Is a 4.5 Weighted GPA Good for Top Colleges?

Yes—but don’t start printing your Stanford hoodie just yet. A 4.5 GPA is impressive and shows you’re not just coasting through regular classes, but actually wrestling with academic dragons (looking at you, AP Calc). That said, top colleges look beyond the digits. They’re hunting for students who bring rigor, creativity, leadership, and something that makes them sit up mid-application and go, “Wait, what?” Think of GPA as your academic handshake—it gets you in the door, but your essays, activities, and recs are what seal the deal. So if you’ve got a 4.5 and a personality to match, you’re absolutely in the game.