GPA: 3 Small Letters with a Huge Meaning

Grade point average. You've heard it before, and you won't stop hearing it until after you graduate from college (or graduate school). Your GPA is essentially the quickest way to calculate your academic performance; it is the average of the grades of all classes you've taken. It determines your ranking in your class and is the first thing colleges will look at when you apply.

There are two types of GPA's: unweighted and weighted GPA.

Unweighted: the raw average of all grades in all classes taken. This is the GPA colleges and scholarships typically look at. The maximum is a 4.00.

How to calculate:

1. Assign a numerical value to the final grade in each of your classes

A: 4

B: 3

C: 2

D: 1

F: 0

2. Add all the values and divide by the number of classes you have taken. This magical number is your unweighted GPA!

Weighted: the average of all grades in all classes taken, using additional points. This is the GPA used by the district to calculate your ranking in your class. This GPA increases by taking AP and Dual Enrollment classes. The maximum is a 6.00.

How to calculate:

1. Assign a numerical value to the final grade in each of your classes. (Notice that in this GPA each grade is a point higher!)

A: 5

B: 4

C: 3

D: 2

F: 0

2. Add all the values and divide by the number of classes you have taken. This magical number is your weghted GPA!

Calculating these can definitely be confusing (especially the weighted GPA) but once you enter high school, they will be updated on your report card each quarter, so don't worry too much. GPA is VERY important, however, that being said, it is NOT the end of the world if you get a B in a class- trust me. It is almost impossible to earn perfect A's in every single class, and sometimes there are subjects we're just not cut out for (no matter how much time we spend studying)- and this is absolutely okay. Your GPA does not define you, and it is most definitely not something to lose sleep over. Do the best you can with what you have and you will surely succeed- all of us mentors believe in you!

All the best,

Laura