what is gpa in education

What is GPA? 

Considering studying abroad in the us you will read a lot about gpa, so here is how to calculate your gpa and when you might need to use it for applications..

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GPA is a system used in high schools and universities, mainly in the US, to measure a student’s performance and academic achievement. GPA is calculated by converting grades or percentages you receive for an assignment (A, B, C etc) to a corresponding point on the GPA scale (more information on this below). 

There are some ways to calculate your GPA – if you have been studying at a school in the UK for example – for your university application to the US, by using a GPA calculator. 

What does GPA stand for?

GPA stands for “grade point average” and is usually calculated using a scale of 0 to 4. Four is usually the highest GPA you can receive and corresponds to an A grade, and 0 corresponds to an F grade.

How to calculate GPA? 

Students receive a grade or a percentage for each assignment, project and exam. Those grades are then converted to the corresponding GPA points which are added together and divided by the number of units or credits in each class to calculate the average score for the semester. This provides the average GPA.

Some institutions award GPAs higher than 4 using a weighted scale, taking difficulty of coursework and assignments into account rather than just considering the final grade. More information on a weighted vs unweighted GPA can be found below. 

What is a weighted GPA?

A weighted GPA is the grade point average that takes into account the difficulty of the course alongside the student’s grades. As more and more students are taking advanced programmes, the weighted GPA aims to reflect a student’s work in these courses. 

While the unweighted GPA scale can only go up to a 4, the weighted GPA scale is between 0 and 5. So students that take more difficult and advanced courses might find that they score a higher GPA than the perfect 4. 

Having a weighted GPA can show employers and universities that you are willing to take on more challenging courses. 

How do you calculate a weighted GPA? One of the easier ways to calculate a weighted GPA is to calculate your average unweighted GPA and then divide that by the number of classes you took. Then add 0.5 for each mid-level class and 1 for each advanced class (you can check with your teachers if you aren’t sure). Then divide that result by the number of classes you took. 

There are also GPA calculators that can help you calculate your weighted and unweighted GPAs. 

What is the highest GPA?

GPA is calculated on a scale between 0 and 4, so 4 is the highest GPA you can achieve in most classes.. However, if you take some advanced level classes you may be able to achieve a GPA of 5. 

How can you convert your UK school grades to a GPA?

This table helps you convert your grades and percentages to the closest GPA point for each individual class or assignment. 

What is a good GPA?

This will very much depend on where you are applying too and which classes you have taken. 

Different universities and different schools will have varying levels of what constitutes a good GPA, but it's generally advisable to keep your GPA around 3 or more. 

What is a good GPA for high school? 

GPA is often one of the entry requirements for US universities . A high GPA along with a strong GRE or SAT score , can help a student’s chances of being considered for the top universities in the country. It is also important because it’s a measure of a candidate’s academic skill, unlike the SAT, ACT and GRE exams, which test aptitude.

Top universities may have a minimum GPA requirement of 3 for admission to undergraduate programmes. This may be higher for postgraduate studies. However, there will be many universities that do accept students with GPAs lower than 3. 

If you find your standardised test score is lower than you hoped, a higher GPA can help raise your overall impression and make you stand out more during university applications. 

Generally, the higher your GPA, the more choice you will have in which universities you can apply to. 

Ivy League universities such as Harvard University , Columbia University , Yale University and Princeton University  do not have a minimum GPA, however the average GPA of many of the applicants are above 3.5. 

While it is always advisable to put time and effort into getting the best grades you can, do remember that universities will also look at your extracurricular activities, work experience and overall academic performance when considering your application.

What is a good GPA for university?

Your GPA at university will depend a lot on which university you attend and which major you are studying. 

The average GPA for a course that is considered fairly challenging is usually 2.75 upwards.

When applying for jobs after university, employers may or may not ask for your GPA, but having a higher GPA will show your future employers that you are hard-working and motivated. 

It is also worth remembering that some scholarship programmes and some university courses require you to keep your GPA up in order to continue to receive financial aid. So be sure to check if there are any GPA requirements that you need to adhere to throughout your time at university. 

Your GPA for your undergraduate degree will also be looked at if you choose to apply for a master’s or PhD programme. Some postgraduate programmes may look for a GPA of 3 or above, but again this will vary based on the course and the university you are applying to. 

What does test-optional mean for US university applications? Finding your university: UK versus US Best universities in the United States

What is cumulative GPA?

A cumulative GPA is the average of all the GPAs you have achieved while at high school or university. In other words, it combines all the GPAs you have received for each semester to create one representative GPA of your time at high school or university. 

The higher your semester GPAs are, the higher your cumulative GPA will be. 

Prospective universities will often ask for your high school cumulative GPA as part of the application process. Prospective employers may also ask for your cumulative university GPA, as it is a good measure of a student’s academic grades. 

Cumulative GPA is also sometimes known as the overall GPA or average GPA. 

Are there ways to improve your GPA? 

A student’s GPA is calculated using all the grades they receive throughout their time at high school or university. If you are concerned about your GPA, you can do a few things to improve: 

– Ask for help: your teachers might be able to assist you by explaining a topic in another way to help you gain better marks in a course.

– Changing your study habits : altering your focus can help you retain more information and do better in assessments.

– Taking on more of a challenge: a lower score in a top-tier class has a stronger weighting than a high score in a lower-tier class.

– Extra credit: some teachers will assign additional tests or assignments to give students a chance to improve. But remember that overall grades are still divided by the number of units of work you complete.

How important is a good GPA?

A good GPA can show employers and universities that you are hard-working and motivated to do well in your studies. It is a good measure of how you perform academically, but it is not the only factor that universities will look at in your application. 

Universities will also look at your personal statement and the commitment that you show to your chosen course or any extracurriculars or work experience you carried out. Everything that you do at school paints a picture of the kind of student you will be, so it’s important to ensure that you take all the opportunities that come your way while at school and university. 

Some clubs and societies in the US will require students to maintain a particular GPA in order to join them. Fraternities and sororities in the US are an example of some societies in the US that require students to maintain their grades in order to remain a member. 

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A Grade Point Average (GPA) is a summary statistic that represents a student’s average performance in their studies over a stated period of time, such as one semester. Being numerical, GPAs are often calculated to two decimals. They are used as indicators of whether levels of student performance meet some fixed criterion, and for sorting groups of students into rank order.

However, grading scales differ considerably across institutions and countries. Conversion tables are usually available for comparing grades and GPAs within countries and internationally.

When an entire study program is organised as a collection of “units”, each period of time gives rise to its own GPA. The most common study period for a course is one semester, usually 12-15 weeks of class. If a full-time student enrols in four courses in a particular semester, the GPA is calculated as the average performance over those four courses.

How is a GPA calculated?

A student’s level of attainment in a course is typically represented by a grade chosen from a set of approved ordered symbols. Depending on the institution’s preferences, the grade labels may take the form of letters (A, B, C, D…), descriptive terms (Distinction, Honour, Credit, Pass, Fail), or numerals on an arbitrary scale (7, 6,…, 1).

For a GPA to be calculated, all letter and word labels must be given numerical equivalents, such as A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0; D = 1.0 and F = 0.0. The numerals are deemed to represent genuine measurements and, under this assumption, facilitate the calculation of GPAs.

The GPA is the “weighted average” of course grades calculated over the defined period of study. The weights reflect the relative contributions of courses to the program measured in arbitrary units, called “credit value”, based on contact hours or presumed total student workload. Each course has a credit value or “weight” approved by the institution.

As an example of how a GPA is calculated, suppose a student enrols in four courses in a particular semester. Three of these are designated as “five credit” courses but the fourth is designated a “ten credit” course because the academic demands involved are about double those of the other courses. The student receives grades of A, B and B in the three five-credit courses and an A in the ten-credit course.

The first step in calculating the GPA is to multiply the credit value of each course by the respective grade’s numerical equivalent.

Symbolically, using the equivalence scale above, this is as follows:

The second step is to divide that aggregate (90.0) by the total number of credits for all the courses studied in that semester (25) to give a GPA of (90.0/25) = 3.6.

Only the relativities of the weights assigned to the various courses matter in a GPA calculation. Suppose the student had studied exactly the same courses at another institution and received the same grades – the same grade scale with the same numerical equivalents. The GPA would come out exactly the same (3.6) even if the second institution used 20, 20, 20, and 40 to represent its course weights instead of 5, 5, 5 and 10.

A related statistic, the “cumulative GPA”, uses the same calculation formula but takes into account all studies completed from the time of enrolment in an academic program up to the time of calculation. Many academic transcripts show details of the grade scale used, a GPA for each semester and a running (cumulative) GPA for all studies up to that point. Institutions differ in how they treat pass/fail courses, fail grades and transfer credits.

What use are GPAs?

GPAs often serve as input data for decisions on: progression through degree programs; admission to advanced studies; rankings for prizes, medals, honours and scholarships; determinations of degree classification; and accreditation and quality assurance. Too low a GPA, or too many marginal or failing grades, may prevent a student from continuing. Consistently poor performance may lead to a period of exclusion from the degree program or the institution.

It is hard to find clear evidence that potential employers place significant emphasis on GPAs in hiring decisions, although in general they like to know the GPA. Probably more important would be the graduate’s pattern of grades attained in courses that make up the major.

Basing decisions on grades gives the appearance of being both objective and meritocratic. A notable weakness of GPAs is that their basic input data are derived from course grades. The relationship between the grade awarded and a student’s actual level of achievement is not assured.

This means there is no guarantee that course grades are comparable. Pooling grades (for a GPA) does nothing to improve that. However, using GPAs almost always delivers administrative solutions when required, so there usually is in practice little incentive to place the grades themselves under close scrutiny.

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Grade Point Average

A grade point average is a number representing the average value of the accumulated final grades earned in courses over time. More commonly called a GPA , a student’s grade point average is calculated by adding up all accumulated final grades and dividing that figure by the number of grades awarded. This calculation results in a mathematical mean—or average—of all final grades. The most common form of GPA is based on a 0 to 4.0 scale (A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, and F = 0), with a 4.0 representing a “perfect” GPA—or a student having earned straight As in every course. Schools may also assign partial points for “plus” or “minus” letter grades, such as a 3.7 for an A–, a 3.3 for a B+, and so on. GPAs may be calculated at the end of a course, semester, or grade level, and a “cumulative GPA” represents an average of all final grades individual students earned from the time they first enrolled in a school to the completion of their education.

In some schools, weighted-grade systems are used in GPA calculations, and they give students a numerical advantage for grades earned in higher-level courses, such as honors courses or Advanced Placement courses, or for completing more challenging learning experiences. In weighted-grade systems, an A in a higher-level course might be awarded a 4.5 or 5.0, for example, while an A in a lower-level course is awarded a 4.0 (yet weighted grading systems vary widely in design and methodology).

A student’s GPA is often used to determine academic honors, such as honor roll, class rank , or Latin honors. GPAs have been one of several major factors used by colleges, postsecondary programs, and employers to assess a student’s overall academic record.

In public schools, grading systems and GPA scales may vary significantly from one school or school district to the next. When investigating or reporting on grading systems, class rank, or other academic honors, it is important to determine specifically how grades and GPAs are calculated, and what evaluation criteria was used to measure academic performance and award grades.

While the use of grade point averages has been common in public schools for decades, critics of the practice may argue that averaging grades over a semester, year, or school tenure can misrepresent student learning, particularly learning growth over time, and that it can adversely affect a student’s academic performance, educational confidence, and sense of self-worth. Since the arguments against the use of GPAs are complex and nuanced, see class rank , grade averaging , weighted grades , and proficiency-based learning for more detailed discussions.

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What a Good College GPA Is and Why It Matters

A college GPA factors into financial aid and scholarships eligibility, program admission and graduation.

Why Your College GPA Matters

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Repeating a course is one way for college students to boost their GPA.

Grade-point average can be a critical determinant in what comes next for a high school student, with college admissions and financial aid often on the line. The same holds true for a college student, as minimum grades are often necessary for getting into certain majors and graduate school and for maintaining scholarships and other aid.

Students' primary focus in college should be on the process of learning and not just on their GPA, says Susan Whorton, director of the Academic Success Center at Clemson University in South Carolina. But maintaining a high GPA can make life easier for students while they're in college, and after they graduate and apply for jobs or graduate school.

“GPA isn’t really a reflection of learning, it’s a reflection of how a student did on the assessments in that course,” Whorton says. “It’s about navigating the academic environment that currently exists." At minimum, experts say, students must generally meet a GPA standard of 2.0, or a C average, on a 4.0 scale to graduate and remain eligible for federal financial aid. Institutional scholarships and program enrollment at many colleges often hinge on academic achievement above a C average. For students with a GPA below 2.0, the fallout can be dire, and students can end up on academic probation .

"As soon as a student is placed on probation, they’re invited to meet with an academic adviser to start working on a plan to get back into good academic standing," Luke Wood, vice president of student affairs and campus diversity at San Diego State University in California, wrote in an email. "There is risk of disqualification if a student’s cumulative GPA does not improve, so we want to be sure the student understands the potential repercussions, but more importantly, that we can work with them on a sustainable plan to improve their academic performance."

What Is a Good GPA in College?

In general, colleges operate on a standard grading scale similar to what students are used to in K-12, though certain programs may operate on a stricter scale.

At SDSU, for example, students are considered "in good academic standing" when their overall cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher, Wood says. Wood describes academic probation as a period when "a student's academic performance is below the state minimum required for graduation" and "improvement is required." Students at SDSU are placed on probation at the end of the semester when their GPA is less than 2.0, or below a C average.

In addition to potential dismissal from the university, federal financial aid may also be rescinded if a student continues to fall short of minimum GPA standards.

For students in danger of academic punishment, SDSU offers a "Bounce Back" retention program – a one-unit course that helps students improve time management, test taking, study skills and dealing with adversity, Wood says.

The U.S. Department of Education website notes that students who failed to meet GPA requirements and lost their financial aid should contact their school to determine whether they can appeal the decision to withhold financial aid. To have aid restored, a student must meet the "school's standards for satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or certificate offered by that institution," the website states.

Some Scholarships, Programs May Require Higher GPAs

While experts say a 2.0 GPA is generally the minimum to receive federal aid and meet graduation requirements, individual scholarships and programs often demand more from a student.

At West Virginia University , for example, a 2.0 GPA isn't high enough for students to graduate from or even gain admission into certain undergraduate programs, such as pre-nursing.

SDSU requires its nursing students to maintain a 3.0 GPA, which is at least a B average, in general education courses as well as certain science classes.

"It can depend on student level, program and various circumstances, but we generally like to see students with 3.0+ GPAs at a minimum," Wood says.

Some colleges offer direct admission into programs but may require a strong high school GPA . Experts say prior to applying to colleges, students should focus on making their GPA as strong as possible. A low mark in certain areas could require students to take remedial classes at the college level, which often don't count toward credits but still take up time and cost money.

While anything above a 2.0 at the college level might show satisfactory academic progress, students must earn higher marks to qualify for the dean's list and honors programs , notes Patrick Register, director of the financial aid and scholarships office at the University of California—Santa Cruz .

To be named to the dean's list at SDSU, for example, a student "must be in good academic standing and achieve a 3.50 GPA or greater based on a minimum of 12 units of credit for courses in which letter grades were assigned," Wood says.

Experts say a 4.0 GPA, which is straight A's, can be difficult to maintain throughout college.

"Unless a student is very focused from the beginning … that is going to be a difficult challenge," says Sherry Tignor, executive director of the Center for Academic Success and Student Life at Union University in Tennessee.

For college students with graduate school ambitions, a low GPA can be problematic, experts say, with many graduate programs having minimum standards for admission. Entering graduate school with a high GPA can open doors for potential awards and scholarships, Register says.

While requirements aren't universal, with individual schools setting varying standards, many require a minimum GPA of 3.0 for admission into a graduate program. "Many grad school programs are very competitive," Tignor says.

Ways to Raise Your College GPA

Students looking to boost their college GPA have options, though sometimes those can include repeating courses and making sacrifices.

“It’s about a student asking themselves, ‘What are my priorities?’” Whorton says. “What’s most important to me? If I want to get into that major that has a GPA requirement, then what do I need to do to attain that GPA? How do I set myself up to achieve the GPA that I need?"

For some students, that might mean prioritizing studying over social events, seeing a tutor or academic coach, or making changes to how they manage their time, she says. Depending on the academic hole a student is in, it might require some digging.

“It’s really about understanding their goals and what steps they’re willing to take to get there,” Whorton says.

A good way for students to rehabilitate a GPA is to retake courses they received a low grade in, Register says, though there are some conditions. For example, Register says, some courses may be repeated only a certain number of times, particularly if a student has earned a passing grade such as a D. Policies governing how many times coursework can be repeated may vary by school.

Another good corrective plan is to attend tutoring regularly, Whorton says, adding that it can also serve as a preventive measure for students already in good academic standing.

“A good analogy would be college athletics,” she says. "The top athletes get coaching every single day. The best quarterbacks, or the best linebackers, they want to get better every single day. They get coaching. They partner with somebody who can help them achieve their fullest potential."

Experts cite numerous reasons students may have a low GPA, such as struggling to adapt to the faster pace and higher workload of college academics, attempting difficult combinations of classes in the same semester, illness, family issues, employment and the adjustment to college from a highly structured high school environment.

While much of the responsibility falls on students to either maintain their grades or seek help when needed, Wood says universities need to make sure plenty of support is offered to those who are struggling.

"Sometimes student performance is a result of gaps in university support systems, and effective teaching and learning practices at the university or college may well not be in place for all student groups," he says.

Experts say struggling students should proactively reach out for help . Whorton says students should view it as "productive struggle" and challenges students to embrace opportunities to improve.

Likewise, Wood encourages students to look past whatever stigma they might feel about seeking help from campus resources, whether that is tutoring, advising or one-on-one discussions with faculty and staff members.

"One of the most important lessons that we eventually learn in life is that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but one of strength," he says.

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What is a GPA?

When you’re enrolled in the United States for a bachelor’s or master’s degree , your GPA is one of the most important numbers to keep an eye on. It is key to your status as a student in "good standing,” continued enrollment in your major, future financial aid, which requires satisfactory academic progress, maybe scholarship eligibility, future employment opportunities, eligibility for college athletic teams, and more.

GPA stands for “grade point average” and is a standardized way of measuring academic achievement in the U.S on a scale of 0 to 4. If your country's grading system is percentage-based or letter-based, you may be able to calculate your GPA — however, most systems outside the U.S. do not use this scale. 

What do these numbers mean? 

Each course is given a certain number of "units" or "credits," as designated by your school, depending on the importance of the course. In secondary school, most courses carry the same number of units, but this is not true at the college level. 

Most college courses have a value of 3 units (approximately three hours of lecture and six hours of homework per week for each semester), but that number can hold a value from 1 to 5 depending on the course. GPA assumes a grading scale of A, B, C, D, and F. Each grade is assigned a number of grade points. An A grade receives 4 points, a B=3, a C=2, a D=1, and an F=0. 

Here are other articles you may find helpful:

• Tips for International Students Who Have a Low GPA 
• How to Write an Illustrative Essay to Get an A+ Grade
• Understanding the American Education System
• Handling Grade Disputes: A Guide

How do I calculate my GPA?

If you take a 3-unit class and receive an A grade, you receive 3 units times 4 points (for the A), which gives a total of 12-grade points for the course. Let's say you also take a 4-unit class (common in mathematics, for example) and receive a C grade. That's 4 units times 2 points for a total of 8 points. 

So for your two classes, you have accumulated 20-grade points for the 7 units. You then divide the cumulative grade points by the number of units and you have your GPA. (20/7 = 2.86), so your GPA is 2.86, which is slightly less than a B average.

What are the GPA requirements for admission into U.S. institutions? 

The minimum GPA requirement to study abroad varies depending on the school, but a 2.0 GPA is typically the lowest you will find. However, finding admission with such low averages will prove difficult. To be a competitive candidate at most American institutions, we recommend maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA — and making it 3.5 if you’re looking for admission into prestigious universities. 

That is not to say that if you don’t have a high GPA you won’t get accepted into an American institution. Your grade point average is only one part of the criteria that you will be measured on. The culmination of your experiences, your standardized test scores, and a number of other factors will be used to determine your eligibility. 

If you lack in one area (i.e. low standardized test scores) but make up for it in another, such as maintaining a consistently high GPA, it can help mitigate any negative aspects of your candidacy. 

How does my GPA affect me as an international student in the U.S.?

Your GPA is not only important in helping you gain admission into U.S. colleges and universities, but it’s also vital in helping you stay there. If you are unable to maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA over the course of a semester, you will be placed on academic probation. Failure to raise your GPA to above 2.0 within the time frame that your school provides will lead to the termination of your study abroad. You will be notified that you will have to leave the U.S. within a designated period. 

On the other hand, maintaining a high GPA can open opportunities for you during your study abroad experience and beyond. Your GPA is a testament to your work ethic and inspires trust in your ability to lead the next generation. With high scores, you can apply to and receive a number of performance-based scholarships, position yourself to further your studies, find quality internships, or gain the experiences necessary to make a seamless transition into post-graduate life. 

How do I raise my GPA?

Raising your GPA requires earning consistently better grades than your current average. Here are a few strategies you can use to do that:

Retake old classes: Your GPA is more than likely being weighed down by classes in which you performed poorly. Certain colleges and universities will allow you to retake credits, giving you the opportunity to turn a bad grade into a good one. 

Build a better schedule: Don’t take all of your required, challenging classes at once. You have the ability to make your own schedule, so build in a healthy mix of hard classes with easier ones. 

Get organized: Between school, work, and extracurricular activities, being a student can take up a lot of your time. As stressful as a packed schedule can be, it is possible to succeed if you have the right strategy. 

Speak with your teachers: Struggling to understand the material? Have a reason you didn’t perform to the best of your abilities? Teachers want you to succeed, and they’ll work with you to find a solution to your problems. 

For more tips, see other related articles below:

• Having A Studious Roommate May Raise Your Grades
• More Sleep Means Higher Grades
• Common Grad School Tests and Tips for Success
• Improve Test-Taking Scores: Learn From Your Mistakes

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Your grade point average (GPA) is the sum of all your course grades throughout your high school career divided by the total number of credits. Most high schools (and colleges) report grades on a 4.0 scale. The top grade, an A, equals a 4.0.

Why is a Good GPA Important?

We receive data from schools every year, and from that we know there are two factors that weigh most heavily in college admission:

• Your high school GPA
• Rigor of your high school curriculum

( Standardized test scores, like those from the SAT and ACT, are a close third.)

What is a Good GPA?

The answer to this depends on where you want to go to college. Check out the GPA ranges for accepted students to the schools on your wishlist, and see how your grades compare. Use our  college search  to research schools that interest you or grab a copy of our book Best 384 Colleges   to help you find your best-fit school.

Colleges will also consider the rigor of your high school schedule . Did you take Honors and AP courses when they were available? Were you enrolled in your high school’s IB program? Besides doing well in the courses you took, colleges want to see that you are challenging yourself academically.

Since GPA is so important, here's a simple chart that shows how to convert your letter grades to the 4.0 scale

Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA

An unweighted GPA is the average of all your grades on the 4.0 scale above.

Some high schools use a weighted GPA scale, which gives more points (greater "weight") to grades in accelerated courses like Honors Biology or AP French. So, while a B might normally equal a 3.0, a B in an AP class would be more like a 3.3 on a weighted scale.

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Great Grades Can Equal Financial Aid

Your GPA will help you get in, but in these budget-tight times, great grades can also translate directly into dollars and cents. As Kal Chaney attests in our book Paying for College , “Every tenth of a point a student raises her high school GPA can save her thousands of dollars in student loans she won’t have to pay back later.”

Even at schools where students are awarded aid based only on their financial need , applicants with high academic achievement get preferential packaging. (Their award packages have a higher percentage of grants and a lower percentage of loans.) Some colleges offer full scholarships for great GPAs. There are other schools (more and more in recent years) that give out large merit-based grants, regardless of need. These grants are not necessarily just for 4.0 students, either! We know of several colleges that award merit-based grants for students with B averages.

Get Your Grades Up—and Keep Them That Way!

Senioritis is real, but colleges keep an eye on your grades even after you’re accepted. So don't think you can let your grades sink once that acceptance letter hits your mailbox! Plus, if you were waitlisted for your dream school, keeping your GPA up could boost your chances of  getting off of it .

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Grade Point Average (GPA): Its Definition, Importance, and Conversion

GPA stands for Grade Point Average. This is used to measure the academic achievement of students in the United States. It is a number that shows a student’s overall grade performance on average. It shows whether a student has performed well or not. The GPA is also used when applying for undergraduate and graduate studies along with admission tests. Universities use this to evaluate one’s comprehensive standing in school and compare with other applicants.

What does GPA mean?

GPA is an abbreviation for Grade Point Average.

What is a good GPA in high school?

A score of 3.0 or B average is a good GPA in high school. This score is usually the minimum requirement of most universities or colleges. A good GPA in high school also depends on your prospective college major. Math and science majors are most likely to require a higher GPA.

What is a good GPA in college?

A score of 3.7 or higher is a good GPA in college. It is ideal to have a higher GPA in major classes.

What are the differences between CGPA and GPA?

The differences between CGPA and GPA are the following:

The differences between Grade Point Average (GPA) and Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) are presented in the table above. These two terms are generally heard in the education setting and are used in the grading system. Both show the performance of a student, but it mostly differs from the period it covers.

How is the GPA calculated?

To calculate your GPA, follow these steps:

• Determine your grade for each class and the number of credit hours assigned to each class.
• Convert each letter grade to a numerical equivalent point. Presented below is the conversion table as a guide.
• Multiply the number of credit hours earned for each class by the numerical equivalent point for the class.
• Add the number of hours you have spent on classes for the academic year.
• Divide the total number of grade points by the total number of credit hours to find the GPA for the academic year.

The steps to calculating the grade point average (GPA) are listed above. This formula or computation is only the general guideline. It is still best to ask the university for their specific guidelines requirements.

How to Convert GPA to 4.0 scale?

To convert GPA to 4.0 scale, you may refer to the table presented below:

The table above shows the conversion of GPA scores to a 4.0 scale. It also presents the counterpart in percent grades. For example, a student who gets a GPA of B. This equates to an 83-86 percent grade. When converted to the 4.0 scale, a GPA of B is 3.0.

Why does GPA exist?

Presentation of a student’s performance is the reason why GPA exists. It is the only numeric value that can prove one’s efficiency and how good a student is. It is an indication of one’s overall scores and grades, which is a great basis when applying for scholarships, organization, extra-curricular activities, and postgraduate studies.

How to raise your GPA in high school?

To improve your high school GPA, follow these tips:

• Take lower-level classes. You might be able to get a significantly better grade in a lower-level class quickly, increasing your GPA much faster than if you continued to struggle in a tough course.
• Attend more classes. Consider taking an elective class that interests you to fill the time and raise your GPA if you have a free period.
• Improve your performance in weighted GPA classes. You should concentrate on improving your grades in AP or Honors classes. In this case, less-than-perfect grades will result in impressive GPAs.

Strategies to raise the GPA in high school are listed above. Taking a lower-level class, attending more classes, and improving performance in weighted GPA classes can increase the chances of garnering a higher GPA before finishing high school.

How to raise your GPA in college?

To improve your college GPA, follow these strategies:

• Avoid classes you don’t need
• Meet with a tutor
• Speak with your instructors
• Set goals for yourself
• Turn in assignments on time
• Join a study group
• Study topics as you go
• Improve note-taking skills
• Ask questions during class
• Use educational resources
• Use past tests to study
• Keep everything organized
• Utilize instructor feedback
• Put extra effort into assignments
• Work with high-GPA peers

Ways to raise the GPA in college are listed above. Avoiding classes you do not need, joining a study group, and putting extra effort into assignments can improve your GPA before completing your undergraduate degree.

Does GPA really matter?

Yes, GPA matters both in high school and in college. The GPA is important in high school because it predicts how well a student will do in college. There are universities with minimum GPA requirements, and having a high GPA will help you get into college.

In college, your GPA is important because you must pass your classes in order to graduate and earn your college diploma. Given your lack of experience, you may still be required to prove good grades to land your first job after graduation.

GPA Score Requirements

Colleges and universities have set different GPA score requirements for admissions and honor eligibility. Listed below are the GPA score requirements:

What GPA do you need to get a full scholarship?

A GPA of 3.0 is the usual requirement to get a full ride scholarship. The GPA needed varies from scholarship provider to scholarship provider. Each one has a different set of eligibility criteria that must be met.

What GPA is required to be a summa cum laude?

A GPA of 3.9 to 4.0 must be obtained to be eligible for the summa cum laude designation. It should be noted that the requirements for receiving a summa cum laude differ by school.

What GPA is required to be a magna cum laude?

A GPA of 3.7 to 3.8 must be obtained to be eligible for the magna cum laude designation. It should be noted that the requirements for receiving a magna cum laude vary depending on the school.

What GPA is required to be a cum laude?

A GPA of 3.5 to 3.6 must be obtained to be eligible for the cum laude designation. It should be noted that the requirements for obtaining a cum laude vary depending on the school.

What GPA do you need to be on the dean’s list?

The dean’s list cutoff is typically around 3.5 to 3.7 on a scale of 0 to 4, with 4 being the highest. Though the GPA requirements for the dean’s list vary by school, these are the general guidelines.

What GPA do you need to get into med school?

A GPA of 3.5 or higher is needed to get into a medical school. The admissions process to medical school is extremely competitive, which is why premedical undergraduates must strive hard to achieve this score.

What GPA do you need to get into law school?

A GPA of 3.7 or higher is the median GPA of students admitted to the top 10 law schools in the United States. 7 out of 10 schools had a higher median GPA of 3.8 and 3 schools had a median of 3.9 or above.

What GPA do you need to get into PA school?

A GPA between 2.75 and 3.2 is the minimum requirement to get into physician assistant school.

What GPA do you need to get into beauty school?

There is no required GPA to enter cosmetology programs in the United States. But, there are other requirements for application, such as a GED or high school diploma.

What GPA do you need to get into PT school?

A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required by the majority of PT schools, but many schools accept students with GPAs as high as 3.75.

What GPA do you need to get into dental hygiene school?

A GPA of 2.5 or higher and a number of prerequisites are needed to get into dental school. The higher the GPA and the number of foundational science courses completed, the more competitive the application will be.

What GPA do you need to get into nursing school?

A GPA of 3.0 is frequently the set minimum GPA for BSN programs. Note that grades in prerequisite courses may be taken into account separately.

What GPA do you need to get into veterinary school?

A GPA of 3.5 or higher is what veterinary schools generally look for. Vet schools also look closely at completed prerequisites. One may achieve a perfect GPA and still not be admitted if the prerequisite courses were not taken.

What GPA do you need to get into pharmacy school?

A minimum GPA of 2.5 or 3.0 is required by most pharmacy schools. However, on average, accepted applicants have GPAs that are substantially higher than those minimum requirements.

What GPA do you need to get into art school?

A GPA of at least 3.5 is generally recommended to get into art school. However, you may not aim for a perfect score if you can provide a stellar portfolio. This will make up for the shortcomings in other areas.

What GPA do you need for trade school?

A GPA of 2.0 or higher is usually required for admission to trade school. There may be pre-requisites for trade school admission as well, such as a high school diploma, a GED certificate, or passing the CPAT.

What GPA is required for a merit scholarship?

GPAs ranging from 3.5 to 4.0 will receive more opportunities for merit rewards. However, there are other options for students with a GPA of 3.0 or lower.

What GPA do you need to be an OB/GYN?

An average GPA of 3.5 or higher is needed for admission to medical school to be an OB/GYN.

What GPA do I need for speech pathology?

A minimum 3.0 GPA is typically required for admission to a program in audiology or speech-language pathology.

What GPA do you need for clinical psychology?

A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 is preferred by the majority of graduate schools in psychology.

What GPA do you need to pledge Kappa Alpha Psi?

A candidate must have at least a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale to be considered for Kappa Alpha Psi membership. To be considered for membership on the alumni level, one must have a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent from an accredited college or university.

References:

• [1] https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/what-is-a-good-gpa-college/
• [2] https://www.sparkadmissions.com/blog/what-is-considered-a-good-gpa-for-college/
• [3] https://leverageedu.com/blog/difference-between-gpa-and-cgpa/
• [4] https://pages.collegeboard.org/how-to-convert-gpa-4.0-scale
• [5] https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-calculate-gpa
• [6] https://www.mastersportal.com/articles/2126/what-is-a-gpa-and-why-is-it-so-important.html
• [7] https://blog.prepscholar.com/strategies-to-raise-gpa-in-high-school-fast
• [8] https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/improve-your-gpa
• [9] https://talkcollegetome.com/2018/06/11/how-much-does-the-high-school-gpa-really-matter/
• [10] https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/does-gpa-matter-in-college
• [11] https://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships/articles/what-gpa-do-you-need-to-get-a-full-scholarship
• [12] https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/magna-cum-laude-gpa-vs-summa-cum-laude-gpa
• [13] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean%27s_list
• [14] https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools/articles/2018-10-02/how-high-of-a-college-gpa-is-necessary-to-get-into-medical-school
• [15] https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/articles/2018-08-21/how-high-is-the-typical-college-gpa-among-accepted-law-school-applicants
• [16] https://www.aapa.org/news-central/2019/04/what-does-it-take-to-get-into-pa-school/?
• [17] https://study.com/articles/careers-and-education/what-gpa-do-you-need-to-get-into-beauty-school.html
• [18] https://northernedgept.com/blog/start-career-in-physical-therapy/
• [19] https://www.allalliedhealthschools.com/specialties/how-to-become-a-dental-hygienist/
• [20] https://www.nursinglicensure.org/articles/getting-into-a-nursing-program/
• [21] https://www.loopabroad.com/blog/requirements-to-get-into-vet-school/
• [22] https://www.studentdebtrelief.us/college-tips/pharmacy-school-acceptance-rates/
• [23] https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-get-into-art-school
• [24] https://study.com/articles/careers-and-education/do-i-need-a-high-gpa-for-trade-school.html
• [25] https://www.unigo.com/scholarships/merit-based
• [26] https://www.theclassroom.com/type-education-need-become-ob-gyn-4617.html
• [27] https://www.asha.org/students/planning-your-education-in-csd/
• [28] https://www.psychology.org/resources/graduate-application-guide/
• [29] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kappa_Alpha_Psi

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Coursework/GPA

How exactly do you take a document that's as complicated as your transcript and shrink it all down to a single number? If you're wondering how to use the final grades you've gotten in high school to determine your GPA, then you've come to the right place. This article will show you how to make this calculation, step by step. But first, what exactly is a GPA?

What Is a GPA?

Most likely, in your high school classes, your final grades are awarded either as letters (A-, B+, etc.) or percents (92%, 85%, etc. out of 100%).

A GPA, or grade point average, converts those letters or percents into numbers and then averages these numbers together. Because it's made up of all your grades, your GPA is one of the most important factors for college admission. It's a good indicator of your intelligence, work ethic, perseverance, and willingness to push yourself.

GPAs are useful for colleges to easily compare you with other students who graduated from your school and with all the other applicants. But why?

Imagine you're an admissions officer who has to look at thousands of college applications. Would you rather go through each transcript individually, add up all the As and all the Bs, and then compare that to the next person, and so on? Or, would you rather have an easy summary number that could be used for a quick comparison across the board?

Your GPA is that quick summary number.

The Difference Between Weighted and Unweighted GPA

There are two main types of GPAs: weighted and unweighted.

An unweighted GPA is when a school uses a scale that goes from 0.0 to 4.0 and does not take into account the difficulty level of classes.

By contrast, a weighted GPA is when a school uses a scale that goes from 0.0 all the way up to 5.0 (or sometimes 6.0) and does take into account class difficulty. In this model, the school gives higher numerical values to grades earned in honors , AP , and/or IB classes .

Here's an example to help clarify the differences here. Say Jeremy gets an A in a standard-level US History class, whereas Lakshmi gets an A in AP US History . In the unweighted GPA model, both As are treated the same way, with each translating to a 4.0 .

But in the weighted GPA model, Jeremy's A would convert to a 4.0 and Lakshmi's A would convert to a 5.0 to show that her class took a lot more effort to ace .

See the difference?

Before we continue, it's important to understand that this article focuses mainly on explaining and calculating unweighted GPAs. (For more information on weighted GPAs, check out our other guide .)

How Do You Calculate Your Unweighted GPA?

The first thing to do in order to calculate a grade point average is to convert each of the final class grades you've gotten so far in high school into the correct decimal.

Here is the standard unweighted scale for doing this:

Next, perform the following calculation :

• Add all the converted decimal grades together—this is your sum
• Count the number of classes you've taken
• Divide the sum by the number of classes , and you have your unweighted GPA

In the following section, we'll go through an example calculation of an unweighted GPA.

Step-by-Step Example of an Unweighted GPA Calculation

Let me show you an example of how to calculate an unweighted GPA so you can see how this will look in practice. (To see how to calculate a weighted GPA, check out our other article .) We'll use a sample transcript for incognito CIA operative John Doe.

Be aware that for this example, we are assuming that all classes are worth the same number of credits (in other words, you can ignore the credit column in the transcript below).

Step 1: Convert Grades Into Decimals

In order to learn how to calculate a GPA, let's first convert John's letter grades into numbers:

Let's also count how many classes he took each of those school years:

Step 2: Calculate Individual Year GPAs

To get each individual year's GPA, all we need to do is divide the sum by the number of classes . If this division ends up with a long decimal, simply round to the nearest hundredth:

Step 3: Calculate Cumulative High School GPA

To get a cumulative GPA for John's entire high school career, we simply add up the sums for all the years and divide by the number of classes he took over all those years:

35 + 35.7 + 27.7 + 19.7 = 118.1 (sum of all final grades)

10 + 10 + 8 + 6 = 34 (total number of classes taken)

118.1 / 34 = 3.47 (GPA)

So, his GPA for all of high school is 3.47.

Pro tip: The cumulative GPA is not an average of each year because the number of classes taken each year is different.

Step 4: Calculate GPA Submitted to Colleges (Optional)

Finally, if we wanted to figure out the GPA that John would send out on his college applications, we would do the same process, but leave off senior year. Since applications go out in the beginning of 12th grade, those final grades won't make it into the application GPA:

35 + 35.7 + 27.7 = 98.4 (sum of final grades from 9th to 11th grade)

10 + 10 + 8 = 28 (number of classes taken from 9th to 11th grade)

98.4 / 28 = 3.51 (college application GPA)

As you can see, John's college application GPA would be 3.51 .

What If My Classes Are Worth Different Amounts of Credits?

In the example above, we calculated John's GPA with the assumption that every took was worth the same amount of credits. If this isn't the case for you, you'll need to add in an extra step.

To calculate your GPA when your classes are worth different amounts of credits, you'll need to multiply your grade for each class by the number of credits it was worth and sum those together (instead of just summing all your grades together) and divide that sum by the total number of credits you took (rather than just the total number of classes you took).

As a quick example, let's take another look at John's junior year grades, this time with the number of credits each class was worth.

Here we can see that the last two classes John took were each only worth half a credit. In the table, the third column, "Quality Points," shows the product of John's GPA in each class with the number of credits that class was worth.

To find John's GPA (based solely on these eight classes), all you need to do now is sum the number of quality points and divide them by the number of credits John took:

GPA = (4.0+2.7+3.7+3.0+3.3+4.0+2.0+1.5) / (1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 0.5 + 0.5)

GPA = 24.2/7 = 3.46 .

What's Next?

Interested in diving even deeper into the differences between weighted and unweighted GPA? Then check out our guide to the benefits and drawbacks of both .

Want to see step-by-step weighted GPA calculation? Let us show you how it's done .

Curious how your GPA compares? Learn what a good or bad GPA is and then see how you stack up against the average high school student .

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, what does gpa mean in education.

Hey guys, I often hear the term 'GPA' being thrown around a lot. Can anyone clarify what GPA means in the context of education? Is it super important when it comes to college applications? Thanks in advance!

GPA stands for Grade Point Average, and it's a numerical representation of a student's academic performance on a standardized scale. In the United States, the most common GPA scale is 4.0, where an A is 4.0, a B is 3.0, a C is 2.0, a D is 1.0, and an F is 0.

Your GPA is calculated by adding up the numerical value of your grades from all courses and then dividing the sum by the total number of courses taken. Some high schools use a weighted GPA, which takes into account the level of difficulty of courses (for example, giving bonus points for honors, AP, or IB classes).

GPA is important when it comes to college applications as it provides an indicator of your overall academic performance throughout high school. Colleges often consider your GPA in combination with other factors, such as standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and personal essays. However, GPA is not the sole determinant of college admissions, as most institutions take a holistic approach to evaluate each student's potential for success.

It's important to remember that different schools and programs may prioritize GPA differently. For example, some schools might place a greater emphasis on GPA for specific majors, such as engineering or pre-med. It's also worth noting that colleges will likely consider your high school's rigor, grading policies, and any trends in your academic performance (like an upward trajectory) when assessing your GPA.

Overall, while GPA is a significant factor in college admissions, it's only one of many aspects that make up a well-rounded application. Focusing on your unique strengths and experiences can help showcase your potential as a candidate, even if your GPA isn't perfect.

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

GPA Calculator

Use this calculator to calculate grade point average (GPA) and generate a GPA report. If you use percentage grades, have grades on a different scale or in high school with AP/IB classes, please change the "Settings" to input specific values. Also use the settings to group courses into semesters or to include past GPA.

GPA Planning Calculator

The calculator can be used to determine the minimum GPA required in future courses to raise GPA to a desired level or maintain the GPA above a certain level.

Related Grade Calculator

Letter grade and the numerical equivalents used for this calculator

Grade point average (GPA) is a commonly used indicator of an individual's academic achievement in school. It is the average of the grades attained in each course, taking course credit into consideration. Grading systems vary in different countries, or even schools. This calculator accepts letter grades as well as numerical inputs. These letter grades are translated into numerical values as shown below.

Most schools, colleges, and universities in the United States use a grading system based on the letters above, though E is sometimes used instead of F. Grading systems do differ however based on what constitutes an A or B, and some do not include grades such as an A+ or a B-. Others may attribute more weight to certain courses, and thus whatever grade is attained in the course will have a larger effect on overall GPA. The calculator can account for this based on the number of credits attributed to a course, where credit is the "weighting" of the course, as shown in the examples below.

Guidelines for raising GPA

There is no sure formula for raising a person's GPA, and strategies that work for one person may not work for another. However, there are some common guidelines and study habits that can be helpful when trying to raise GPA. The guidelines below are mostly anecdotal and are not intended as fail-safe ways to raise one's GPA, but are generally good habits that can have positive effects on learning, which may in turn increase GPA.

Actively attending classes:

Classes are being paid for likely either by a student or their parent, and not attending classes is both a financial loss, as well as a loss in potential education. While a student may decide that attending a particular class is not beneficial to their learning, or not a good use of their time, even if the professor is largely ineffective, there is usually valuable information that can be obtained simply by attending class. Not attending class for example, could result in negative effects on a student's GPA if for some reason the student misses information about a change in exam location or material.

Furthermore, while it may be true that professors largely repeat notes in class that are often later posted to a website, skipping classes can result in missed opportunities. Questions from students in class, as well as the explanations that may follow can provide seemingly inconsequential bits of information that can in fact make a large difference on tests. This is because interaction with the professor and other students can increase a person's depth of knowledge on a subject, or may provide the small tip necessary to solidify a student's understanding of a topic.

In addition, attending class, particularly if the class is smaller in size, can allow the professor to link a name, a face, and a grade, particularly if the student actively participates. Professors that see attentive and involved students are more inclined to be understanding of any potential issues that may arise such as emergencies resulting in missed due dates. Along with this, active participation is more likely to engage a student's mind in regards to the subject matter than reading online notes or a textbook, and points of confusion can also be clarified on the spot. These can in turn affect a person's grade and overall GPA.

Every student has his or her own learning style. Some like to work for hours at a time to complete an assignment, while others may take many breaks. There is no ideal strategy, and how a person approaches learning is highly dependent on learning style, as well as adhering to a study strategy that complements their schedule and desires. The method that maximizes the value of the time spent is likely the most effective for improving learning, and subsequently, GPA.

Organization of work that needs to be done, as well as notes taken is also important. It is as important to be able to find relevant information as it is to take notes in class. Notes are most valuable when they can be used to supplement learning. Professors present large amounts of information during the course of a lecture, not all of which a student may have time to process. It is important to practice taking notes in a manner that enables the student to look back and learn (or lookup) the information.

Time management is also an important aspect of planning. There are only 24 hours in a day, not all of which a person can use effectively. While learning is important, taking more courses or activities than a person can handle can be detrimental both to learning, as well as to average GPA. Once all courses have been selected, budgeting and scheduling time for each course can help to put the amount of work and time necessary into perspective. While the amount of work necessary for a number of courses may initially seem daunting, planning how and when to approach the work for each course may help reduce stress and improve efficiency once the work is quantified (or could help a person realize that they are tackling more than they can handle).

Reviewing work regularly, in terms of studying, is another aspect of time management. A substantial amount of information is covered in a course by the time of the final exam, and reviewing some of the information regularly over a period of time is often more effective than attempting to memorize all of the information right before an exam. Learning the information through periodic review can ultimately save a person more time, and potentially position them to perform better on an exam, and thereby improve GPA.

Here’s How Ivy League Schools Evaluate Student GPAs

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One of the main gates on the Brown University campus, decorated with the University crest. (Photo by ... [+] Rick Friedman/Corbis via Getty Images)

A stellar GPA is one of the building blocks of a successful Ivy League application, and as the school year winds down, many students are anxiously seeking to give theirs a final boost. While most students and families understand the importance of a 4.0, few are aware of how top colleges evaluate student GPAs or what they look for when reviewing student transcripts. Though your GPA may seem to be a simple metric, nothing could be further from the case—colleges consider more than just the number, accounting for complexities such as diverse grading systems across schools, trends in grade inflation, and level of course rigor.

Here are three important facts to keep in mind about your GPA as you choose your courses:

1. Your GPA isn’t directly comparable to GPAs of students at other schools.

One common misconception among college applicants is that they can compare their GPAs with those of students attending different schools. However, the GPA is not a universal metric but rather a reflection of an individual's academic performance within their specific educational environment. As a result, comparing GPAs from different schools is like comparing apples and oranges. For instance, some schools offer a plethora of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and honors courses, while others may have limited options or offer none at all. Additionally, the weight assigned to AP versus honors versus regular classes varies from school to school. So, your GPA may not hold the same weight as those of your peers at different schools, even if you all have 4.0s.

Admissions officers understand that schools vary in their rigor, curriculum, and grading policies. Therefore, they evaluate your GPA in the context of your high school, considering the courses offered and the academic challenges presented. Instead of fixating on how your GPA compares to your friends’ from other schools, focus on challenging yourself and taking advantage of all the opportunities available to you at your school.

2. GPAs across the country are inflated—and colleges know it.

The last few years have seen surges in high school student GPAs nationwide. While GPA inflation has been on the rise over the last decade, average ACT composite scores are steadily declining. “For the 1.4 million ACT test-takers in the high school class of 2023, the average composite score on the exam was 19.5 out of 36, the lowest score since 1991,” according to The New York Times New York Times . The parallel differences, coupled with academic differences across schools, suggest that GPA must be considered in tandem with multiple other factors. Simply put, an A no longer means what it used to on a transcript.

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Ivy League schools and other top colleges are well aware of this trend and evaluate student GPAs alongside other metrics such as standardized test scores and AP exam scores in order to better understand a student’s academic skill sets. While some Ivy League and other top schools remain test-optional , they still emphasize course rigor and the context from your high school profile to understand the grades on your transcript.

3. Colleges will recalculate your GPA.

Given the abundance of variables in GPA calculations, colleges often recalculate the metric to create a standardized baseline for comparison between students across different schools. The recalibration may involve adjusting for variations in grading scales or the weighting of honors, IB or AP courses. The University of California system, for example, calculates students’ UC GPAs by converting grades to grade points (an A is equivalent to four points, a B to three points and so on) for classes taken between the summer after 9th grade and summer after 11th grade, and adding one point for each honors class, and dividing by total classes taken to yield final GPA. (Variations exist for in-state versus out-of-state students and by high school. Be sure to calculate your GPA following the UC issued guidelines.)

Other colleges also take additional factors that impact academic performance into consideration, and envelop GPA into a broader, holistic consideration. For instance, the lawsuit by Students for Fair Admissions against Harvard University over affirmative action practices revealed that Harvard rates students on a scale of 1 to 6 (with one being the most desirable) in academic, extracurricular, athletic and personal categories. A student’s GPA and test scores are folded together into an academic score which “summarizes the applicant’s academic achievement and potential based on grades, testing results, letters of recommendation, academic prizes, and any submitted academic work.”

This process aims to provide a fair and equitable evaluation of students from different educational backgrounds. Keep in mind that Harvard considers not only your grades, test scores, and academic rigor in this score, but also “evidence of substantial scholarship” and “academic creativity,” which can make the difference between a 1 and a 2 in the scoring system. These systems underscore the importance of taking advantage of every opportunity, showcasing your unique personality and creativity, and seeking to maximize opportunities to improve your performance within the academic landscape of your institution.

By understanding the complex way by which colleges evaluate students’ GPAs, you are better equipped to present a comprehensive and competitive picture of your academic achievements on your transcript and stand out in the competitive Ivy League admissions landscape.

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College Credits: Local Gets Perfect GPA In Dual Enrollment Program

B OLINGBROOK, IL — We're keeping track of all the major higher education accomplishments of students in the area. Send your submissions to [email protected].

Bolingbrook High School senior earns perfect GPA in dual enrollment program with SCAD

Fatimah Shah is a senior at Bolingbrook High School and is currently enrolled in a Joint Enrollment Program with The Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, Georgia.

Fatimah has earned a 4.0 GPA for the Fall 2023 and Winter 2024 quarters, completing 20 credit hours. She is currently enrolled in the Spring quarter for another 10 credit hours. By May 30, she will have earned a total of 30 credit hours and graduated from Bolingbrook High School. During this time Fatimah has earned a 4.0 GPA at Bolingbrook High School.

Fatimah will attend The Savannah College of Art and Design in fall 2024 to pursue an M.F.A in Fashion and minor in fibers.

— Liz Reyna

Bradley University Fall 2023 Deans List

Nearly 1,850 students were named to Bradley's Dean's List for Fall 2023. To be eligible for the Dean's List, a student must achieve a minimum 3.5 grade point average for the semester on a 4.0 scale.

• Matthew Sigale of Bolingbrook (60490)
• Brenden Wagner of Bolingbrook (60490)
• Alyssa Foote of Bolingbrook (60490)
• Carmine Ingram of Bolingbrook (60490)
• Rachael Doweidt of Bolingbrook (60440)
• Sean Otto of Bolingbrook (60440)
• Aidan O'Donnell of Bolingbrook (60490)
• Michael Jimenez of Bolingbrook (60490)
• Olivia Hagerman of Bolingbrook (60490)
• Xavier Chapman of Bolingbrook (60440)

— Merit Pages News

Bolingbrook students help raise money for children’s hospital

More than 1,100 current University of Iowa students participated in the 30th annual student-led Dance Marathon, generating more than $1.4 million for the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. Dance Marathon has generated more than $35.8 million in its history.

The final tally raised by the students was $1,454,929, a total which pushed the amount of support generated by Dance Marathon over the course of its 30-year history to more than $35 million.

Dance Marathon's "Big Event" is the celebration of UI students' year-round dedication to the children and families who have received treatment at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. Dancers and Dance Marathon leadership fundraise for 365 days to reach their individual fundraising goal.

• Emely Pena of Bolingbrook, IL [Official DM registration type: Leadership; Number of years of participation in DM: second]
• Julia Rodriguez of Bolingbrook, IL [Official DM registration type: Dancer; Number of years of participation in DM: first]
• Livia Adams of Bolingbrook, IL [Official DM registration type: Dancer; Number of years of participation in DM: fourth]

The article College Credits: Local Gets Perfect GPA In Dual Enrollment Program appeared first on Bolingbrook Patch .

Jack Wagenheim, 15, graduated high school and…

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School of Education

Dean’s list for spring 2024.

By Catherine Winkler

Thursday, May 16, 2024

Each semester, we recognize students who have demonstrated academic excellence through the School of Education’s Dean’s List. The Dean's List includes undergraduate students who have been certified to the School and who have carried at least 12-credit hours of graded or S-F courses with a 3.7 GPA or above for the semester.

View the Dean’s List on our website . Congratulations to all our students on the list!

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2024 Outstanding Graduates: Congratulations to our top students

For 38 years, The News has saluted a group of Michigan’s best and brightest high school students in the spring of their senior year.

Partnering with CATCH — Sparky Anderson’s Charity for Children — we call it the Outstanding Graduates program.

It is an honor to share the stories of these remarkable young people and to consider that Michigan will benefit from their future endeavors, and the endeavors of so many of their friends and classmates.

The top seniors were chosen from a field of outstanding nominees. Public and private high schools in Michigan were invited to nominate students in each of 11 categories. Students were selected on the basis of grades, test scores, honors, community involvement and a demonstrated ability in one of the academic areas. In a special category called “Against All Odds” students were recognized for succeeding despite a physical hardship or special, personal or family challenges.

Final selections were made by panels of judges that included teachers, counselors and other academic specialists. The judges told us of their high regard for the many nominees and the difficulty in narrowing their choices.

Our thanks go to all of the principals, counselors and teachers who took time to nominate these students. Thanks also go to the judges who spent many hours selecting the finalists.

This is the 39 TH class of outstanding high school graduates honored by The News. Many of our early nominees are now well established in successful careers and raising children that may well be honored themselves someday soon. We salute their special achievements and extend congratulations to all of Michigan’s graduating seniors in the class of 2024.

Gary Miles, Editor and Publisher

Against all odds

Miriam taleb.

High school: Northville High School

Parent: Leena Aldebiat

College I plan to attend: University of Michigan-Dearborn

Major: Business administration

Career plans: Law and business

Most influential teachers: Mrs. LaRocca

Achievements:

• Over 1,500 hours of volunteering at Brookdale Senior Living. I have built strong connections with the seniors who do not have anybody to talk to
• Landed a law internship and have gained invaluable knowledge and experience
• Won No. 1 Best upseller in Michigan and No. 3 nationally for Phoenix Theatres

A quote about myself: "If you want something you’ve never had, do something you’ve never done."

Sponsor: Arrow Strategies

Ella Mae Anderson

High school: Forest Park

Parents: Dale and April Anderson

College I plan to attend: Bay College

Major: Radiography

Career plans: Complete MRI Associate's Program and work at a children’s hospital

Most influential teachers: Mrs. Debra Smithson

• The ability to be a dual enrollment student
• Setting remarkable standards throughout high school career despite cancer diagnosis
• Honor roll student while attending in-person classes
• Being selected as a Detroit News Outstanding Graduate
• Being enrolled in an MRI program
• Finishing my high school classes and graduating while in remission
• Volunteering in and around my community
• Selected to paint multiple murals for local businesses
• Participating in 4-H and other extracurricular activities
• Being able to make positive changes and foster meaningful relationships with peers

A quote about myself: "The magic you are looking for is in the work you’re avoiding."

Sterling Gooden

High school: Renaissance High School

Parent: Crystal Gooden

College I plan to attend: Michigan State University

Major: Kinesiology

Career plans: Athletic trainer in the NFL or NBA

Most influential teachers: Coach White and Coach JP

• Honor roll 10th, 11th and 12th grade
• 2x City championship volleyball 11th-12th grade
• 2x City championship basketball 10th-11th grade
• Final four basketball 11th grade
• Varsity award 10th-12th grade

A quote about myself: "Don't just exist. Live."

Jerrod Burke

High school: Chandler Park Academy High School

Parents: Jabari Anderson and Aliessa Burke

College I plan to attend: Grand Valley State University

Major: Radio broadcasting with minor in photography

Career plans: Photographer

Most influential teachers: Astyn Frye

• Youth Leadership 20 under 20 Award
• Geoff Miller Luminary Award
• OSHA 10 certification
• Lean Six Sigma White Belt certification

A quote about myself: "Leadership is not about being appreciated, it’s about responsibility; it doesn'tmatter how the burden is heavy, it matters how you carry it."

Runners-up: Yasin Ahmed, Manuella Fagbedji, Arly Fitzgerald, Emily Francis, Isabelle Haio, Sreetarapriya Andra, Madison Loken and Judah Abusalah

Judge: Dr. Gail Strickland, director of special services, Westwood Community School District

Jane Fall-Lakatos

High school: MICA

Parents: David Lakatos and Doni Fall

College I plan to attend: Michigan Technological University

Major: Environmental engineering and sound production with a music minor

Career plans: Tackle global environmental issues and form a small production studio focused on supporting early-stage musicians and podcasters

Most influential teachers: Homeroom teachers Dr. Crawford, Mr. Frankovich and Mr. Noble, as well as Coach Derek Delzer and Judith Teasdle

• Entering college at age 16 after graduating summa cum laude
• Being accepted and receiving scholarship offers at every university I applied to
• Receiving the Leading Scholars Award, Presidential Award and Excellence Award from MTU among others
• Summiting a 17,740-foot peak in the Chilean Atacama Andes at age 14
• Three Rocky/Central Junior Alpine Racing Championships GS, SL, DH, AC with Pinnacle Alpine Racing
• Two U.S. Fencing National Championships-Sabre, three-time Region 2 Gold Champion and qualified for 2024 U.S. Fencing National Championships-Sabre — three divisions after a 2.5-year hiatus with Renaissance Fencing Club
• Visiting all 50 states as well as over 70 national parks, reserves, forests, and monuments
• Rehabilitating homes in impoverished neighborhoods in Pontiac with my parents
• Completing Michigan Music Festival Series as a solo violinist with all superior scores 95-100, senior piece Lalo’s "Symphonie Espagnole"
• Performing for multiple seasons with Oakland Youth Symphonies, Oakland University Community Music, and sitting as a session violinist with Summit County Strings Symphony for 2023 Ullr Festival

A quote about myself: "If it’s not hard, it’s not worth it."

Sponsor: Detroit Lions

Gabriella Miller

High school: Grosse Pointe North High School

Parents: David and Lea Miller

College I plan to attend: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Major: Undecided

Career plans: Undecided

Most influential teachers: Jonathan Byrne

• Winning a Division II State Championship in soccer as a junior
• Soccer All-District, All-Mac Honorable Mention, All-Region Honorable Mention
• Senior year soccer captain and first-year field hockey MVP and selected for Senior All-Star Game
• MIPA student journalist staff member and winner in the category of Digital Media
• Passing the AP chemistry exam, scoring a 4, and earning college credit
• Getting admitted into the University of Michigan
• Being chosen for Norsemen Tide, the Grosse Pointe North student section leader
• Student council vice president for three years
• National Honor Society member
• Working with special needs kids though Kids On The Go, Unified Basketball, and Kids NeedOpportunities to Socialize

A quote about myself: "Even when life gets tough, just looking for the positive perspective with a smile can be unstoppable. Life is far too short to let worrying consume you. Let optimism be your drive, and let its contagious impact help inspire others."

Runners-up: Sophie Owens, Erin Armstrong, Ece Uyulur and Ryan McEvers

Judge: Daren Tomhave, assistant sports editor, The Detroit News

Makayla Blackwell

Parent: Paula Wilson

College I plan to attend: Wayne State University

Major: Nursing

Career plans: Nurse with BSN, business owner and volunteer in my community

Most influential teachers: Dr. Rayven McMurray

• Accepted into Wayne State's Direct Nursing Program (15 out of 5,000)
• Over 300 hours of community service
• Obtained my nursing assistance licenses at the age of 17
• Full tuition paid for in all my top 5 schools
• Attended the No. 1 high school in Detroit
• Graduating with honors at Renaissance High School
• First-generation college student
• Mentored at local middle schools
• Volunteer at DMC Sinai Grace Hospital
• A proud member of Wayne State's TRIO Upward Bound Program

A quote about myself: "The most beautiful thing you could wear is confidence." — Marilyn Monroe

Sponsor: Henry Ford Health

Piper Morrison

High school: Fraser High School

Parents: John and Ami Morrison

Major: Allied health studies

Career plans: Physician assistant

Most influential teachers: Mrs. Marti Van-I

• Top 10 world finalist for the MRC Partnership event at the 2023 HOSA International Leadership Conference
• Awarded Med Health Science Student of the Year at Fraser High School for 2023-24
• Organized six blood drives through the Red Cross
• Member of National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society
• Helped train entire Fraser district staff in Stop the Bleed
• First three-time president of HOSA at Fraser
• Helped Fraser achieve designation from the American Heart Association as an MI Heart Safe School
• Four-year member of peer-to-peer and a participating mentor in an adaptive PE class
• Third place in HOSA States for extemporaneous writing as a 10th grader and first place in HOSA States for Medical Reserve Corps partnership as an 11th grader
• Maintaining a 4.103 GPA while playing sports, being deeply involved in numerous clubs and consistently having a job since ninth grade

A quote about myself: "Success at anything will always come down to this: focus and effort, and we control both." — Dwayne Johnson

Sponsor: NFP

Runners-up: Leah Feldhausen, Rebecca Roberts, Tamara Nadeau and Linnea Way

Judge: Van Momon, M.D., retired senior staff physician, Department of Pediatrics, Henry Ford Health

Connor Kalkanis

High school: Detroit Country Day School

Parents: Steven and Laurel Kalkanis

College I plan to attend: Harvard College

Major: Government

Career plans: Neurosurgery

Most influential teachers: Mr. Michael Cappelletti

• President of the student body
• Editor-in-chief of school newspaper the Day Times; national gold medals for excellence in newspaper production from Columbia Press Association and American Scholastic Press Association
• Founded Masks for Meals, a nonprofit to aid food-insecure Metro Detroit families during COVID; raised $15,000 and also generated 60,000 meals
• Finalist at the International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF); co-author of manuscript awaiting publication in Oncology Reports
• Coolidge Senator of the Presidential Coolidge Scholarship (chosen as 1 of 100 students nationwide)
• Three-time Statewide Champion in Forensics (oratory category)
• Second place National Award from the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Essay Contest
• University of Chicago Book Award for "a top junior with highest academic and extracurricular achievement," awarded by vote of DCDS faculty
• First Division Ratings at MSBOA Solo & Ensemble Festival for Piano (2021, 2023); first State Division for Sax Quartet (2023)
• First place state champion speaker in St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; national alternate in Northeastern United States and first place in Michigan

A quote about myself: “Apply what you have, and whatever you may chance to be doing, do it with all your might.” — Cicero

Sponsor: The Detroit News

Sophie Hanawalt

High school: Seaholm High School

GPA: 3.978 unweighted, 4.702 weighted

Parents: Jennifer and Edward Hanawalt

College I plan to attend: University of Notre Dame or Georgetown University

Major: Global affairs and journalism

Career plans: Investigative journalist focused on international human rights and a professor of global affairs

Most influential teachers: Ms. Stacey Olsen

• Editor-in-chief of school newspaper, the Highlander, for two years, helping to rebuild the paper after the pandemic
• Organized a free journalism camp for local middle schoolers with the Highlander’s editorial board, teaching 20 students the basics of news, opinion, sports and entertainment
• Part of a team of student journalists that investigated our district’s sudden, large budget deficit. Our work was profiled in The Detroit News
• Organized a local chapter of March for Our Lives with a friend and have served as co-president ever since. I have also served as a state lead for rallies and other organization events
• Co-president of Seaholm’s French Club for the past two years
• Involved with my school orchestra for all four years of high school
• Helped form an orchestra quartet in sevent grade, and have been volunteering to play in nursing homes ever since. Received the Birmingham Youth Assistance Youth In Service Award twice, as well as the President’s Service Award
• Co-captain during my senior and junior seasons on the Seaholm Varsity Girl’s Cross Country Team
• A member of Seahom’s English Department Advisory Board
• A leader within Flex, Seaholm’s interdisciplinary honors English and history program

A quote about myself: "I can’t wait to bring informed and inclusive storytelling to all of my future pursuits!"

Runners-up: Logan Field, Jessica Sarrach, Billy Roberson and Jordan Fabirkiewicz

Judge: Walter Middlebrook, foster professor of practice, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, The Pennsylvania State University

Language arts

Victoria mccabe.

High school: Grosse Pointe South High School

Parents: Brian and Margaret McCabe

Major: Public policy

Career plans: Trial lawyer

Most influential teachers: Harry Campion

• MSVMA Classical Solo and Ensemble two-time state qualifier
• AP Scholar with Distinction
• Recipient of the Grosse Pointe South Choir Leadership Award
• Created over 200 blankets for local women's shelter Pregnancy Aid
• Company manager of both the junior varsity and varsity South Choirs
• Editor of Grosse Pointe South’s Looking Glass Magazine

A quote about myself: “If you can’t convince them, confuse them.” — Harry S. Truman

Sponsor: Hire Road

High school: Detroit Country Day Upper School

Parents: Hanho Yun and Yeonseung Lee

College I plan to attend: Princeton University

Major: Economics

Career plans: Corporate lawyer

Most influential teachers: Ms. Beverly Hannett-Price

• Recipient of First-Class Distinction in 2023 Achievement Awards in Writing from the National Council of Teachers of English
• Honor council chair
• Spectrum Literary Magazine editor-in-chief
• EUREKA! Academic Journal editor-in-chief
• 2024 Coca-Cola semifinalist
• Recipient of Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society from the National Council for Social Studies
• Recipient of Princeton Book Award
• Junior Cum Laude Society inductee
• Recipient of Presidential Volunteer Service Award (over 350 total hours)
• Varsity tennis

A quote about myself: "Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value." — Albert Einstein

Sponsor: CATCH

Runners-up: Arts Hannah Redman, Aiden Wolfson, Paul Kaminski and Aria Dwoskin

Judge: Mary M Hall-Rayford, retired English educator

Mathematics

Timothy mathew.

High school: Troy High School

Parents: Thomas and Vini Mathew

College I plan to attend: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Major: Mathematics and computer science

Career plans: Professor and researcher

Most influential teachers: Mr. Carl Rizzi

• Research Science Institute Scholar
• Third place International Science and Engineering Fair — Robotics & Intelligent Machines
• Four-time American Invitational Mathematics Exam qualifier
• Fifth place HOSA — Medical Math — at International Leadership Conference
• Coach of Boulan Park Mathcounts Team — first place at States (2023, 2024)
• First place — Technology Student Association (TSA) States — Coding
• President of Math Club, Coding Competitions Club, and Hack Club at Troy High School
• Royal Conservatory of Music Level 10 Piano Certification with Honors
• Most Wholesome Student at Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics
• 36 ACT in ninth grade

A quote about myself: "I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay — small acts of kindness and love.” — Gandalf

Sponsor: OneStream Software

Isha Singhal

Parents: Sharad Singhal and Ruchi Saxena

Major: Computer science

Career plans: Software engineer

Most influential teachers: Mr. Kinney, Ms. Lowes, Mr. Cole and Mrs. Foldesi

• National Merit Scholarship finalist
• Wrote and published a research paper about the detection of DDoS attacks with machine learning models
• CyberStart America 2023 National Cyber Scholarship recipient
• HOSA ILC 2021-Health Informatics finalist
• Science Olympiad Nationals 2022 Codebusters Award recipient
• MSVMA 2023 Solo & Ensemble States Top Rank of 1 for Solo Vocalist
• Organized a citywide used eyeglass donation drive through the Northville Lions Club
• Captain of Northville Science Olympiad Team
• Business Professionals of America SLC SQL Database Fundamentals

A quote about myself: "Be kind, because everyone you meet is going through a struggle.” — Sigrid Nunez

Sponsor: AAA Life Insurance Company

Runners-up: Kenji Farrell, Vikram Goddla, Dyllon Denton and Joyce Liang

Judges: Marianne Srock, retired mathematics consultant, Macomb Intermediate School District; Scott Block, mathematics consultant, Macomb Intermediate School District

Performing arts

Trinity chen.

GPA: 4.0 unweighted, 4.61 weighted

Parents: Anna Tantisuwanpol and Tom Chen

Major: Biomedical engineering

Career plans: Engineering and business

Most influential teachers: Ms. Bowen

• First chair of the MSBOA 2024 Honors Chamber String Ensemble, nominated as anOutstanding Soloist for Outstanding Soloist Competition
• Two-time MSBOA Solo & Ensemble Perfect Score at State Level, two-time MSBOA Honors Festival Honors Orchestra
• Three-time MSBOA All State Full Orchestra (High School)
• Two-time AIME qualifier, AMC Honor Roll and Achievement Roll award winner
• Varsity women’s golf: team captain, four-time state qualifier and All-Academic, top 10 placement at regionals
• Leadership: Student council vice president, concertmaster of DCDS Honors String Orchestra
• National Merit finalist and National Merit Corporate Scholarship winner
• Presidential Scholars Program candidate
• First place at Science & Engineering Fair of Metro Detroit; fourth place at Michigan State Science Fair
• Scholastic Writing Awards: two Gold Keys for memoirs, two honorable mentions for poetry

A quote about myself: “Walk with a purpose!” — Coach Dan Luft

Viraj Nautiyal

High school: Ernest W. Seaholm High School

Parents: Shweta and Shashank Nautiyal

College I plan to attend: Brown University

Major: International and public affairs

Career plans: Health care policymaker

Most influential teachers: Mrs. McKinney

• Two-time NSDA Debate National Qualifier
• National Merit Finalist Scholarship recipient
• Raised thousands of dollars as National Honor Society president prioritizing children’s health and education
• Founded a bingo fundraiser giving out science kits for prizes and donating money for children’s education
• Wrote and illustrated a children’s picture book named "Cal's Courageous Quest," capturing the signs and coping mechanisms of mental health challenges
• Drum major for Seaholm marching band and conducting throughout the football season
• Ate every item on the Taco Bell menu
• Watched every SpongeBob SquarePants episode
• Model U.N. president winning multiple awards at conferences held at Michigan State and University of Michigan
• Acted as Aaron Samuels in Seaholm's production of "Mean Girls" as a first-year actor

A quote about myself: "Never let success get to your head and never let failure get to your heart." — Aubrey Drake Graham

Runners-up: Samuel Melkonian, Malaak Jadallah, Benjamin Graham and Aubrey McCurdy

Judge: Garret Ernst, executive director, Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association

Austin Hinkley

High school: Big Rapids High School

Parents: Scott and Sarah Hinkley

College I plan to attend: Undecided

Major: Mechanical engineering

Career plans: Energy engineering and innovation

Most influential teachers: Mrs. Susan McCullen

• Chemistry/physics research on particle modeling using simulation under Dr. Luis Rivera, Ferris State University, 2023
• Coca-Cola and GE Reagan Scholar semifinalist, 2023
• Heisman and Michigan High School Athletic Association Scholar Athlete winner for Michigan, 2023-24
• College Board National Merit Program Commended Student Award
• College Board Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award
• Michigan High School Tennis Coaches Association All-State Academic Team, 2021, 2023; All-State Academic Senior Award, 2023
• Michigan High School Athletic Association State Tennis Tournament — doubles state qualifier, 2020-23, and state quarterfinalist, 2022 and 2023; four top 10 team state finishes, 2020-23; fourth place state team finish, 2022
• Michigan Tennis Coaches Association First Team Division 4 All-State Doubles, 2022
• Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association Honors Band, 2020-23, 16 Division 1 ratings at District and State Solo and Ensemble
• Big Rapids High School Varsity Tennis — set school win records for doubles wins and all-time wins, 2023

A quote about myself: "Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." — Carl Sagan

Sponsor: Delta Dental

Sophia Baron

High school: Berkley High School   

GPA: 4.4 (cumulative, weighted)

Parent: Susan Baron

College I plan to attend: University of Michigan

Major: Neuroscience (pre-med)

Career plans: Pharmacology research or dermatologist

Most influential teachers: Mrs. Olsen and Mrs. Francis

• Research intern at Detroit Receiving Hospital in the Surgical Trauma department
• Michigan delegate for a two-week national program in Washington, D.C., through CISV (an international peace organization)
• USA delegate for an international program in the Netherlands with CISV
• Received a sportsmanship recognition award from the OAA (Oakland Athletics Association) in junior year and awarded best sportsmanship on team by the coach
• Captain of varsity tennis team
• Generations of Promise class of 32
• Involved with UMATTER, as a participant, board member, and ultimately co-host of the program's culminating event
• Learned to ride a bicycle to play the part of the witch in the "Wizard of Oz" school play at age 5
• Not being deterred from horseback riding after being thrown off when younger
• Getting accepted into the University of Michigan!

A quote about myself: "Never be so kind, you forget to be clever, never be so clever, you forget to be kind." — "Marjorie" by Taylor Swift

Sponsor: Children's Foundation

Runners-up: Anna Wathen, Grace Wang, Thomas Hays and Mattea Muscat

Judge: Elizabeth Secumski Reinhold, science consultant, Macomb Intermediate School District

Visual arts

Lauren schnieders.

High school: Berkley High School

GPA: 3.86 (non-weighted), 4.2 (weighted)

Parents: Wendy and Kevin Schnieders

College I plan to attend: Savannah College of Art and Design

Major: Illustration

Career plans: Illustrate storyboards in the film industry, incorporate art skills into cinema

Most influential teachers: Mr. Weingarden and Ms. Coburn

• Scholastic Art and Writing Awards SE and Thumb Region, two Gold Keys and an Honorable Mention
• Received a 5 on my AP 2D Studio Art portfolio
• Captain of varsity tennis at Berkley and play #1 doubles
• Member of the National Society of High School Scholars, as well as National Honors Society
• Voted "Future Picasso" for senior awards
• Chosen to paint a mural for a classroom at my school
• Youth elder of my church
• Designed the logo for BHS Girls Varsity Tennis, which is displayed on ourspirit wear
• Designed a mural for a national company in their corporate office
• Illustrated a children's book with my grandfather

A quote about myself: "I am a balanced person, I know what I want for the long run and work hard for it — but I also make sure to enjoy my life along the way."

Sponsor: J. Douglas Clark

Olivia Lunsford

Parents: Johnny and Lisa Lunsford

College I plan to attend: College for Creative Studies

Career plans: Visual development artist and character designer at an animation studio

Most influential teachers: Ms. Odette Duke and Mr. Brian Colding

• Renaissance High School’s 2024 valedictorian
• Gold Key award in Southeast Michigan and Scholastic Art Awards
• Silver Key award in Southeast Michigan and Scholastic Art Awards
• Honorable Mention in Southeast Michigan and Scholastic Art Awards
• Art Exhibition at the DIA Award
• 2023 Michigan Chinese School Speech Storytelling Contest trophy

A quote about myself: "Smart is not something you are, smart is what you get."

Sponsor: Strategic Staffing Solutions

Runners-up: Emily Gayed, Elizabeth Yoo, Jenna Lawlis and Terry Fears

Judge: Antone Amye, graphic designer, City of Detroit, Media Services — Communications and Creative Services

Vocational/Technical

Jack schwab.

Major: Electrical engineering

Career plans: Electrical/software engineer

Most influential teachers: Christina Vrzovski

• Founder — @HelixMods YouTube Tech Platform: Acquired 113,000 subscribers producing 37 videos amassing 12 million views, building and engineering computer keyboards and mice
• Produced videos with YouTube creators with 1 million-plus subscribers
• YouTube Silver Creator Award (Personal) — Recognition for 100,000 subscribers
• YouTube Silver Creator Award (Manager) — For managing the @Flowaze channel and helping it grow 150% from 40,000 to 100,000 subscribers; oversaw marketing, editing, script writing, and analytics
• 1520 SAT score
• 4.0 GPA at Macomb Community College while mastering undergraduate-level math courses including calculus 1, calculus 2, calculus 3 and linear algebra
• Property maintenance technician — experience doing HVAC installation, electrical, plumbing, flooring, siding, roofing, construction, landscaping and general maintenance of rental properties
• Recipient of the Technology/Business Student of the Year Award from the Fraser School District
• Completed Harvard's CS50: Introduction to Computer Science course, earning an edX Verified Certificate
• Built a Python Web Scraping app to automate rental home water bill accounting for landlords and predict water leaks via usage spikes.

A quote about myself: "Modding is in my DNA."

Sponsor: Wolverine Solutions Group

High school: Avondale High School

GPA: 4.4375

Parents: Amit Jain and Nidhi Agarwal

College I plan to attend: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Career plans: Exploring how to integrate positive artificial intelligence solutions into society

Most influential teachers: Mr. Martin Ballard

• United States Presidential Scholar Program candidate
• National Merit finalist
• Student Software Lead for First Robotics Competition Team 3538 — seven-time event winner, three-time Autonomous Award Winner, two-time State Division Winner, three-time Worlds Qualifying Team
• Second place, Michigan High School Ethics Bowl 2022
• First place, Future Problem Solving Individual Global Issues Problem Solving (International Qualifier)
• First place, Future Problem Solving Individual Scenario Writing (International Qualifier)
• Major League Hacking Tidy the Hack Up Hackathon Best Spring Cleaning Hack
• Elks Most Valuable Student state finalist
• Congressional App Challenge District 11, third place
• National Honor Society Scholarship semifinalist

A quote about myself: "If you only do what you can do, you will never be more than you are now." — Master Shifu

Sponsor: C.A. Hull

Runners-up: Afeefah Mangera, Khadeja Rizvi, Hailey Serlin and Ayushi Gupta

Judge: Rodney G. Thomas, principal, Lamphere High School

World studies

Kaeshav krishna.

GPA: 4.3265

Parents: Sudha Varadarajan and Krishna Soundararajan

Career plans: Educational technology

Most influential teachers: Jacqueline Ciolek

• President of Troy High School Model UN club, 2023-24
• Best Delegate Award, Michigan State University Model United Nations, 2024
• Outstanding Delegate Award, Harvard Model United Nations, 2022
• Outstanding Delegate Award, Model United Nations at the University of Michigan, 2024
• Presidential Volunteer Service Award, Bronze and Silver, 2022 and 2023
• Nunmaan Tamil Academy Chief Education Officer Scholarship Award, 2023
• Recipient of Michigan Seal of Biliteracy, 2023
• Intern teacher at Chennai Higher Secondary School — Alwarpet, Chennai, India, 2023
• Intern fellow with DCCC at Rep. Andy Levin’s August primaries campaign, 2022
• Bronze Medal, National Spanish Exam, 2022 and 2023

A quote about myself: "Fight for the things that you care about. But do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” — Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Sponsor: Richard and Jane Manoogian Foundation

High school: Washtenaw International High School

Parents: Anand Rao and Kanchan Torvi

Major: Environmental engineering

Career plans: Environmental engineering and sustainability

Most influential teachers: Mr. Ashley Fox

• Created and led the volunteer team that ran the A2ZERO Plant-Based Challenge for 250-plus, in partnership with Ann Arbor’s Office of Sustainability and Innovations and VegMichigan
• Youth representative and chair of Outreach Subcommittee for the Washtenaw County Environmental Council
• Co-founder and president of Green Guild, WIHI’s sustainability club
• Led initiative to get school board to pass a climate resolution committing to resource allocation for sustainable practices, garnering support from community members
• Leader of WIHI MUN Team
• Highest Honors Award at Mid American Model United Nations
• National Merit Scholarship winner
• U.S. Senate Youth Finalist
• Indian classical dance training in Kathak for 11-plus years, and a two-hour solo showcase in June 2024
• President of La Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica

A quote about myself: "In life there are no regrets, only lessons learned."

Runners-up: Soo-yeon Kim, Zachary Rodger, Janna Carlson, Mohammed Fares Alhamwi

Judge: David Hales, senior adviser, MI History Day, Historical Society of Michigan