GPA: What It Is and 4 Tips That Will Help You Raise Yours
Understanding what a GPA is will help you achieve academic success. This vital number indicates how well you're doing in your coursework and can determine whether you graduate or not. It can also affect what opportunities are open to you in the future.
Read on to learn what a GPA is, how universities calculate it, and what you can do to improve yours.
What Does GPA Mean?
GPA stands for grade point average. It's a simple number, usually between zero and four, that gives professors, counselors, advisors, and others the ability to evaluate your academic performance at a glance.
How does a GPA work?
GPAs are relatively simple to calculate and understand. Most high schools, colleges, and universities in the U.S. use a four-point system. Every course grade receives a point as follows:
F = 0 points
D = 1 point
C = 2 points
B = 3 points
A = 4 points
To get your GPA, you would add the points for each course together and divide by the total number of classes. For example, if you received an A in biology (4 points), a C in chemistry (2 points), and a B in physiology (3 points), your GPA would be 3.0 (4+2+3 = 9/3 = 3).
In general, a 4.0 GPA indicates straight A's across your coursework. Meanwhile, anything lower than a 2.0 shows failing grades.
International programs use a different scale, often assigning up to 10 points rather than four for each class. And, some schools use five points to indicate more challenging courses. So, an A would earn your five points rather than four for the most advanced courses. However, the four-point system is by far the most common for colleges and universities.
Cumulative GPA vs overall GPA
Sometimes admissions departments, advisors, and others will refer to your cumulative GPA and your overall GPA. It's crucial to understand that these aren't the same thing, though they are related.
A cumulative GPA refers to the average grades of the classes in a given semester or term. So, you might have a 3.0 GPA for the spring semester, as in the example above.
However, your overall GPA refers to the average of all your cumulative GPAs throughout the program. It will include your spring semester GPA, fall semester GPA, and so on. Overall GPAs also typically include grades from transfer courses.
That means if you received a 3.0 cumulative GPA for the spring semester and a 2.0 for the previous fall semester, your overall GPA would be 2.5.
What Is a Good GPA in College?
Determining a good GPA in college is subjective. What you define as good will depend on the college you choose and your future goals.
According to U.S. News and World Report, most colleges and universities require a 2.0 minimum GPA to graduate. However, GPA requirements vary by college and program. Some are more stringent and require a higher GPA, like 2.75 or even 3.0, to graduate.
Failing to meet GPA requirements can result in academic probation and, in some cases, can lead to loss of federal financial aid.
Meeting GPA requirements, though, is the bare minimum when it comes to academic performance. A good GPA is one that helps you meet your future goals.
For most students, a GPA in the high 3's is good. A GPA that high can often earn you admission into honors programs and get your name on the dean's list. It will also make you a better candidate for internship opportunities and help you get into advanced education programs.
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Does GPA Really Matter?
Lots of students wonder if GPA really matters. After all, future employers probably won't ask for a report card. And, you don't have to list your GPA on your resume.
However, GPA matters while you're in school and may also have significance after graduation, depending on your future goals.
For starters, without at least a decent GPA, you won't be able to graduate because you won't pass your classes.
With a higher GPA, more opportunities will likely be available to you. For example, you might find better internship opportunities which lead to better employment later on. Higher GPAs also make it more likely that you'll gain acceptance to further education programs.
Though rare, employers will ask for your college GPA in some cases. Some large corporations which hire directly out of college programs have GPA requirements, usually in the 3.0 range. So, if you're considering employment with a larger corporation, you'll want to keep up your GPA.
4 Tips for Raising Your GPA
GPA matters, especially while you're in school. So, you might be wondering how to raise yours at this point. Here are four easy steps you can take to help boost your GPA and graduate on time.
1. Attend classes regularly
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), students who attend school regularly perform significantly better than those who don't.
That's not exactly hard to believe. If you're not in class, you'll probably miss crucial information. You also miss the chance to ask questions or hear other students ask questions, which can help clarify the subject matter.
2. Use office hours
Professors have office hours for your benefit, so use them! Office hours are great for asking questions, reviewing assignments you didn't do so well on, and for negotiating extra credit opportunities should you need them.
3. Stay organized
Studies show that lack of organization is highly correlated with bad grades. This makes perfect sense. How are you supposed to stay on top of multiple classes with the different subject matter, test dates, and assignment deadlines if you don't stay organized?
Use a scheduler to keep track of what you need to do each day, week, and month. Keep your notes organized and easy to find. And, don't let your workspace become messy or cluttered. Keeping everything in its place will help you stay focused as you study.
4. Create a study group
Have you ever heard of the protege effect? It's the idea that the best way to learn a concept fully is to explain it to someone else. In a study group, you can do just that. By explaining tricky concepts to each other, you're almost certain to gain a deeper understanding, potentially leading to a better grade.
Plus, study groups encourage discipline. If you have trouble staying on top of your work, a study group could be what you need. You're more likely to finish your work on time by surrounding yourself with highly motivated and disciplined students.
Final Thoughts
Keeping track of your GPA is crucial to achieving academic success. This simple number is often the first thing academic advisors, professors, and grad school admissions officials look at when evaluating your work.
Though GPA requirements vary, a good GPA is usually in the mid to high 3's. With a GPA in that range, you'll have more opportunities for employment, internships, and further education.
Raising your GPA to that level takes focus and hard work. Taking proactive steps like joining a study group and attending class will help you get there faster. In the end, you'll be thankful for the time and energy you put into earning a good GPA.