Start Early, Keep Tracking, Finish Strong

As a higher education consultant, the first question I often ask a student is, "What's your GPA?" It's a simple query, but the answer—and the student's understanding of it—can reveal a great deal. Your Grade Point Average (GPA) is more than just a number on a transcript; it's the quantifiable summary of your academic journey, a critical metric for scholarships, graduate school applications, and even some career opportunities. Treating it as an afterthought is a common misstep. Instead, you should view it as your academic North Star, a guiding light that requires regular navigation. This guide will equip you with the knowledge and tools to calculate, track, and master your GPA from your first semester to well after you've tossed your graduation cap.

What Exactly is a GPA?

At its core, a GPA is a numerical representation of your academic achievement, calculated by averaging the grades you've earned in all your courses. Different countries utilize various scales such as Nigeria and India use 5.0 scale, some EU countries 6.0 scale, Greece and Spain 10.0 scale, while in the United States and Canada, this is most commonly on a 4.0 scale, where: continue reading