling) by scheduling a class instead of lunch. Also, some students will take a course at a local college and get a 6 instead of your standard 5 which is earned for an A in an AP class. This can further augment one's GPA well into the 5.XX range. We regularly see the valedictorians in Wake County HS reporting GPAs of 5.3 and 5.4 in the newspaper each June.![]()
Bad math on my part. You are right. I stand corrected. 6=A in AP courses, 5=B in AP courses, and so forth. I think the students in Wake County HS get a 6.25 or 6.5 if they get an A in a college class they take at NCSU.Native wrote:Well, my school awards 6 grade points for an A in an AP class, 5 in an honors, and 4 for academic. We're on block scheduling, though, so I can only take 4 classes a semester and my freshman and sophomore years were primarily devoted to completing the prerequisites necessary to take AP's. I took one my sophomore year, four last year, and four this year. Hopefully with the three honors I'm also taking this year I can break the 5 barrier. I still think a 4.8 at the time of application isn't too shabby though.devildeac wrote: There have been reports of some HS kids taking 7 AP courses during each semester (instead of the usual 6 with standard/non-block scheduling) by scheduling a class instead of lunch. Also, some students will take a course at a local college and get a 6 instead of your standard 5 which is earned for an A in an AP class. This can further augment one's GPA well into the 5.XX range. We regularly see the valedictorians in Wake County HS reporting GPAs of 5.3 and 5.4 in the newspaper each June.![]()
devildeac wrote: Bad math on my part. You are right. I stand corrected. 6=A in AP courses, 5=B in AP courses, and so forth. I think the students in Wake County HS get a 6.25 or 6.5 if they get an A in a college class they take at NCSU.
Duke admissions takes into consideration the "load" you have taken and what is available at your HS. Some HS have hundreds or perhaps thousands of AP courses available (jk). Others might have a dozen or less. They look to see how much you have challenged yourself with what is available at your HS.
Thanks so much Ozzie! Now, let's just hope the Admissions department is as well!OZZIE4DUKE wrote:Native, I am truly impressed with your achievements!
Sounds/looks extremely solid. GPA, courses, extracurriculars, athletics. Any community/church service activities/projects? I agree with you on the SATs. Take a review course or buy a few review manuals and work like heck through them.Native wrote:devildeac wrote: Bad math on my part. You are right. I stand corrected. 6=A in AP courses, 5=B in AP courses, and so forth. I think the students in Wake County HS get a 6.25 or 6.5 if they get an A in a college class they take at NCSU.
Duke admissions takes into consideration the "load" you have taken and what is available at your HS. Some HS have hundreds or perhaps thousands of AP courses available (jk). Others might have a dozen or less. They look to see how much you have challenged yourself with what is available at your HS.
I'd like to think I've done that. With AP Statistics this year, I'll have taken every AP Math my school offers, in addition to every AP English. The only area I've not taken pretty much everything offered is the sciences, where I took Honors Biology and Honors Chemistry and moved on. Not particularly my field of interest, so I decided against taking those AP's when I already have an A in the honors course. Plus, with Student Government Presidency, Varsity Lacrosse Captaincy, and all my other EC's I wanted some balance.
I had a document I tried to cut and paste on here, but I guess it was too long.devildeac wrote:Sounds/looks extremely solid. GPA, courses, extracurriculars, athletics. Any community/church service activities/projects? I agree with you on the SATs. Take a review course or buy a few review manuals and work like heck through them.Native wrote:devildeac wrote: Bad math on my part. You are right. I stand corrected. 6=A in AP courses, 5=B in AP courses, and so forth. I think the students in Wake County HS get a 6.25 or 6.5 if they get an A in a college class they take at NCSU.
Duke admissions takes into consideration the "load" you have taken and what is available at your HS. Some HS have hundreds or perhaps thousands of AP courses available (jk). Others might have a dozen or less. They look to see how much you have challenged yourself with what is available at your HS.
I'd like to think I've done that. With AP Statistics this year, I'll have taken every AP Math my school offers, in addition to every AP English. The only area I've not taken pretty much everything offered is the sciences, where I took Honors Biology and Honors Chemistry and moved on. Not particularly my field of interest, so I decided against taking those AP's when I already have an A in the honors course. Plus, with Student Government Presidency, Varsity Lacrosse Captaincy, and all my other EC's I wanted some balance.
Glad to know that the Kramden Institute isn't a school for bus drivers.Native wrote: I volunteer weekly at a place in Durham called Kramden Institute, which refurbishes donated computers and awards them for free to hardworking grade schoolchildren who have been nominated by their teachers and have no computer at home.
OZZIE4DUKE wrote:Glad to know that the Kramden Institute isn't a school for bus drivers.Native wrote: I volunteer weekly at a place in Durham called Kramden Institute, which refurbishes donated computers and awards them for free to hardworking grade schoolchildren who have been nominated by their teachers and have no computer at home.![]()
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Native, you may not be old enough to get that reference/joke.
Thanks for the advice on the writing style -- I'll keep that in mind when doing my essays. The repetitive "Iwas" was simply a result of me trying to list everything. Regarding typos, I'm using Internet Explorer right now and the reply box keeps jumping the scroll bar up to the top of the page, so it's hard to see what I'm typing.OZZIE4DUKE wrote:A note on your writing style - too many "I was"es, although the list is impressive. Might want to use a bulleted style when you write your essay, or something similar. And check for typos. Using Firefox, it underlines misspellings in red when I type them. It doesn't like "bulleted" above at all... ;)
With your strong math/science background, are you looking at Trinity or Pratt Engineering? Pre-med maybe?
Ralph Kramden was the name of a character on "The Honeymooners." He drove a bus.Native wrote:Don't get the Honeymooners reference, but thanks for the kind words regarding my application! I guess I'm just looking for reasurrance more than anything else -- applying to college is terrifying, yet exciting at the same time.