What is Gpa: Definition and 291 Discussions

Grading in education is the attempt to apply standardized measurements of varying levels of achievement in a course. Grades can be assigned as letters (for example, A through F), as a range (for example, 1 to 6), as a percentage, or as a number out of a possible total (for example, out of 100).In some countries, grades are averaged to create a grade point average (GPA). GPA is calculated by using the number of grade points a student earns in a given period of time. GPAs are often calculated for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, and can be used by potential employers or educational institutions to assess and compare applicants. A cumulative grade point average (CGPA), sometimes referred to as just GPA, is a measure of a student's performance for all of his or her courses.

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  1. Hercuflea

    Very High GPA but no understanding is this possible?

    So I have a relatively high GPA (3.8) and constantly get compliments from my friends about my grades/achievements, etc. but I am worried that maybe I really am lacking understanding in my field. It seems like I have spent all of my college career worrying about my grades and not the actual...
  2. I

    Programs GPA requirements for PhD programs

    I was wondering if most Science and Engineering PhD programs look at the entire undergrad gpa or the Junior/Senior gpa? I am a returning student and my old gpa (from 12 years ago) is 2.04 after 63 credits. I figured out that depending on which path I take to finish my undergrad I will need to...
  3. C

    GPA not good enough for research award in Canada what to do?

    Hey, I'm at McGill in 2nd year Joint Honours Mathematics and Physics. I want to apply for a research award (I haven't done so before) in either maths or (preferably) physics. I had a tough bunch of classes to start with and have a 3.14 out of 4.00 GPA. It looks like an NSERC USRA is out of sight...
  4. N

    Programs Can Switching Majors to Applied Mathematics Offset a Low GPA for Grad School?

    Hi, I am a sophomore who was majoring in accounting. I really did not like it and ended up doing poorly. But I did enjoy the math side. I did well in calculus and statistics. I did a bit of research into the required courses and job prospects for an Applied Mathematics major and it sounds good...
  5. G

    Depressed, 2.84 gpa Physics sophomore, can I handle it?

    Hi everyone. This is my first post on this forum-- I would firstly like to thank you all very much for all the advice and help you give on various threads here; I have found it extremely helpful, and am very grateful already. Thank you! My problem (apologies for the long post :( ): (In...
  6. S

    How hard it is to achieve 3.7+ GPA?

    Hi, I am contemplating doing this dergee http://studyat.anu.edu.au/programs/4660HPHB;overview.html which is a 3+1 year research-focused science degree. In order to be accepted for honors and postgrad after that I have to maintain a very high GPA. I have never been to university so all I know is...
  7. L

    Freshman year GPA (not horrible, but not brilliant)

    My freshman year GPA wasn't horrible - I got between a 3.6 and a 3.7, but I had a very difficult time adjusting to college for a variety of reasons. I've just finished my second semester of my sophomore year, and things have settled down a lot, and my semester GPA was in the mid 3.9s (and I was...
  8. M

    Maximizing Your Science GPA for Grad School: Tips and Strategies for Success

    Sum it all up: Cumulative GPA: 2.8 (so far, I only take science courses seriously, anything else I don't care if I get a D, which has been most of my general courses. I should not have to be forced to take classes that I don't need and certainly will forget about 3 years later.) Physics...
  9. M

    Schools GPA and Graduate School Admittance

    Hello, I know I know...it is not all about the GPA. Graduate school admittance is based on many factors like GRE scores, recommendations, research experience, etc. My question however is: what is the GPA at which admission to a graduate program will be rather challenging? I am obviously...
  10. S

    2 PRD+ 1 submitted PRL vs bad GPA, apply for phd

    Hi all, thank you for reading this post! I am applying to US grad schools this year. Currently I have two PRD publication, one 1st authored, one 2nd authored. I have another publication on some low-level journal. I have also one paper submitted to PRL, 1st authored However I have some bad...
  11. N

    Is NE degree with low gpa worth anything?

    I am an undergrad at UC Berkeley in my junior year. It is my first semester at UC Berkeley because I came as a transfer student from a community college, majoring in nuclear engineering. I had a 4.0 gpa at the community college, so I thought I would do good at UCB and then go to graduate school...
  12. C

    Schools HORRIBLE PGRE score, 4.0 GPA - Grad School a Possibility?

    Hey everyone, I am really nervous about my PGRE score. I scored in the bottom 5%. I am in the National Guard and so I am stuck staying in Texas. I wanted to apply to the condensed matter programs at Texas A&M, UT Austin, and Rice. I attend a state school up in Wisconsin right now. Here are my...
  13. M

    Want to pursue phd in chem e; 3.5 GPA

    I'm going to get a BS in chem e from a top 30 engineering school, and I really want to further my education in polymers in the SF bay area (eg. stanford or berkeley). However, I'm worried about my GPA - 3.50 (3.61 eng core), and GRE score (148V, 154Q practice test that I rushed through in 1/2...
  14. K

    How important is GPA for graduate admissions in physics?

    Hello all, A little background, skip to the end if you don't want to read: I am an undergraduate at a small state university WITHOUT a physics department. I got bitten by the physics "bug" after two semesters of freshman physics and have been delving into the other branches of the science...
  15. A

    Schools Is a 3.0 GPA Requirement Common for Grad School Admissions?

    I stumbled upon my school's grad school admissions criteria today. The GPA requirement was a 3.0 in junior- and senior-level coursework. I was always under the impression that the 3.0 cutoff was for your entire coursework. I then looked at UCLA's requirement and it was the same way. But another...
  16. D

    Admissions What is a respectable GPA to graduate admissions?

    What is a "respectable GPA" to graduate admissions? Hello, incoming sophomore math and physics major here. I'm about to start my third semester of my undergrad, but I have a lot of transfer/AP credit from high school, so a majority of the GPA determining credit on my transcript is going to be...
  17. T

    Schools Low High school GPA, CC or India

    I have an extreemly low High school GPA (1.9) and I could be wrong but I do not think there is anyway they will accept me to a university with these grades even if I have pretty good SAT scores (720 math and 580 reading I belive). So how should I go about studing physics to eventually get my...
  18. M

    Courses Taking extra course to raise GPA

    My GPA is 3.98 and I can raise it to 3.985 which is translatable to a 3.99 by taking an extra course. Is it a stupid idea to take it say for a better grad school application? (The benefit is it will raise my class rank) I'm a mechanical engineering student looking to apply to a top5 graduate...
  19. M

    What GPA should an undergrad aim for to get into a decent physics grad program?

    My gpa is subpar, but improving. Freshmen year at SUNY OswegoUndergrad Coursework: Semester 2 Brains, Minds and Consciousness (3) -A Calculus 2 (4)- C General University Physics 2 (4)- A Principles of Human Behavior (3)- A overall 3.42 Semester 1 Archaeology and Human Ev (3) - B- Calculus 1...
  20. P

    Programs Chances of getting into PhD program (low gpa related)

    Hello, I am two semesters away from my BS in Math and I very much want to pursue a PhD in mathematics. I started off very rough in college and it has taken me all the way until now to get my GPA up to 2.8 (terrible I know). My first two years were awful. last year I really turned things...
  21. X

    Schools Minimum GPA to transfer from Community to a decent 4 year college.

    I have a friend who will be starting CC in the fall and he wants to transfer to a four year college eventually. I've been telling him that he'll need a 3.0 GPA and above to transfer and this scares him. I'm doubting my own words about a 3.0. What would you guys think is usually the minimum GPA...
  22. jbrussell93

    Admissions Grad admissions - GPA vs published research?

    I recently read a very interesting article about graduate admissions written by an adcom. He says a few things that are the exact OPPOSITE of what I've heard. I've always heard that a good GPA and GRE scores are probably the most important part of a good application besides recs and...
  23. N

    How to move forward with a less than perfect undergrad gpa

    I recently got by B.S. in physics and political science from Wisconsin. I may have had a little too much fun in the beginning of college. I had a couple of bad semesters. I got my act together during my last three semesters. But anyway, I have B.S. in physics from a pretty good school with a...
  24. B

    Schools Questions regarding GPA and grad schools

    Hi. I am currently studying pure mathematics in the University of Waterloo, Canada. I am graduating next year and I wish to study pure or applied mathematics in States. I have some questions about my GPA and grad schools in States that I may apply to. If I suppose that I can keep up the grades I...
  25. A

    Schools Applying to Graduate School in Physics Education Research (3ish GPA)

    Due to switching majors during sophomore year, my Physics curriculum was pushed back and I am forced to have one more semester beyond my senior year to take 2 more Physics classes to finish my degree. Right now, I have a 3.21 overall GPA with a Physics GPA hovering dangerously above a 3.0. The...
  26. I

    Will a 4.01 GPA Make a Big Difference in College Applications?

    When I apply to colleges, do you think a 4.01 GPA will make a big difference, compared to a 3.98? I know it's only like 0.03 difference, but it would be over 4! Input?
  27. B

    What can I do with a very low GPA?

    I am finishing my physics Bachelor's of Science degree. I got 50-70% grades in every course from first year to fourth year. Also, I never got any research experience. I have neither academic or non-academic distinctions. Nothing special at all - I was just a thoroughly mediocre student. I...
  28. T

    Engineering Low GPA, beef up resume-mechanical engineer

    Okay, I will be graduating soon with a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering, but I don't have a good, respectable GPA. So without retaking my classes, what things could I do, to beef up my resume? Like short courses in something, CPR and first aid certificate... Is there anything I could...
  29. S

    Schools Is it true that grad school's will disregard a bad gpa if science gpa is high?

    I just finished my freshmen year with a 3.5 gpa which isn't anything amazing. My gpa in the sciences, however, is a 3.75. If I continue along this path maintaining a fairly high gpa in the sciences, will prospective grad schools overlook the not-so-good overall gpa and just focus on my science...
  30. T

    Schools What do physics graduate schools really look for, aside from an excellent GPA?

    Besides obtaining an outstanding GPA, what are the major things that graduate schools look for in candidates? Any input is greatly appreciated, but please do try to provide a bit more detail. Thanks!
  31. S

    Schools Average GPA for Engineering Freshman in College?

    Hey, I attend Georgia Tech and I am completing my freshman year here. I am probably going to end up with a 3.1 - 3.3 GPA this year. I was wondering whether this is poor, average, or good. Keep in mind that my major is Electrical Engineering which is considered to be one of the hardest majors at...
  32. M

    Schools GPA for Grad School Admissions: How Important?

    How important is your GPA for grad school admissions? I study in a very competitive college (top 3 in physics) and, for most classes, even though grade inflation exists, getting an A+ can be extremely hard (top 5%) and require substantially more work than getting an A (which isn't that hard). Do...
  33. B

    Programs Where would I find statistics on gpa by major?

    I never really thought that I had a poor gpa until an interviewer said they won't even look at someone with less than a 3.5 gpa. I thought that was a little extreme and it has me wondering where I stack up. Does anyone know of a place that I could find some statistics on the matter?
  34. U

    Schools Grad School Chances with a Low GPA: My Story

    So I'm trying to finish up my BS in Mechanical Engineering technology, have decided within the last year I definitely want to go to grad school for a masters in actual engineering, just worried about my chances. My present GPA is around 3.23, I'm retaking a class that if I do good in should...
  35. H

    Strategies for Improving a Failing GPA: Tips from a Student Who Bounced Back

    Hello, I am a little anxious about saving my GPA after a failed semester. I received two C's. Both from required math and English courses. What would you do? Thank you.
  36. L

    Schools EU grading system -> GPA for US grad school admissions?

    Is there anyone here that can shed some light on the equivalence between Spanish/EU (ECTS) grades and American GPA? I have been researching this for a while but I haven't found anything official. So far I've come up with these 2 pages, showing similar grade equivalences...
  37. B

    22 years old. Need advice on what to do with my low GPA and transferring out of CC.

    I'm majoring in electrical engineering right now. My GPA is currently at around a 3.0-3.15. I lacked motivation all throughout my entire academic career. It's only been recent that I have been trying harder. I applied to many UC's already, but I know there isn't really much hope there since...
  38. S

    Schools Having 3 Ws on a college transcript but good GPA. Chances on grad school?

    Hi, I am wondering if 3 Ws on a transcript would impact my changes of getting into grad school. THe classes I withdrew from did not apply to my major. On College Confidential I was reading that any Ws increase the difficulty of getting into grad school. On another site I read that if it...
  39. M

    Schools Help? I dont know if I can make it to grad school with my gpa?

    Hello, I am currently in my third year of Mathematical Physics. I was in biology in my first year and in Engineering physics in my second year. I knew my interest was in physics but tried the former just to please my parents. Upon getting into a depression in my second year due to lack of...
  40. A

    Insights on high GPA - for nonprof blog

    Hey guys, I'm a 3rd year studying mechanical engineering. I blog for a nonprofit that helps first generation students get access to higher education; in my next blog, I'd like to have a community created list of advice, tips, tools, and quirky methods of how other students have achieved a...
  41. A

    Schools GPA Requirements for Top Physics Schools - Undergrad Math/Physics Major

    I'm an undergrad math/physics major and an aspiring theorist. I, like many others, would like to go to a top physics school for my post-grad education. I have a couple of questions about admissions to these schools. First, purely speaking in terms of GPA, below what GPA would these schools...
  42. T

    Mediocre undergrad vs. stellar graduate GPA

    I have a mediocre (by my standards) GPA of 3.34 in the undergraduate math program. However, my graduate cumulative GPA in mathematics is very good at 3.96. I have one semester before I graduate with an MS in mathematics. I'm applying to Phd programs at Kent State University and Ohio State...
  43. A

    Schools Worried about my GPA in high school, .

    Hey, I am a freshman attending high school, and I really enjoy physics to the point where I want to major in it, and I have been practicing the mathematics and kinematics of it for a while now. I will have a 3.2-3.4 GPA for the first semester of high school, and I was wondering if that...
  44. J

    Which GPA Should I Include on My Grad School Application?

    I am applying to grad schools now, and I have a question on what I should be putting in the space that asks for GPA. I transferred from a community college, and some of my community college classes go back 11 years. The GPA I'm graduating with from my 4 year university only takes into...
  45. L

    Testing How much does improvement in GPA compensate for initially low GPA?

    I'm applying to grad school wanting to do experimental high-energy physics. My first semester of college, I got a 3.0. Keep in mind at this point, I wasn't taking any physics. I've started getting better grades as my study skills have improved and as I've started taking more physics and math...
  46. S

    Just finished undergraduate with a bad GPA, and

    To give you my rundown, I finished Dec 2010 at a top 20 university with a Math BA degree but unfortunately, did not do very well; I finished with an overall GPA of 2.8 and a major GPA of 2.6. To make matters worse, I did badly because I was a lazy and disorganized student with the wrong...
  47. F

    Schools How much does Overall GPA effect grad school admissions?

    Hey so here's my situation... I am currently an engineering student and I have COMPLETELY lost interest in it. Sadly this happened during my junior year. I plan on transferring to Math. At the end of this semester my gpa will probably be around 3.1 with about 106 credit hours. Assuming I do...
  48. D

    Is it normal for students to have a bad first year GPA?

    I really do think my GPA is going to be very low as I adjust and change my study habits accordingly. The first set of midterms shocked me and I did very poorly which I attribute to my inefficient study habits. Is it normal for university students to have a bad first year GPA and is my first year...
  49. R

    GPA for Tuition Waiver: Electrical Engineering, Power Specialization

    school? My major is Electrical Engineering. I plan on specializing in Power. Currently in junior year with a GPA of 3.52. No co-op or research experience. My current school's engineering program is ranked by usnews as 110-140 My ideal would be to get into a U.C school with tuition waiver...
  50. G

    Failed Tests, GPA of 3.6, and Recovering From Last Semester: My Story

    Hey forum, I just failed 3 tests in 3 separate courses—Stats., Actuarial Maths., and a philosophy course (last one was kinda the prof.'s fault but whatever)—at my university. This might have something to do with the facts that 1) this semester marks my return from taking last semester off and...
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