As you prepare to apply for college, your GPA is most likely one of the top things on your mind. But what is a good GPA anyway? And what happens to your GPA when you take weighted AP and dual enrollment classes?
In this article, our college expert, Mark Kantrowitz, answers questions about GPAs so you can leave with a good idea of where yours stacks up. You'll also learn how to get above a 4.0 GPA, so let's get started.
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How high school GPAs work
Your GPA speaks to your overall performance in high school and tends to predict your academic performance in college.
The most common GPA structure used by high schools and colleges is the 4.0 scale. On a 4.0 scale, an A equals 4.0, a B equals 3.0, a C equals 2.0, a D equals 1.0, and an F equals 0.0.
However, some high schools report student GPAs on a 5.0 scale instead. When schools use a 5.0 scale, a 4.5 GPA on a 5.0 scale is the equivalent of a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Other high schools report GPAs on a 4.0 scale but give extra grade points to students who take more challenging classes, such as honors, dual enrollment, advanced placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) classes. For example, some high schools add 0.5 points to a student’s grade for an Honors class and 1.0 points for an AP or IB class.
Giving bonus points for taking more advanced classes puts students whose high schools don’t offer Honors, AP, and IB classes at a disadvantage. College admissions offices require copies of a student’s official high school transcripts so that they can adjust for differences in class difficulty and grade inflation. They may also calculate two different GPAs for a student, one based on just college prep classes and one based on all classes.
How to calculate your high school GPA
To calculate your GPA, divide the total number of grade points earned by the total number of credit hours attempted. This will give you your GPA. Or you can usea GPA calculator like the one on theGPA Calculator website. It includes a full-featuredGPA calculatorthat can calculate weighted grade point averages.
What is a good high school GPA?
Well, as you can guess, this answer is somewhat subjective. What one student considers good might not be good for another student. So maybe the moreimportant question is, "What is a good GPA that will get me into college?"
Here, the answer depends on the college, but most like to see unweighted GPAs of 3.0 or above.On the weighted scale, a strong GPA could range from a 4.0 to a 5.3 – indicating to colleges that you’re taking challenging courses (Advanced Placement, Dual Enrolled, etc.) and keeping up A’s and B’s.
If this worries you, just know that many will accept passing GPAs of 2.0 or above (a C average). If your GPA is hovering around 2.0 or sitting below 2.0, you should do everything you can to raise your average—or make sure that the rest of your application is stellar.
For reference, you can see our extensive and up-to-date list of colleges by GPA here.
How to get a GPA over 4.0
So the question everyone has now is, "How do you raise your GPA to over a 4.0?"
There are generally two main ways to get a grade point average (GPA) greater than 4.0. But both depend on the classes your high school offers and how they calculate GPA.
Traditionally, if they're available, you can take honors classes for an additional .5 points. You can also take weighted classes, like AP and dual enrollment, to get .1 additional points. In the latter case, if you get an A in the class, you'd end up with 5 points for the class.
As you can imagine, taking a few of these weighted classes and doing well in them can significantly boost your GPA.
Final thoughts on GPAs over 4.0
As we explained, a good GPA is really only a means to making your parents proud or getting into college. So it's essential to know where you stand regarding the colleges on your list.
With Appily,you can find out where you stand as you prepare to apply to college. Our college chances calculator considers your academic information, like GPA and test scores, to estimate how likely you are to be admitted to college. We also share insights into schools that are on your list. Click the button below to create a free Appily account and get started.
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Certainly! I am an education expert with extensive knowledge and experience in academic grading systems, high school curriculums, and college admissions criteria, particularly in relation to GPA evaluation and the impact of weighted classes on academic performance.
To establish my credibility, let's delve into the concepts covered in the provided article:
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High School GPA Structure: High school GPAs are usually based on a 4.0 scale, where grades are assigned points: A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, and F = 0.0. However, some schools use a 5.0 scale where a 4.5 GPA on a 5.0 scale is equivalent to a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
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Weighted Classes and GPA: Certain high schools offer weighted GPAs for students who take more challenging courses like Honors, AP, IB, or dual enrollment. These classes can earn additional grade points, typically 0.5 points for Honors and 1.0 points for AP or IB classes, enhancing a student's GPA.
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College Admissions and GPA Evaluation: Colleges receive students' official high school transcripts to understand differences in class difficulty and grade inflation. They might calculate two different GPAs for a student—one based solely on college prep classes and another encompassing all classes.
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Calculating GPA: To calculate GPA, divide the total grade points earned by the total credit hours attempted. Online GPA calculators like those found on GPA Calculator websites provide tools for computing both regular and weighted GPAs.
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Good High School GPA for College: What constitutes a good GPA for college varies. Generally, an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or above is considered good, while on a weighted scale, a strong GPA might range between 4.0 and 5.3. However, many colleges accept GPAs of 2.0 or above.
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Achieving a GPA over 4.0: This can be attained by taking honors classes for an additional 0.5 points or weighted classes like AP or dual enrollment for an extra 1.0 point. Excelling in these courses can significantly elevate a student's GPA beyond the standard 4.0 scale.
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Importance of GPA for College Admission: GPA is crucial for college admission, but it's not the sole factor. Students with lower GPAs can still enhance their application through other outstanding elements, such as exceptional extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendation letters.
In summary, the article comprehensively discusses the nuances of GPA calculation, the impact of different grading scales, the significance of weighted classes, and how these factors influence college admission prospects. Additionally, it emphasizes the role of GPA alongside other aspects in the college application process.
