Getting into College - GPA

Colleges put a huge emphasis on grade point average in admissions.  It is a clear indicator of your academic ability, your work habits, and your persistence.   Whether or not your GPA is competitive will depend on the colleges you are applying to.

How high does my GPA need to be?

Looking at the most recent GPA average data provided by your prospective schools is one of the best ways to figure out if your GPA is competitive or not.   This data is available on www.collegeboard.com.   Simply search for the college you’re interested in and look at the average GPA of the latest class admitted.   Other ways to find out if your GPA is competitive is to talk to your college counselor, or to students who are actually attending the college you want to get into.

Determing un-weighted GPA

In order to determine your un-weighted GPA, simply assign these scores to each of your grades

A: 4

B: 3

C: 2

D: 1

F: 0

Total up all your scores and divide that number by the number of grades. This is the most simple method, though some schools may use a (+) and (-) system. The number you get should be between 0.00 - 4.00. If you have taken AP courses you will also have what is called a “weighted GPA”

Determing weighted GPA, and why some people have above 4.0

Weighted GPA takes into account AP classes.  You will calculate this GPA the same way you did your unweighted, except this time for every AP class you will add 1 extra point.  For example if you got an A in AP Chemistry you will count that as 5 points.

Is it necessary to get over 4.0?

Again, how high your GPA needs to be will depends on the college you plan to get into.   For top tier colleges, you will definitely need over a 4.0.   Take as many AP classes you can handle, and reap the benefits.  Colleges love to see studnets taking many AP courses, and if you pass the exams at the end you can even may even be able to waive a few courses when you actually get to colleges.  Succeeding in AP classes also demonstrates to colleges that you will be able to handle the workload in college.

Final Words

Earning a great GPA is more about patience and hardwork than it is about smarts.  Many people get lazy and may mess up their GPA in one semester.  This can jeopardize their chances to get into many schools.  Stay persistent and know that your hardwork will pay off.  If you already have a low GPA, try to make up for it with a high SAT score, or great extracurriculars.