Question: When a college/university reports the average GPA in its Common Data Set, is that reported GPA calculated using a standardized methodology for comparison across schools, or do they report the GPA simply based on the way the institution calculates applicants' GPAs? For example, at Allegheny College, they report an average GPA of 3.69 in the 2015-16 CDS. When we met with an admissions rep during a visit there, he told us that Allegheny doesn't weight for honors/AP (looks at rigor separately), but includes all courses (core and electives) in their calculation. At UMass Amherst, their CDS GPA is 3.83. As described during an info session, They calculate GPA using weighted core courses plus one elective each year. At the University of Rhode Island, they use what the high school provides. Seems to me that it would be extra work to report an average GPA calculated in a way that differs from the way the institution calculates it as part of the admissions process, but is that what they do for compliance with CDS requirements? From what I can tell CDS is unweighted, but it's not clear what courses they include, but I assume it's just core. Depending on the method of calculation, my D17's GPA fluctuates significantly, and in a range where it could seriously impact her chances of admission (3.2 to 3.8), so I'm struggling somewhat in identifying matches and safeties (and reaches to some extent, but I'm less concerned about those).
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