**Weighted vs Unweighted College GPA (2025)**:.

**Unweighted GPA** (4.0 scale, most common): - All courses treated equally regardless of difficulty - **A** = 4.0, **B** = 3.0, **C** = 2.0, **D** = 1.0, **F** = 0.0 - **Example**: 3 courses (all 3 credit hours) - Course 1: A (4.0) × 3 credits = 12.0 grade points - Course 2: B (3.0) × 3 credits = 9.0 grade points - Course 3: A- (3.7) × 3 credits = 11.1 grade points - **Total**: 32.1 grade points ÷ 9 credits = **3.57 GPA**.

**Weighted GPA** (accounts for course difficulty): - **Honors courses**: No weight in college (unlike high school where honors = +0.5) - **Advanced courses**: Some colleges add 0.1-0.3 points for upper-division major courses - **Graduate courses**: May count as +0.5 if taken as undergrad - **Example** (same 3 courses, but Course 1 is grad-level with +0.5 weight): - Course 1 (grad): (4.0 + 0.5) × 3 credits = 13.5 grade points - Course 2: 3.0 × 3 credits = 9.0 grade points - Course 3: 3.7 × 3 credits = 11.1 grade points - **Total**: 33.6 grade points ÷ 9 credits = **3.73 weighted GPA**.

**Key Difference**: Most colleges do NOT weight GPAs (unlike high schools).

Weighted GPAs mainly apply to: 1. **Major GPA** (only courses in your major, may exclude electives) 2. **Transfer credit** (some schools recalculate using their own scale) 3. **Honors programs** (may calculate separate GPA for honors courses).

**Standard College Letter Grade to GPA Conversion**:.

| Letter Grade | GPA (4.0 scale) | Percentage Range | Quality Points | |--------------|-----------------|------------------|----------------| | **A+** | 4.0 | 97-100% | Highest (some schools use 4.3) | | **A** | 4.0 | 93-96% | Excellent | | **A-** | 3.7 | 90-92% | Excellent minus | | **B+** | 3.3 | 87-89% | Very Good | | **B** | 3.0 | 83-86% | Good | | **B-** | 2.7 | 80-82% | Good minus | | **C+** | 2.3 | 77-79% | Satisfactory plus | | **C** | 2.0 | 73-76% | Satisfactory | | **C-** | 1.7 | 70-72% | Satisfactory minus | | **D+** | 1.3 | 67-69% | Poor (some schools fail D grades) | | **D** | 1.0 | 63-66% | Poor | | **D-** | 0.7 | 60-62% | Lowest passing (rarely used) | | **F** | 0.0 | 0-59% | Failing (no credit) |.

**Step-by-Step GPA Calculation**:.

**Scenario**: Calculate semester GPA for 5 courses.

| Course | Credits | Grade | Grade Points | Quality Points | |--------|---------|-------|--------------|----------------| | Calculus II | 4 | B+ (3.3) | 3.3 × 4 = **13.2** | 13.2 | | English Composition | 3 | A (4.0) | 4.0 × 3 = **12.0** | 12.0 | | Biology Lab | 1 | A- (3.7) | 3.7 × 1 = **3.7** | 3.7 | | History 101 | 3 | C+ (2.3) | 2.3 × 3 = **6.9** | 6.9 | | Psychology | 3 | B (3.0) | 3.0 × 3 = **9.0** | 9.0 |.

**Total Quality Points**: 13.2 + 12.0 + 3.7 + 6.9 + 9.0 = **44.8** **Total Credits**: 4 + 3 + 1 + 3 + 3 = **14 credits** **Semester GPA**: 44.8 ÷ 14 = **3.20 GPA**.

**Cumulative GPA Calculation** (combining multiple semesters):.

**Semester 1**: 3.20 GPA (14 credits, 44.8 quality points) **Semester 2**: 3.50 GPA (15 credits, 52.5 quality points).

**Cumulative GPA**: (44.8 + 52.5) ÷ (14 + 15) = 97.3 ÷ 29 = **3.36 cumulative GPA**.

**Important**: You CANNOT average GPAs directly. **Wrong**: (3.20 + 3.50) ÷ 2 = 3.35. **Correct**: Recalculate using total quality points ÷ total credits = 3.36.

**Major GPA vs Overall GPA**:.

**Overall GPA** (all courses including electives): - Includes: General education, electives, major courses, minor courses - **Example**: 40 courses total (120 credits) = 3.40 overall GPA.

**Major GPA** (only courses required for your major): - Includes: Core major requirements, upper-division major electives - Excludes: General education, unrelated electives, minor courses - **Example**: 15 major courses (45 credits) = 3.75 major GPA.

**Why it matters**: Graduate schools and employers often request **major GPA** separately.

A strong major GPA (3.7+) can offset a lower overall GPA (3.2).

**Transfer Credit Recalculation**:.

When transferring colleges, your GPA typically does NOT transfer: - **Credits transfer**: Yes (if equivalent course exists) - **Grades transfer**: No (start with 0.00 GPA at new school) - **Cumulative GPA**: New school calculates from scratch using only their courses.

**Exception**: Some schools calculate a **transfer GPA** for scholarship eligibility: - **Transfer GPA** = Only courses taken at new school - **Combined GPA** = Old + new school (for internal records, not official transcript).

**GPA Targets for 2025**:.

| GPA Range | Classification | Implications | |-----------|----------------|--------------| | **3.90-4.00** | Summa Cum Laude | Top graduate programs, merit scholarships | | **3.70-3.89** | Magna Cum Laude | Competitive grad school, top employers | | **3.50-3.69** | Cum Laude | Most grad programs, good scholarships | | **3.00-3.49** | Dean's List (varies) | Average grad school, standard scholarships | | **2.50-2.99** | Good Standing | Some grad programs, limited scholarships | | **2.00-2.49** | Academic Warning | Probation risk, scholarship loss | | **<2.00** | Academic Probation | Suspension risk, ineligible for aid |.

**How to Raise Your GPA**:.

**Scenario**: Current 2.80 GPA after 60 credits.

Want to reach 3.00 minimum for grad school.

**Required GPA calculation**: - **Current**: 2.80 GPA × 60 credits = 168 quality points - **Target**: 3.00 GPA × 120 credits (graduation) = 360 total quality points needed - **Remaining**: 360 - 168 = 192 quality points needed in next 60 credits - **Required GPA**: 192 ÷ 60 = **3.20 GPA required** for remaining semesters.

**If you only have 30 credits left**: - **Remaining**: 360 - 168 = 192 quality points ÷ 30 credits = **6.40 GPA required** (impossible, exceeds 4.0 max) - **Maximum achievable**: 168 + (4.0 × 30) = 288 ÷ 90 credits = **3.20 final GPA** (can't reach 3.00 target).

**Retaking Courses**:.

Most colleges allow retaking for GPA replacement: - **Grade replacement**: New grade replaces old in GPA (but both appear on transcript) - **Limit**: Usually 2-4 courses max, must be C- or below - **Best strategy**: Retake F's first (0.0 → 3.0+ = huge GPA boost).

**Example**: Retake 3-credit F (0.0) with A (4.0) - **Before**: 3.20 GPA × 60 credits = 192 quality points - **Remove F**: 192 - (0.0 × 3) = 192 (no change) - **Add A**: 192 + (4.0 × 3) = 204 quality points - **New GPA**: 204 ÷ 60 = **3.40 GPA** (0.20 point increase).

**Pass/Fail Courses**:.

Taking courses P/F affects GPA differently: - **Pass**: No GPA impact (credits count, no quality points) - **Fail**: 0.0 GPA (counts as F) - **Strategy**: Use P/F for difficult electives (protects GPA if you get C or below).

**Example**: 3-credit elective taken P/F - **If you earn C+ (2.3)**: Get credit, but 0 quality points added (GPA unchanged) - **If you earn B (3.0)**: Get credit, but 0 quality points added (GPA unchanged) - **Net effect**: Lost opportunity for GPA boost if you would've earned A.

**Incomplete (I) Grades**:.

Temporary grade for incomplete coursework: - **Does not affect GPA** until resolved - **Deadline**: Usually 1 semester to complete - **Auto-converts to F** if not completed (then affects GPA).

**Withdrawal (W) Grades**:.

Dropping course after deadline: - **No GPA impact** (not factored into calculation) - **Credits**: Do not count toward graduation - **Financial aid**: Too many W's can affect aid eligibility (typically >3 per year).

**2025 GPA Requirements by Opportunity**:.

**Merit Scholarships**:.

**Full-Tuition Scholarships** (most competitive): - **GPA requirement**: 3.80-4.00 (often requires 3.90+ realistically) - **Examples**: - National Merit Scholarship: 3.85+ GPA, PSAT 1400+ - Presidential Scholarships: 3.90+ GPA, SAT 1500+, leadership - Coca-Cola Scholars: 3.80+ GPA, community service 150+ hours - **Typical award**: $10,000-$50,000/year (4 years) - **Renewal**: Maintain 3.50+ GPA annually.

**Half-Tuition Scholarships**: - **GPA requirement**: 3.50-3.79 - **Examples**: - Dean's Scholarship: 3.60+ GPA, SAT 1350+ - Honors College: 3.70+ GPA, top 10% class rank - STEM scholarships: 3.50+ major GPA, 3.40+ overall - **Typical award**: $5,000-$20,000/year - **Renewal**: Maintain 3.25+ GPA annually.

**Partial Scholarships**: - **GPA requirement**: 3.00-3.49 - **Examples**: - University Achievement Award: 3.20+ GPA - Transfer Student Scholarship: 3.30+ transfer GPA - First-Generation Scholarship: 3.00+ GPA, financial need - **Typical award**: $1,000-$8,000/year - **Renewal**: Maintain 3.00+ GPA annually.

**Need-Based Aid** (GPA thresholds): - **Federal Pell Grant**: 2.00+ GPA (Satisfactory Academic Progress) - **State grants**: 2.50-3.00+ GPA (varies by state) - **Institutional aid**: 2.50+ GPA (some schools require 3.00+).

**Graduate School Admissions**:.

**PhD Programs** (fully-funded, highly competitive): - **Minimum GPA**: 3.50 overall, 3.70+ major GPA - **Competitive GPA**: 3.80+ (STEM), 3.85+ (humanities) - **Top-10 programs**: 3.90+ GPA, near-perfect GRE (320+), strong research - **Example**: - MIT PhD Engineering: 3.85+ GPA, GRE 325+, 2+ research publications - Harvard PhD Psychology: 3.90+ GPA, clinical experience 500+ hours.

**Master's Programs**: - **Minimum GPA**: 3.00 (most programs) - **Competitive GPA**: 3.40+ (ranked programs) - **Top-tier MBA**: 3.50+ GPA, GMAT 700+, 3-5 years work experience - **Example**: - Stanford MBA: 3.75+ GPA, GMAT 730+, leadership experience - Columbia Master's CS: 3.60+ GPA, strong programming portfolio.

**Professional Schools**:.

**Medical School**: - **Minimum GPA**: 3.00 overall (very few acceptances below 3.40) - **Competitive GPA**: 3.70+ overall, 3.75+ science GPA - **Top schools**: 3.85-3.95 GPA, MCAT 515+ - **MCAT trade-off**: 3.60 GPA + 520 MCAT > 3.90 GPA + 508 MCAT - **Example**: - Johns Hopkins Med: 3.93 average GPA, 521 MCAT - State schools: 3.65+ in-state GPA, 510+ MCAT.

**Law School**: - **T14 law schools**: 3.80+ GPA, LSAT 170+ (170 = 97th percentile) - **Mid-tier**: 3.50+ GPA, LSAT 160+ - **Regional schools**: 3.00+ GPA, LSAT 150+ - **LSAT-heavy**: GPA less important than MCAT (170 LSAT can offset 3.40 GPA) - **Example**: - Yale Law: 3.95 median GPA, 174 LSAT - Georgetown Law: 3.85 GPA, 169 LSAT.

**Dental School**: - **Minimum GPA**: 3.00 (rarely accepted below 3.30) - **Competitive GPA**: 3.60+ overall, 3.65+ science GPA - **Top schools**: 3.80+ GPA, DAT 22+ (Academic Average) - **Example**: - UCSF Dental: 3.75+ GPA, DAT 23+.

**Pharmacy School**: - **Minimum GPA**: 2.75 (some schools accept lower with strong PCAT) - **Competitive GPA**: 3.30+ overall, 3.40+ science GPA - **Top programs**: 3.60+ GPA, PCAT 70th percentile+.

**Dean's List & Academic Honors**:.

**Dean's List** (semester-based): - **GPA requirement**: 3.50-3.75+ (varies by school) - **Credit minimum**: Usually 12+ credits (full-time) - **Exclusions**: Pass/fail courses, incompletes - **Example**: - Harvard: 3.70+ semester GPA - State universities: 3.50+ semester GPA, 15 credits min.

**President's List**: - **GPA requirement**: 3.80-4.00 (higher than Dean's List) - **Example**: 4.00 semester GPA, 15+ credits.

**Latin Honors** (graduation):.

| Honor | GPA Requirement | Translation | Top % of Class | |-------|-----------------|-------------|----------------| | **Summa Cum Laude** | 3.90-4.00 | "with highest honor" | Top 1-5% | | **Magna Cum Laude** | 3.70-3.89 | "with great honor" | Top 5-10% | | **Cum Laude** | 3.50-3.69 | "with honor" | Top 10-25% |.

**Phi Beta Kappa** (academic honor society): - **GPA requirement**: 3.75+ (liberal arts majors) - **Invitation**: Top 10% of class, junior/senior year - **Prestige**: Oldest academic honor society (1776), boosts grad school apps.

**Discipline-Specific Honors Societies**:.

| Society | Field | GPA Requirement | Ranking | |---------|-------|-----------------|---------| | **Tau Beta Pi** | Engineering | Top 12.5% (junior), top 20% (senior) | ~3.70+ | | **Alpha Epsilon Delta** | Pre-Med | 3.20+ overall, 3.30+ science | N/A | | **Psi Chi** | Psychology | Top 35% of class | ~3.40+ | | **Beta Gamma Sigma** | Business | Top 10% (undergrad) | ~3.70+ | | **Golden Key** | All fields | Top 15% of class | ~3.60+ |.

**Employer GPA Expectations**:.

**Investment Banking / Consulting** (Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, BCG): - **Hard cutoff**: 3.50+ GPA (applications auto-rejected below) - **Competitive**: 3.70+ from target school (Ivy, top-20) - **Non-target**: 3.85+ GPA required to get interview.

**Big Tech** (Google, Meta, Amazon): - **New grad roles**: 3.30+ GPA (often asked on application) - **Internships**: 3.50+ GPA preferred (competitive) - **After 2+ years experience**: GPA no longer matters.

**Accounting/Finance** (Big 4: Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG): - **Minimum**: 3.00+ GPA - **Competitive**: 3.40+ GPA, CPA exam passed (some sections).

**Engineering** (Boeing, Lockheed, SpaceX): - **Minimum**: 3.00+ GPA (most postings) - **Competitive**: 3.50+ GPA for new grad (especially defense contractors).

**When GPA Doesn't Matter**: - **Startups**: Skills/portfolio > GPA (rarely ask) - **Creative fields**: Portfolio/experience > GPA - **After 3-5 years**: Work experience > GPA (GPA removed from resume).

**GPA Reporting Strategies** (Resume Tips):.

**When to include GPA on resume**: - **3.50+**: Always include (strong signal) - **3.00-3.49**: Include if major GPA is higher (e.g., "Major GPA: 3.65") - **<3.00**: Omit (unless specifically requested).

**How to report**: - **Cumulative GPA**: 3.45/4.00 (standard format) - **Major GPA**: 3.70/4.00 (if higher than overall) - **Last 2 years GPA**: 3.60/4.00 (if you improved significantly).

**Example** (low overall GPA, strong major GPA): - **Overall GPA**: 3.20 (don't include) - **Major GPA**: 3.75 (include as "Major GPA: 3.75/4.00") - **Last 60 credits**: 3.65 (include as "Upper-Division GPA: 3.65/4.00").

**Raising GPA for Specific Goals**:.

**Goal: 3.50 for scholarships** (current 3.20, 60 credits completed, 60 remaining): - **Current**: 3.20 × 60 = 192 quality points - **Target**: 3.50 × 120 = 420 total - **Needed**: 420 - 192 = 228 ÷ 60 = **3.80 GPA** in remaining courses.

**Goal: 3.00 for grad school** (current 2.60, 90 credits, 30 remaining): - **Current**: 2.60 × 90 = 234 quality points - **Target**: 3.00 × 120 = 360 total - **Needed**: 360 - 234 = 126 ÷ 30 = **4.20 GPA** (IMPOSSIBLE) - **Best achievable**: (234 + 4.0×30) ÷ 120 = **2.95 max** (can't reach 3.00).

**Alternative**: Retake 3 F's (0.0) → A (4.0): - **Remove F's**: 234 - (0.0 × 9) = 234 - **Add A's**: 234 + (4.0 × 9) = 270 - **New GPA**: 270 ÷ 90 = **3.00 exactly** (now possible!).

**GPA Inflation by School**: - **Harvard**: Average GPA 3.70 (2025) - **MIT**: Average GPA 3.40 (tough grading) - **State schools**: Average GPA 2.90-3.20 - **Implication**: 3.60 from MIT > 3.80 from grade-inflated school (grad schools know this).