As an aspirant of a college, one of the most important things to look out for is your Grade Point Average (GPA). Grade points show how well your academics are doing, or how it’s falling behind. GPA is a very important Criterion in United States Universities. Most Universities in the United States calculate their GPA on a scale of 0 – 4.0 (Unweighted scale) or 5.0(weighted scale).
Why Is GPA Important
Your Grade Point Average score is used in evaluating your success in school. Grade point shows your score throughout the semester. Changes can be made according to how much you improve on your grade, or fall behind.
Here are some reasons why Grade point average is important:
- Grade Point Average serves as proof of your academic excellence. It is an indicator that shows how well a student is doing academically.
- A good Grade Point Average makes you eligible for scholarships and recognized by Organizations and other financial support programs.
Difference Between a Cumulative Grade Point and an Overall Grade Point
It is important to understand that both Cumulative Grade Points and Overall Grade points refer to the grades of students. There is a slight difference between both.
- Grade Point Average shows the average grade obtained by a student at the end of a semester.
- Cumulative Grade Point Average shows the average grade which is obtained by a student from all semesters or throughout his academic experience in college.
Argument As To Whether GPA Matters When Applying to, or While in College?
Yes, it matters a lot. Some colleges make use of the Grade Point alone, while some make use of other Testing scores alongside It is important to start with a High-Grade Point Average so you can easily improve on it. Some employers confided that their first focus when they read any transcript is the Overall Grade Point of a Student, as it shows evidence of their academic excellence. After which other things like Skills can follow.
Grading Systems in College
The grading system in colleges all over the world differs. For example, the grading system in most Netherlands colleges uses a 10-Point system. The grading system in German colleges used a grade of 1-6, with 1 as the highest and 6 representing “Fail”. The grading system in Switzerland colleges also uses 1-6, with 6 representing “Excellent” and 1 representing “Fail”.
Our focus is on the grading system in the United States Colleges. Most colleges in the United States adopt the Letter grade. A letter grade is assigned a numeric Mark to calculate the Grade Point Average of a student. Though every college uses different grading, the most common is the 4.0 scale.
A – 90% to 100% (4)
B – 80% to 89% (3)
C – 70% to 79% (2)
D – 59% to 69% (1)
F – Fail.
NOTE: There is no “E” in the United States grading system.
What GPA Do You Need For College?
Generally, to get into any 4-year college, aim for a Grade Point Average of 2.5 or Higher (This applies to schools that are not competitive). For competitive schools, it is important to aim for a higher Grade Point Average depending on whether it is weighted or unweighted.
- Weighted Grade Point Average: A weighted grade point average means that A’s in these courses received 5 points and B’s receives 4 points. This is calculated by adding extra points to coursework. A Weighted Grade point average takes into consideration the difficulty of coursework. Most weighted grade point averages are recorded on a 5.0 scale.
- Unweighted Grade Point Average: An unweighted grade point average does not take into consideration the difficulty of coursework. It is recorded on a scale of 4.0.
Colleges and their Minimum Grade Point Requirements.
| No. | Name of Colleges | Minimum grade point requirement on a 4.0 scale (Unweighted) | Minimum grade point requirements on a 5.0 scale (Weighted) |
| 1 | University of Mississippi | 3.6 | 4.0 |
| 2 | Harvard University | 4.0 | 4.15 |
| 3 | Columbia University | 3.91 | 4.14 |
| 4 | Massachusetts Institute of technology | 4 | 4.15 |
| 5 | Yale University | 4.0 | 4.10 |
| 6 | Stanford University | 4.13 | |
| 7 | Cornell University | 4.0 | 4.05 |
| 8 | Boston University | 3.7 | |
| 9 | University of California | 3.0(resident) 3.4(non-resident) | |
| 10 | New York University | 3.7 | |
| 11 | Washington University | 3.8 | |
| 12 | Northeastern University | 3.9 | |
| 13 | University of Florida | 4.0 | |
| 14 | Clemson university | 3.7 | 4.0 |
| 15 | University of Chicago | 4.0 | 4.4 |
| 16 | Texas Southern University | 3.0 |
NOTE: The requirements stated above are subject to change.
How To Improve Grade Point Average?
After going through the list, you might be wondering if you can still improve on your grade point to meet up with the college of your dreams. Here are a few tips on how you can improve your GPA:
- Create a study timetable. Students need to have a study timetable. It could be reading alone, or with a group of friends. Focus on what works for you.
- Avoid skipping important classes. Try as much as you can not to skip any class. You might be tempted to skip classes but shake off that temptation. Some lecturers even give out marks for students’ participation in class.
- If you have a low-grade point due to personal reasons, seek help from someone you trust. It could be a friend, mentor, lecturer, or even your coursemate. Talk to someone who you are sure will help you.
- Do not miss out on tests and assignments. Try as much as possible to submit assignments before the time frame elapses.
- Cut down extracurricular activities if you are the party type. Which do you prefer, partying and failing, or reducing partying to pass? If your GPA is in danger and you want to boost it, then cut down extracurricular activities that add nothing to you.
Conclusion
Students must work hard to build their GPA as it is meant to score you to know if you meet the required expectations set by the University.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is it possible to get into college if I do not meet the required GPA?
Answer: Yes, it is possible. Some colleges consider test scores (SAT or ACT). If you have a low GPA, with a high SAT, you might be considered.
- How high should my GPA be to get into college?
Answer: To be on the safer side, aim for 3.7 and above.
