The grade point average (GPA) is an index of a student's academic performance and can be evaluated as a letter grade, percentage, or range. Traditionally, they are scored on a 4.0 scale. GPAs are good indicators of a student's classroom performance and academic aptitude during high school. Colleges consider academic performance the most important part of the application, looking at grades starting in freshman year. Therefore, it is in a student's best interest to work toward building a good GPA.
To work toward a good GPA, it is essential to understand what qualifies as a good score while applying to colleges. The average GPA in the United States for high school students stood at 3.00. For students bound for college, the GPA range is more likely between 3.5 and 4.0. What is considered a good GPA? Surprisingly, evaluating a good GPA is not that simple, and there are other factors to consider based on individual circumstances. Below are some such examples:
- High school: One thing to consider is the high school your student is enrolled in. Instead of evaluating the average GPA of the country, students should look at their schools' academic performance and average scores. Their goal should be to stand out from this crowd.
- Course-level: When considering GPA, it is crucial to take into consideration the level of the courses students take. For example, it will likely be easier to get a higher grade with lower-level courses than with higher-level courses. College admissions teams will closely look at how rigorous a course is, and look at the grade in context. Therefore, students should try and push themselves to take higher level courses rather than settling for better grades in lower level courses. This shows the college that the student is academically driven and willing to challenge themselves.
- Target college: Students who know where they want to apply to should look carefully at the average high school GPAs of students currently enrolled in that specific college. This information is usually found on the college website. Aim for a GPA above the average GPA of their current students' high school scores.
Another question to ask is how important is the GPA? Usually, they are considered a key component of the application, and colleges look to see GPAs that are above average. It is also an easy number for colleges to take into consideration. However, there are exceptions to how heavily the GPA plays in a student’s chance of getting into college. Students with lower than average GPAs of currently enrolled students typically have other areas of the application that compensate for lesser academic qualifications. For example:
- Other components of the application are stellar: great extracurriculars, a compelling essay, and above average scores on standardized tests, if taken.
- Athletic involvement: Many colleges have a lower GPA threshold for athletic recruits. Given their heavy involvement with sports, college admissions officers understand that athletes do not have as much time to commit to their academic pursuits. The same holds for excellent performance in other extracurriculars such as music and art, but not to the extent that it holds for athletes.
- Socio-economic circumstances: Colleges understand that students come from different backgrounds and some may have more limited access to resources than others.
- Extenuating circumstances: Sometimes, there are extenuating circumstances that get in the way of a student’s ability to perform to their abilities. If this is the case with your students, make sure that they convey this to the college so that it does not affect their application.
What are some steps students can take to work toward improving their GPA? Below are some resources that can help your student improve their grades:
How to Guarantee Academic Success
Best of Online Learning: SAT/ACT Prep
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