Our nation operates on two distinct GPA systems, "weighted" and "unweighted" GPA. Most of us are familiar with an unweighted GPA, which means that students are graded on a basic 4.0 scale. A weighted scale is a bit different, being based on a 5.0 scale that seeks to compensate students for taking more difficult classes. There is some debate over the weighted scale, but we at Education Awareness are most concerned with how having these two GPA systems affects equality in education. See, some colleges directly favor students who are lucky enough to be on a weighted system. These colleges allow their scholarship GPA requirements to be met via a weighted GPA, meaning that students who are on an unweighted system are at a direct disadvantage for meeting scholarship requirements. For example, let's say a student named John goes to school A, which uses an unweighted system, takes the same classes, and achieves the same grades as Jane who goes to school B, which uses a weighted system. Both students want a scholarship that requires a 3.5 GPA, and both students have taken numerous honors courses. Due to the differences in systems, Jane ends high school with a 4.0, while John ends with a 3.4. This is because a weighted system gives Jane an extra point on her GPA for her honors courses, ex an A is usually 4 points for GPA, but Jane gets 5. Even though both students took the same classes and achieved the same grades, depending on the university, Jane would be the only one eligible for this scholarship, while john would be left out due to the combination of his unweighted scale, and the university not evening the playing field. This leads to students in unweighted areas having a direct disadvantage, and more risk in pursuing honors courses that strive to accelerate academic learning.