Comments on: How Do I Calculate My "Real" GPA? http://greatcollegeadvice.com/calculating-your-real-grade-point-average-gpa/ Expert Advice on College Admission Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:09:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Mark Montgomery http://greatcollegeadvice.com/calculating-your-real-grade-point-average-gpa/comment-page-4/#comment-9751 Mark Montgomery Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:41:11 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=338#comment-9751 Sam, your GPA stays with you in calculating your cumulative GPA. But the future hinges on current actions more than past ones. What are you doing now to improve your grades? Will your second semester be better than your first? If so, things will continue to look up. Put one foot in front of the other, learn from your mistakes, improve your study habits, choose appropriate courses, do your best. You can't expunge the past. But you can redeem it. Best of luck! Sam, your GPA stays with you in calculating your cumulative GPA. But the future hinges on current actions more than past ones. What are you doing now to improve your grades? Will your second semester be better than your first? If so, things will continue to look up. Put one foot in front of the other, learn from your mistakes, improve your study habits, choose appropriate courses, do your best. You can’t expunge the past. But you can redeem it.
Best of luck!

]]> By: Mark Montgomery http://greatcollegeadvice.com/calculating-your-real-grade-point-average-gpa/comment-page-4/#comment-9749 Mark Montgomery Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:31:58 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=338#comment-9749 Lara, It's your high school that calculates your GPA on your transcript (and that decides whether to expunge the old grade and replace it with the new one). Talk to your school counselors. If the grade appear on your transcript, then colleges will see it and take it into account. Hope that helps. Lara,
It’s your high school that calculates your GPA on your transcript (and that decides whether to expunge the old grade and replace it with the new one). Talk to your school counselors. If the grade appear on your transcript, then colleges will see it and take it into account.
Hope that helps.

]]> By: Mark Montgomery http://greatcollegeadvice.com/calculating-your-real-grade-point-average-gpa/comment-page-4/#comment-9746 Mark Montgomery Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:22:54 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=338#comment-9746 Hi Sheri. Tough choice. My gut tells me to tell you it won't matter. She already has plenty of languages. Taking another would be nice. But ultimately her admission to the most elite colleges will depend more on what she does outside of school than inside it at this point. If she's number one and headed to engineering, I see no big benefit to taking Russian. That said, if she wants to take it because she's interested in it, that's cool, too. But it's also not "slacking" to have a study hall if that allows her to do those other things that help her stand out. I realize I haven't answered the question categorically, but this is a tough one without understanding the entire context--and without talking to your daughter. Best of luck! Hi Sheri. Tough choice. My gut tells me to tell you it won’t matter. She already has plenty of languages. Taking another would be nice. But ultimately her admission to the most elite colleges will depend more on what she does outside of school than inside it at this point. If she’s number one and headed to engineering, I see no big benefit to taking Russian. That said, if she wants to take it because she’s interested in it, that’s cool, too. But it’s also not “slacking” to have a study hall if that allows her to do those other things that help her stand out.
I realize I haven’t answered the question categorically, but this is a tough one without understanding the entire context–and without talking to your daughter.
Best of luck!

]]> By: Mark Montgomery http://greatcollegeadvice.com/calculating-your-real-grade-point-average-gpa/comment-page-4/#comment-9745 Mark Montgomery Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:18:49 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=338#comment-9745 Susan, The calculation of your GPA is handled by your high school. Each school is different. However, colleges will be looking at the raw grades, too. Hope that helps! Susan,
The calculation of your GPA is handled by your high school. Each school is different. However, colleges will be looking at the raw grades, too.
Hope that helps!

]]> By: Mark Montgomery http://greatcollegeadvice.com/calculating-your-real-grade-point-average-gpa/comment-page-4/#comment-9744 Mark Montgomery Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:16:59 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=338#comment-9744 Core is more important than non-core. But every class affects your cumulative GPA. So the answer is, "both" will affect the way colleges look at you. Also a tip (as you prepare for the SAT): "affect" ≠ "effect." You might want to look those up again! Best regards! Core is more important than non-core. But every class affects your cumulative GPA. So the answer is, “both” will affect the way colleges look at you. Also a tip (as you prepare for the SAT): “affect” ≠ “effect.” You might want to look those up again!
Best regards!

]]> By: Mark Montgomery http://greatcollegeadvice.com/calculating-your-real-grade-point-average-gpa/comment-page-4/#comment-9742 Mark Montgomery Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:13:59 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=338#comment-9742 Hi, Lisa, Every choice has possible positive and negative consequences. As for electives, my only thought is, what is she then doing with her time--if she is freed up at school to complete her homework, then what is she doing with her time at home? No choice is simply binary: this or that? The entire context is important. How does she spend her time? What universities does she aspire to attend? You mention "improving" grades: what are they now? I see no particular reason why she needs to take extra electives in which she is disinterested. Getting good grades is admirable. But how does this decision fit into the rest of her plans: this is the sort of question we help our kids figure out. It's not easy! Thanks for writing in. Hi, Lisa,
Every choice has possible positive and negative consequences. As for electives, my only thought is, what is she then doing with her time–if she is freed up at school to complete her homework, then what is she doing with her time at home? No choice is simply binary: this or that? The entire context is important. How does she spend her time? What universities does she aspire to attend? You mention “improving” grades: what are they now? I see no particular reason why she needs to take extra electives in which she is disinterested. Getting good grades is admirable. But how does this decision fit into the rest of her plans: this is the sort of question we help our kids figure out. It’s not easy!
Thanks for writing in.

]]> By: Mark Montgomery http://greatcollegeadvice.com/calculating-your-real-grade-point-average-gpa/comment-page-4/#comment-9741 Mark Montgomery Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:09:37 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=338#comment-9741 Hi, Kathy. My crystal ball is deficient, I am sorry to say. In order for me to evaluate your chances, I would need a lot more information. WUSTL is a very, very competitive university. One of my main questions would be whether you were being recruited for the swim team. If so, your chances go up. If not, your chances go down. Each factor tells part of the story, and I'd need the whole story in order to get my crystal ball back in gear again. Why WUSTL? What are the other colleges on your list? Best regards! Hi, Kathy.
My crystal ball is deficient, I am sorry to say. In order for me to evaluate your chances, I would need a lot more information. WUSTL is a very, very competitive university. One of my main questions would be whether you were being recruited for the swim team. If so, your chances go up. If not, your chances go down. Each factor tells part of the story, and I’d need the whole story in order to get my crystal ball back in gear again.
Why WUSTL? What are the other colleges on your list?
Best regards!

]]> By: Kathy http://greatcollegeadvice.com/calculating-your-real-grade-point-average-gpa/comment-page-4/#comment-9703 Kathy Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:56:09 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=338#comment-9703 Hi Mark! I have a question I want to ask. Currently, I'm a freshman in an IB school. I currently have a 3.86 unweighted gpa and a core gpa of 3.8. I was on the swim team and made it to regionals on a team for two events. I placed 4th at a district Mu Alpha Theta competition, and a member of FBLA(Future Business Leaders of America). I'm trying out for the tennis team currently. I was wondering, do you think I have a chance so far in getting accepted to Washing University in St. Louis? Thanks! Hi Mark!
I have a question I want to ask. Currently, I’m a freshman in an IB school. I currently have a 3.86 unweighted gpa and a core gpa of 3.8. I was on the swim team and made it to regionals on a team for two events. I placed 4th at a district Mu Alpha Theta competition, and a member of FBLA(Future Business Leaders of America). I’m trying out for the tennis team currently. I was wondering, do you think I have a chance so far in getting accepted to Washing University in St. Louis?
Thanks!

]]> By: Lisa http://greatcollegeadvice.com/calculating-your-real-grade-point-average-gpa/comment-page-4/#comment-9702 Lisa Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:55:12 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=338#comment-9702 Hi Mark, My daughter is a high school freshman. Once per year the school allows each student to take a second study (a free period) vs. another elective. She would like to take the second study to use the time to better study and do homework so she can improve her grades in her core classes instead of taking a class in fashion design, electronic music, etc. It's not that she does not take any electives, as she does, but I am not sure how colleges look at transcripts. If the student has enough high school credits, does it matter if she takes 1 less elective per year in lieu of another study period to improve her grades? Sincerely, Lisa Hi Mark,

My daughter is a high school freshman. Once per year the school allows each student to take a second study (a free period) vs. another elective. She would like to take the second study to use the time to better study and do homework so she can improve her grades in her core classes instead of taking a class in fashion design, electronic music, etc. It’s not that she does not take any electives, as she does, but I am not sure how colleges look at transcripts. If the student has enough high school credits, does it matter if she takes 1 less elective per year in lieu of another study period to improve her grades?

Sincerely,

Lisa

]]> By: Sam http://greatcollegeadvice.com/calculating-your-real-grade-point-average-gpa/comment-page-4/#comment-9701 Sam Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:32:40 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=338#comment-9701 Dear mark I am a freshman who is talking a computer class regular geometry honors English ap world history and spanish 2 I I got all A's except for in math and Spanish I got a b now my gpa is 3.6 and I am rely disappointed and I want to know if that is bad or good plus if I can some how bring it up or will it badly affect my gpa in later years? Sam Dear mark I am a freshman who is talking a computer class regular geometry honors English ap world history and spanish 2 I I got all A’s except for in math and Spanish I got a b now my gpa is 3.6 and I am rely disappointed and I want to know if that is bad or good plus if I can some how bring it up or will it badly affect my gpa in later years?

Sam

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