GPA GAME HOW DOES GPA AFFECT YOUR ADMISSION TO COLLEGE?

GPA GAME HOW DOES GPA AFFECT YOUR ADMISSION TO COLLEGE?

WHAT’S GPA? GRADE POINT AVERAGE ALL YOUR GRADES ARE ADDED TOGETHER AND THEN DIVIDED BY THE NUMBER OF CLASSES YOU HAVE TAKEN VARIES FROM ONE HIGH SCHOOL TO ANOTHER IT MAY INCLUDE ONLY ACADEMIC CLASSES AT SOME SCHOOLS MIGHT INCLUDE ALL CLASSES AT SOME SCHOOLS HS GPA IS CONVERTED TO 4.00 ON COLLEGE SCALE DURING ADMISSIONS PROCESS

GPA ON COLLEGE SCALE COLLEGE GPA IS CALCULATED ON 4.00 SCALE 4.00 “A” 3.00 “B” 2.00 “C” 1.00 “D”

COLLEGE GPA SCALES 4.00 “A” 3.67 “A-” 3.33 “B ” 3.00 “B” 2.67 “B-” 2.33 “C ” 2.00 “C” 1.67 “C-” 1.33 “D ” 1.00 “D” .67 “D-”

DOES MY GPA AFFECT COLLEGE ADMISSION? YES AND NO IT VARIES BY THE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY YOU APPLY TO MORE DETAILS TO COME AS WE PLAY THE GAME !

GAME TIME! 4.00, 3.90, 3.80, 3.70, 3.60, 3.50, 3.40, 3.30, 3.20, 3.10

IF YOU HAVE TAKEN AN EXCEPTIONALLY STRONG ACADEMIC PROGRAM, MOVE UP 2 SPOTS WHO MOVES?

3.80, 3.40, 4.00, 3.90, 3.70, 3.60, 3.50, 3.30, 3.20, 3.10 EXCEPTIONALLY STRONG ACADEMIC PROGRAMS ARE FAVORED – AP/IB/HONORS, G/T

WHO MOVES? IF YOU PLAY AN INSTRUMENT AT A HIGH LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY – MOVE UP 1 SPOT

3.80, 4.00, 3.50, 3.70, 3.90, 3.40, 3.60, 3.30, 3.20, 3.10 PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT AT A HIGH LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY DESIRED AS MUSIC MAJOR WITH FEW OPENINGS FOR CERTAIN INSTRUMENTS. AUDITIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR MUSIC MAJORS AT MOST COLLEGES.

WHO MOVES? IF YOU CLEARLY STATED THAT THIS COLLEGE WAS YOUR FIRST CHOICE BY MAKING AN EARLY DECISION APPLICATION AND COMMITMENT - MOVE UP 2 SPOTS

3.60, 3.80, 4.00, 3.70, 3.90, 3.40, 3.50, 3.30, 3.20, 3.10 MAKING AN EARLY DECISION APPLICATION AND COMMITMENT DEMONSTRATED INTEREST, HIGHLY FAVORED IN COLLEGE ADMISSION OFFICES

WHO MOVES? IF YOUR INTENDED MAJOR IS PSYCHOLOGY OR PREMED, MOVE DOWN 1 SPOT

4.00, 3.80, 3.90, 3.70, 3.60, 3.40, 3.50, 3.30, 3.20, 3.10 INTENDED MAJOR IS PSYCHOLOGY OR PREMED – THOSE ARE VERY POPULAR INTERESTS DURING COLLEGE ADMISSION PROCESS. IT IS OK TO APPLY WITH THOSE ARE YOUR INTERESTS.

WHO IS ON THE MOVE? IF YOUR INTENDED MAJOR IS GREEK AND THERE IS A CLEAR RATIONALE FOR YOUR CHOICE – MOVE UP 1

3.50, 4.00, 3.80, 3.70, 3.60, 3.90, 3.40, 3.30, 3.20, 3.10 INTENDED MAJOR IS GREEK AND THERE IS A CLEAR RATIONALE NOT MANY STUDENTS WANT TO MAJOR IN GREEK. COLLEGES WITH THIS MAJOR WOULD WANT THIS STUDENT.

WHO MOVES? IF YOU DO NOT KNOW YOUR TEACHERS WELL AND HAD TROUBLE FINDING SOMEONE TO WRITE YOUR COLLEGE RECOMMENDATION – MOVE DOWN 2 SPOTS

3.70, 4.00, 3.80, 3.60, 3.90, 3.50, 3.40, 3.30, 3.20, 3.10 FIND TEACHERS WHO TAUGHT YOU IN 2 OR MORE CLASSES TO WRITE YOUR COLLEGE RECOMMENDATION. ALSO- GIVE YOUR COLLEGE ADVISOR A LIST OF YOUR ACTIVITIES AND SOME BACKGROUND INFO TO HELP THEM WRITE YOUR LETTER.

WHO IS MOVING? IF - WHEN YOU CUT & PASTED YOUR COLLEGE ESSAY, YOU FORGOT TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE COLLEGE YOU WERE APPLYING TO, MOVE DOWN 3 SPOTS

3.80, 4.00, 3.60, 3.90, 3.70, 3.50, 3.40, 3.30, 3.20, 3.10 FORGETTING TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE COLLEGE YOU WERE APPLYING TO HUGE MISTAKE CARELESS! NECESSARY TO PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS. HAVE SOMEONE ELSE PROOF READ IT BEFORE YOU HIT THE “SUBMIT” BUTTON.

WHO IS MAKING THE MOVE? IF YOU ARE A LEGACY - MOVE UP 2 SPOTS

3.50, 3.70, 3.80, 3.20, 3.40, 3.10, 3.30 4.00, 3.60, 3.90, A LEGACY PARENT/PARENTS, GRANDPARENT/PARENTS, AND/OR SIBLING(S) GRADUATED FROM THE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY YOU ARE APPLYING TO

WHO MOVES? IF YOU DID NOT WRITE THE OPTIONAL ESSAY FOR YOUR COLLEGE APPLICATION – MOVE DOWN 1

3.60, 4.00, 3.90, 3.50, 3.70, 3.80, 3.20, 3.40, 3.30, 3.10 WRITE THE OPTIONAL ESSAY FOR YOUR COLLEGE APPLICATION ANYWAY. WE WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU

WHO IS MOVING NEXT? IF THE TOPIC OF YOUR COLLEGE ESSAY WAS “WHAT I LEARNED FROM PLAYING SPORTS” – MOVE DOWN 1

3.60, 4.00, 3.90, 3.50, 3.70, 3.80, 3.20, 3.40, 3.30, 3.10 “WHAT I LEARNED FROM PLAYING SPORTS” IS A VERY COMMON ESSAY – WE READ THOUSANDS OF THESE. IF YOU MUST USE THIS - SAY HOW IT INFLUENCED YOU TO CONSIDER ATHLETIC TRAINING, OR CONSIDER MEDICINE/PHYSICAL THERAPY AS A MAJOR

MOVING NEXT IS IF YOU WROTE THE ESSAY OF THE YEAR— THE ONE THAT WAS PASSED AROUND THE ENTIRE ADMISSION OFFICE BECAUSE IT WAS SO REMARKABLE – MOVE UP 3

3.30, 4.00, 3.60, 3.90, 3.50, 3.70, 3.80, 3.20, 3.40, 3.10 ESSAY OF THE YEAR—THE ONE THAT WAS PASSED AROUND THE ENTIRE ADMISSION OFFICE WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT MAKES YOU TICK, WHAT MOTIVATES YOU, YOUR DREAMS & GOALS

WHO’S ON THE MOVE? IF YOU WILL BE FIRST IN YOUR FAMILY TO ATTEND COLLEGE -MOVE UP 1

4.00, 3.60, 3.90, 3.50, 3.70, 3.30, 3.80, 3.40, 3.20, 3.10 BEING THE FIRST IN YOUR FAMILY TO ATTEND COLLEGE YOU ARE CONSIDERED A FIRST GENERATION STUDENT ALL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WANT TO HELP YOU ALONG YOUR JOURNEY TO ACHIEVE YOUR DREAM/GOAL TO BE THE FIRST COLLEGE GRADUATE IN YOUR FAMILY

MOVING NEXT IS IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN AN ENRICHING SUMMER PROGRAM BETWEEN YOUR JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS MOVE UP 2

3.90, 3.50, 4.00, 3.60, 3.70, 3.30, 3.80, 3.40, 3.20, 3.10 PARTICIPATION IN AN ENRICHING SUMMER PROGRAM BETWEEN YOUR JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS IS A PLUS ESPECIALLY IF IT IS THE COLLEGE YOU ARE APPLYING TO. SHOWS YOU THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX DIDN’T JUST HANG AROUND THE POOL/BEACH OR DID NETFLIX & CHILL THE ENTIRE SUMMER.

MOVING NEXT IS IF YOU DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, PART-TIME JOB OR HAD FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES – MOVE DOWN 3

4.00, 3.90, 3.50, 3.60, 3.70, 3.30, 3.80, 3.40, 3.20, 3.10 IF THE ACTIVITY SECTION IS EMPTY, COLLEGES WILL ASSUME YOU DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY EXTRACURRICULARS, WORK PART-TIME OR HAVE FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES. WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU DO – BEFORE/AFTER SCHOOL, ON BREAKS, VACATION, ETC.

NEXT ON THE MOVE IF YOU HAVE PARTICIPATED IN A SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT – MOVE UP 1

3.90, 3.60, 3.40, 3.50, 3.70, 4.00, 3.30, 3.80, 3.20, 3.10 PARTICIPATION IN A SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT LOOKED UPON FAVORABLY AS MOST COLLEGES WANT STUDENTS WHO ARE CIVIC MINDED AND ENGAGED

NEXT TO MOVE IS IF YOU EARNED GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARD OR EAGLE SCOUT STATUS – MOVE UP 2

4.00, 3.50, 3.70, 3.30, 3.20, 3.40, 3.80, 3.10 3.90, 3.60, EARNING THE GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARD OR EAGLE SCOUT STATUS SHOWS LEADERSHIP, COMMITMENT , THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX, GOAL ORIENTED

NEXT ON THE MOVE IS IF YOU PLAGERIZED AN AP AMERICAN HISTORY PAPER AND GOT CAUGHT BYE BYE YOU’RE OUT OF THE COMPETITION ENTIRELY

3.90, 3.60, 4.00, 3.50, 3.70, 3.30, 3.20, 3.40, 3.10 IF YOU PLAGERIZED AN AP AMERICAN HISTORY PAPER AND GOT CAUGHT— CHEATING IS NEVER, EVER ACCEPTABLE! EVERYTHING YOU DO IN THE DARK, ALWAYS COMES TO LIGHT BE HONEST!

WHO IS MOVING? IF YOU ARE A VARSITY ATHLETE AND LETTERED OR HELD A POSITION OF LEADERSHIP ON THE TEAM – MOVE UP 2

3.90, 3.60, 4.00, 3.50, 3.70, 3.30, 3.10, 3.40, 3.20 IF YOU ARE A VARSITY ATHLETE AND LETTERED OR HELD A POSITION OF LEADERSHIP ON THE TEAM – IT IS A PLUS IF YOU ARE BEING RECRUITED AS A STUDENT-ATHLETE. BE SURE TO REGISTER WITH THE NCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER.

MAKING THE NEXT MOVE IS IF YOU GOT A “D” IN AN ACADEMIC COURSE AT THE END OF YOUR JUNIOR YEAR, MOVE DOWN 3 SPOTS

3.90, 3.60, 4.00, 3.50, 3.70, 3.40, 3.10, 3.20, 3.30 YOU GOT A “D” IN AN ACADEMIC COURSE AT THE END OF YOUR JUNIOR YEAR THIS IS CHALLENGING YEAR DUE TO THE PANDEMIC WE WILL LOOK AT EVERYTHING. WAS THE “D’ IN A YOUR STRONGEST OR WEAKEST SUBJECT?

MOVING ON IF YOU USED THE “ADDITONAL INFORMATION” SECTION OF THE COMMON APP TO EXPLAIN THE “D” GRADE OR EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES AND YOUR COUNSELOR OR TEACHER CORROBORATED YOUR STORY 1

3.90, 3.60, 4.00, 3.50, 3.70, 3.40, 3.10, 3.30, 3.20 *USE THE “ADDITONAL INFORMATION” SECTION OF THE COMMON APP TO EXPLAIN ANY/ALL EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES! PLEASE DON’T MAKE US ASSUME

NEXT TO MOVE IS IF YOU ARE A LEGAL RESIDENT OF TEXAS APPLYING TO COLLEGE IN THE NORTHEASTERN USA – MOVE UP 2 SPOTS

4.00, 3.90, 3.60, 3.50, 3.70, 3.40, 3.10, 3.30, 3.20 APPLYING TO OUT OF STATE COLLEGES ARE FAVORED USUALLY BY PRIVATE COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES WHO VALUE GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY IN THE STUDENT BODY.

MOVE AGAIN IF YOU NEVER GAVE YOUR COUNSELOR ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION TO USE IN WRITING YOUR COLLEGE RECOMMENDATION – MOVE DOWN 1

4.00, 3.90, 3.60, 3.50, 3.40, 3.10, 3.30, 3.20 3.70, GIVE YOUR COUNSELOR AS MUCH PERSONAL INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE (HOBBIES, SPECIAL SKILLS/TALENTS, INTERESTS) TO USE IN WRITING YOUR COLLEGE RECOMMENDATION. GIVE THEM ADVANCE NOTICE AS WELL – AT LEAST A MONTH, NOT LAST MINUTE. LACK OF PLANNING ON YOUR PART, DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN EMERGENCY ON THEIR PART.

READY TO MOVE? IF YOU HAD “A’S” FROM 9TH TO 11TH GRADES, BUT YOUR FIRST SEMESTER SENIOR GRADES HAD MORE “C’S” THAN “A’S” – MOVE DOWN 3 SPOTS

3.90, 4.00, 3.60, 3.50, 3.40, 3.10, 3.30, 3.20 3.70, IF YOU HAD “A’S” FROM 9TH TO 11TH GRADES, BUT YOUR FIRST SEMESTER SENIOR GRADES HAD MORE “C’S” THAN “A’S” TELL US WHAT FACTORS ARE AFFECTING YOU IN SCHOOL, AT HOME, IS IT AN ILLNESS, ETC.

MOVING NEXT IS YOU WANT TO PROTECT YOUR GPA. IF YOUR SCHOOL OFFERS ACADEMICALLY CHALLENGING COURSES BUT YOU DID NOT TAKE ANY – MOVE DOWN 2 SPOTS

4.00, 3.60, 3.50, 3.40, 3.90, 3.70, 3.10, 3.30, 3.20* UNCHANGED PROTECTING YOUR GPA WHILE YOUR SCHOOL OFFERS ACADEMICALLY CHALLENGING COURSES, BUT YOU DID NOT TAKE ANY. MAKES ADMISSIONS OFFICE ASK 1) WHAT IS THE STUDENT AFRAID OF? WE WANT TO SEE THAT YOU HAVE CHALLENGED YOURSELF. 2) DID YOU TRANSFER IN FROM ANOTHER SCHOOL WHERE IT WASN’T OFFERED?

WHO’S MOVING? IF YOU GOT CAUGHT DRINKING ALCOHOL IN YOUR JUNIOR OR SENIOR YEAR – MOVE DOWN 2

4.00, 3.60, 3.50, 3.40, 3.90, 3.70, 3.10, 3.20, 3.30 IF YOU GOT CAUGHT DRINKING ALCOHOL IN YOUR JUNIOR OR SENIOR YEAR – EVEN ON SCHOOL TRIP ABROAD NOT CONDONED. DRINKING AGE IS 21

4 MORE TO GO. MOVING NEXT IF YOU ARE A PERSON OF COLOR APPLYING TO A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE CAMPUS (PWI) – MOVE UP 1

3.70, 4.00, 3.60, 3.50, 3.40, 3.90, 3.10, 3.20, 3.30 A PERSON OF COLOR APPLYING TO A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE CAMPUS (PWI) COLLEGES WANT TO DIVERSIFY STUDENT BODY

3 MORE TO GO - NEXT TO MOVE IF YOU ATTENDED A COLLEGE INFORMATION SESSION AT YOUR HIGH SCHOOL, WENT A COLLEGE FAIR & FILLED OUT THE INQUIRY CARD, OR VISITED THE COLLEGE CAMPUS AND FILLED OUT A CARD THERE – MOVE UP

3.60, 4.00, 3.50, 3.40, 3.70, 3.90, 3.10, 3.20, 3.30 ATTENDING A COLLEGE INFORMATION SESSION AT YOUR HIGH SCHOOL, ATTENDING A COLLEGE FAIR & FILLED OUT THE INQUIRY CARD, OR VISITED THE COLLEGE CAMPUS AND FILLED OUT A CARD THERE (INCLUDES VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING WITH COLLEGES) DEMONSTRATED INTEREST

2ND TO LAST – MOVING NEXT IS IF YOU ARE AN UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT, MOVE DOWN 2

3.60, 4.00, 3.50, 3.40, 3.70, 3.10, 3.90, 3.20, 3.30 UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS ARE ACCEPTED BY A FEW COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES. ASK IF THE INSTITUTION IS A “SANCTUARY CAMPUS” AS THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE INFO ON YOUR STATUS TO ICE. ASK FOR ADMISSION OFFICER(S) WHO WORK WITH UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS.

LAST MOVE IF YOUR LAST NAME IS GATES —THE NAME ON THE COLLEGE LIBRARY IS GATES —AND IT’S NOT A COINCIDENCE, MOVE ALL THE WAY TO THE FRONT AND STAY THERE!

3.20, 3.60, 4.00, 3.50, 3.40, 3.70, 3.10, 3.90, 3.30 IF YOUR LAST NAME IS GATES —THE NAME ON THE COLLEGE LIBRARY IS GATES —AND IT’S NOT A COINCIDENCE. IT’S USUALLY A LARGE DONOR TO THE COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY AS LONG AS THE STUDENT IS STRONG ACADEMICALLY

Q&A JO ANNE PHANG SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS [email protected]