MCPS gpa scale help

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whitman’s guidance office distributed a document saying that WGPA is out of 5.0. No one gets a 5.0 due to required courses that are unweighted. Some kids get pretty close, though.

I saw this in Whitman's guidance too but think it's BS, because of a 5.0 not being possible.
My DS put 4.0 scale for his 4.6 WGPA.
The AOs can figure it out!

Yup
I am the PP who said that the 5.0 doesn't make sense. My kids put theirs' out of 4.0. Both at Ivies now and both with excellent admits.

To the PP whose kid put 5.0, I wouldn't worry. As the other PP said, AOs will figure it out. They will all be familiar with mcps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would think that out of 5 only makes sense of ALL courses are weighted.

And that is why it is out of 4

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whitman’s guidance office distributed a document saying that WGPA is out of 5.0. No one gets a 5.0 due to required courses that are unweighted. Some kids get pretty close, though.

I saw this in Whitman's guidance too but think it's BS, because of a 5.0 not being possible.
My DS put 4.0 scale for his 4.6 WGPA.
The AOs can figure it out!

Yup
I am the PP who said that the 5.0 doesn't make sense. My kids put theirs' out of 4.0. Both at Ivies now and both with excellent admits.

To the PP whose kid put 5.0, I wouldn't worry. As the other PP said, AOs will figure it out. They will all be familiar with mcps.

Thanks. I am the poster who said I think it's BS. My kid is applying to an Ivy too. To those who used 5.0, don't worry. The AOs will figure it out because they get the school profile. Mine just didn't want to risk a truly green AO thinking the true scale is 5.0 (since some states have different scales). I figure any AO knows a 4.6 on a 4.0 scale indicates some rigor (and they have the transcript to determine what level). But there could be the occasional one that thinks 4.6 on a 5.0 scale does not. I'm sorry - you cannot say it's 5.0 if a 5.0 is not possible. I know most classes are weighted at Whitman (most of my DC's were). But not all - for instance, the PE requirement, and internships for juniors/seniors. So, it's NOT a 5.0 scale.

[Anonymous]

Adding to the chorus - put the weighted GPA and 4.0 scale. Both my kids' high schools out west give this instruction.

Those who say 5 are incorrect, but as noted, it doesn't really matter. Colleges know.

[Anonymous]

But then what is a 5.0 scale, if it’s not a way of saying “weighted”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But then what is a 5.0 scale, if it’s not a way of saying “weighted”?

It's a scale where every class is out of 5, so someone with all As would have a 5.0.
The Common App asks you the scale. It also asks you if you're reporting weighted or unweighted.
So what many here are saying is choose 4.0 scale. Then choose weighted GPA. Then provide the weighted GPA.
Nothing is being hidden.

[Anonymous]

College counselor here. For MCPS, it should be listed out of 4.0, both unweighted and weighted. 4.7/5.0 doesn't reflect that the student has gone above and beyond 4.0.

5.0 is an option because there are high schools with this as the grading scale.

[Anonymous]

Our counselor at mcps said to use 4.0. We had 5.0 but changed it before submitting. Oh well! The courses are listed in full detail in common app for some and transcripts for all so the schools can figure it out.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately, this is why many colleges recalculate the gpa on their own scale. Trying to parse through grade inflation.

[Anonymous]

So why are some counselors saying 5.0? An MCPS one did already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:College counselor here. For MCPS, it should be listed out of 4.0, both unweighted and weighted. 4.7/5.0 doesn't reflect that the student has gone above and beyond 4.0.

5.0 is an option because there are high schools with this as the grading scale.

I agree 100%! But my MCPS school said weighted GPA is on a scale of 5. (W school)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College counselor here. For MCPS, it should be listed out of 4.0, both unweighted and weighted. 4.7/5.0 doesn't reflect that the student has gone above and beyond 4.0.

5.0 is an option because there are high schools with this as the grading scale.

I agree 100%! But my MCPS school said weighted GPA is on a scale of 5. (W school)

They are not correct.

[Anonymous]

Whitman told child to use 5.0 which I agree did not sound correct-sigh. already submitted a few apps. hopefully like others have stated, the transcript is clear and the level of rigor is clear and many schools recalculate anyway. just adds to the anxiety-

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whitman’s guidance office distributed a document saying that WGPA is out of 5.0. No one gets a 5.0 due to required courses that are unweighted. Some kids get pretty close, though.

I saw this in Whitman's guidance too but think it's BS, because of a 5.0 not being possible.
My DS put 4.0 scale for his 4.6 WGPA.
The AOs can figure it out!

Yup
I am the PP who said that the 5.0 doesn't make sense. My kids put theirs' out of 4.0. Both at Ivies now and both with excellent admits.

To the PP whose kid put 5.0, I wouldn't worry. As the other PP said, AOs will figure it out. They will all be familiar with mcps.

Thanks. I am the poster who said I think it's BS. My kid is applying to an Ivy too. To those who used 5.0, don't worry. The AOs will figure it out because they get the school profile. Mine just didn't want to risk a truly green AO thinking the true scale is 5.0 (since some states have different scales). I figure any AO knows a 4.6 on a 4.0 scale indicates some rigor (and they have the transcript to determine what level). But there could be the occasional one that thinks 4.6 on a 5.0 scale does not. I'm sorry - you cannot say it's 5.0 if a 5.0 is not possible. I know most classes are weighted at Whitman (most of my DC's were). But not all - for instance, the PE requirement, and internships for juniors/seniors. So, it's NOT a 5.0 scale.

Are the internships unweighted? DC has an internship and it’s really hard work. That doesn’t seem right.

[Anonymous]

Internship class is not weighted. They just couldn't do that - I mean, there is no way for the school to objectively measure which are more rigorous. My child is also doing an internship (one period). You get a grade, but it's definitely not weighted.