3 Types of GPA
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Students all strive to succeed in college & keep up a 4.0 GPA. A grade point average (GPA) is a calculated average of the letter grades you earn in school following a 0 to 4.0 scale. Every semester, you’ll receive a GPA based on the grades you earned in all of your classes. Your college transcript displays your current cumulative GPA. Colleges use this number to measure your overall performance in school and compare you to other prospective students.
There are different types of college GPA that school look at. We will discuss the three main ones: Math & Science GPA; School GPA & Career GPA.
Math & Science GPA
Science majors have to juggle their STEM classes with their liberal arts courses. So even if you’re acing several classes, it’s most important to do well in the core math & science classes. The math & science courses are very important when applying to medical school or health professional schools. These are the main courses that are evaluated by admissions representatives. Most schools only allow a grade of C or higher in major STEM courses.
School GPA
Your school GPA is the total cumulative GPA if the college you are currently in. It includes all the courses (STEM and liberal arts) taken for each semester. A 2.0 GPA or higher is necessary to be in good academic standing. This GPA is necessary to maintain enrollment, apply for financial aid and to graduate.
Career GPA
Your Career GPA is the cumulative (average) GPA of all the colleges you have attended. Some students attend College A freshman year and do not do well. Then the student transfers to College B and improves their grades. Your prospective transfer school calculates the average College A and College B. Some schools do not accept students with grades of D, F or Withdrawal. You must look at your college choices requirements before applying to it.
GPA Tips
- While a low GPA won’t keep you from getting into a specific college, some four-year colleges do need a 3.0 or higher for admission.
- Your future college will continue to check your grades through the end of your senior year and expect a final transcript.
- Speak to your professor or college advisor if you are struggling with your courses. you can find more tips here for STEM student success.
This is great information. My own teen will be going to 11th grade this coming school year, so I know how important GPA is to college entry. In May, my teen enrolled in TestMasters in order to practice improving her PSAT/SAT score. She improved by 350 points, so I’m ‘sold’ on this exam preparation course.
Colleges ask for unweighted GPA on the 4.0 scale. You can only add them up and divide by 4 if you took the same number of credits every year. You cannot get a 4.0, since you obviously earned grades below an A.