Lately at Cappex.com, we’ve been getting a lot of questions about the difference between weighted GPA, unweighted GPA and class rank when it comes to college admissions.  Does taking harder classes and AP classes actually pay off in college admissions?  How do college admissions compare weighted and unweighted GPAs?  where does my class rank fit in with all of this?

Fortunately, we’ve got some answers for you.   Mark Montgomery of Montgomery Educational Consulting answers questions about weighted and unweighted GPAs in a blog post saying:

Most colleges will consider both your weighted and unweighted GPA, and most high schools will report both to the colleges to which you are applying.

Colleges want the weighted GPA to reflect your class rank, as well as the relative rigor of your high school course load. But they will not use this weighted GPA in comparing you with other applicants.

Montgomery goes on to explain that to colleges, “an A is an A.”  Rationalizing the fact that you got a B in an honors class doesn’t mean that you actually got an A if you were in a regular class.  It might have been a hard class, but your teacher still saw your work as B work.  Even though your weighted GPA shows the difficulty of your coursework, your unweighted GPA is a reflection of your performance in those classes.

So, what’s the point then of taking more challenging classes?  Montgomery does give the plus-side to taking AP classes, though.  He says that colleges will look at both your weighted and unweighted GPA:

Colleges want the weighted GPA to reflect your class rank, as well as the relative rigor of your high school course load. But they will not use this weighted GPA in comparing you with other applicants.

In short, college admissions officers do like to see that students challenge themselves by taking heavier course loads.  At the same time, your weighted grade might not actually weigh much more than your unweighted grades.

Still, there are plenty of reasons to take AP classes besides just impressing an admissions officer.  Allen Grove of About.com, writes that students who take AP classes can develop college-level skills, save money, choose a major sooner, take more elective classes in college and more.