How to calculate your GPA

[meadow36]

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I think I did it wrong last year. I have transcripts from seven (yes, seven) schools so it's a little difficult. Can someone please tell me how to calculate my overall GPA and which classes count towards the science GPA (do math/physics count, or just bio/chemisty?)

Thank you! By the way I did do a search but I didn't quite find the info I needed.

 

[teacup27]

I was always under the impression that math/physics do factor into the science GPA. I'm going to be in a similar situation when I apply ... 3 schools at the moment (undergrad and grad), with up to 3 more depending on where/if I take microbio., nutrition, and public speaking. Ack!

On the GPA topic, though,

How are AP scores included for schools that accept them? My undergrad just gave me credit for fulfilling core requirements, with "AP" listed where the grade would normally be. Does 5=A, 4=B, etc.? My apologies if this has already been discussed!

 

[VAgirl]

You just can't go wrong with calling each school you will apply to and asking them how they want it calculated. My experience this past year is that each school has its own formula/way to doing things, and it's NOT consistent across the board. (Although I would wait until this next cycle has begun before asking. Perhaps over the summer, since right now schools are still busy with the admissions cycle for the Class of 2012.)

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

AP classes are simply designated AP. You do not receive any grade (i.e. GPA-applicable) credit for them, only credit that will count towards fulfilled classes for graduation. I've never heard of it done any other way....possible I suppose, but it would not make sense to have a class affect your college GPA when you took it in high school and it already affected your high school GPA. College GPA should be for classes you actually took in college. I came in with 17 AP credits which all only counted towards graduation, not grades. I admit, I certainly wished I had a few "free 4.0s" 😉 but in all fairness, they should only count for class credit.

 

[david594]

So how would those credits from AP classes be weighed in? I am talking about cases where you have credits from multiple institutions. If I have 128 credits from one school and 8 are from AP then 40 from another college. Would I be weighting hem 120 and 40 or 128 and 40?

In general are credits awarded with no letter grade weighed in? Such as if you pass/no credit a class?

 

[hoodle]

my school has first semester all pass-fail, which is nice while you're taking it, and a real pain for applications! Some schools **cough cough Cornell ** require prereqs taken during the blanket pass-fail period to be "uncovered", or else they'll calculate it as a C, which sucks.

Most places are more flexible. I simply left pass-fail credits out of my GPA calculations, such that they neither counted for grade points nor for total credits. I did the same with APs - they're nice for credit requirements for graduation, but DO NOT factor into your GPA.

Things are complicated when you're at a system that uses either ABC scale (instead of 4.0), or a 1 credit-1 class system. For that, I was told by the schools and my registrar to count a one-credit class as 4 credits, a half-credit class as 2 credits, a double-credit class as 8 credits, etc.

Basically, Excel is your friend! Each school also will want their own prereqs calculated seperately, and some will want semester by semester calculations. Once you have all of your grades entered into a spreadsheet, you'll just have to work through those to pull out the stats needed for the specific school you're applying to.