High School GPA Policy
Why do high schools weight GPAs?
High schools typically weight the grade point average in order to reinforce and reward the choice of honors, Advanced Placement, or International Baccalaureate courses. Weighting of grades allows high schools to rank students who take college preparatory courses ahead of those who choose not to.
How does Cedarville University calculate high school GPAs?
Cedarville University accepts both weighted and unweighted GPAs for admissions and financial aid purposes. If any GPA recalculation is necessary, Cedarville will use the high school's grading scale. All cumulative GPAs reported in numeric averages are converted to letter grades using the high school's grading scale. All grades earned for high school credit are considered.
What are the benefits of taking a rigorous high school course load?
There are many benefits related to taking rigorous courses in high school, but a few of the most important would be the following:
- Creates a higher probability of successfully graduating from college
- Improves performance on ACT and SAT tests
- Allows for the possibility of testing out of college courses (CLEP, AP, and IB)
- Some rigorous courses (i.e., AP courses) can improve your weighted GPA
How are unweighted grade point averages used to evaluate admission and financial aid at Cedarville?
Unweighted cumulative grade point averages are considered, along with SAT and ACT scores, for evaluation of admission to the University as well as in the awarding of academic scholarships and need-based grants.
Please consult the financial aid website for deadlines used for awarding academic scholarships and need-based grants.
What if I am an international student or attended an international school?
Official secondary school transcripts and/or documentation of completion of a secondary school program are required of all applicants. Transcripts must include at least three years of grades earned, credits earned/attempted, class rank, and cumulative grade point average. When submitting the transcript, it is beneficial for the secondary school to include the grading scale or an explanation of the manner in which grades are assessed.
If the transcripts are in a language other than English or are from a non-American high school program, the original transcript must be submitted to a credential evaluation service. If the transcripts are in a language other than English, the original transcript must be submitted along with a notarized English translation.
The cost for credential verification and translation is the responsibility of the applicant.
We recommend the following credential evaluation/translation services:
International Consultants of Delaware
World Education Services (WES)
Academic Evaluation Services, Inc.
International Education Research Foundation