Increase High School GPA
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From high school honors and AP to middle school foreign language and high school counselors, a 4.0 and/or 5.0 high school GPA scale means more than just earning grades and working hard. Parents and students can benefit greatly from knowing about a few ways to greatly maximize high school and college admissions Grade Point Averages.
Take Foreign Language Classes in Middle School
Most middle schools offer foreign language classes as electives. Taking two years of language in middle school can count for at least one year of high school credit and it will eliminate one more 4 point graded course.
Take Honors and AP Classes
Honors and AP classes usually academically weigh students on a 5 point scale instead of a 4 point scale. An A can earn a student a 5.0, a B a 4.0, and a C a 3.0. These courses give students a chance to push their overall Grade Point Average above a 4.0.
Go Far in Middle School
Taking the most advanced courses in middle school will allow students to enroll in Honors and AP classes in high school. If a middle school, for example, offers geometry as its highest level of mathematics, students should attempt to take geometry before they graduate from middle school.
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Take High School Competency Tests Seriously
Many high schools give middle schools competency tests to administer to students to determine which high school classes students should be placed in. Students should take such tests seriously so they can be placed in the most advanced courses possible.
Eliminate Non-Academic Electives
Elective classes that do not allow a student to earn a 5.0 will bring down a student's overall GPA, even if the student earns all A's. Replacing as many of these courses with academic classes weighted on a 5 point scale would be ideal.
Take 4.0 Classes Freshman and Senior Year
Many colleges and universities only focus on a student's middle two years, sophomore and junior year. The colleges will recalculate a student's admission GPA based on the classes taken during this time period. Taking as many 5 point courses during the middle two years of high school, and taking as many 4 point courses during the first and last year of high school, can improve a student's college admission GPA. These 4 point courses might include P.E., band, computer graphics, foreign language, art, and woodshop.
Balanced Course-load
High school can be overwhelming and earning a high GPA definitely will be. Students should try to balance their classes by taking an even amount of courses each term and not taking all the challenging classes at once. Students should mix academic classes with more enjoyable classes if possible, like taking photography along with AP calculus. Students should also not allow for there to be a period when they take very many courses one term and very few courses another term. Keeping a steady pace and not being too overwhelmed will benefit the student in the long run.
Confront the High School Counselor
Some high school counselors manage hundreds of student schedules each term and students should not rely on their counselors to always setup the most ideal and functional class schedule. Parents and students should not be afraid to counter their counselor's suggestions if the schedule interferes with the student's overall plans or if the student feels the schedule will be too difficult or detrimental to the student's GPA.
Make School a Priority
Of course, success and hard work falls on the efforts of the student, and unfortunately, corresponds with the socioeconomic opportunities afforded. Students, Parents, and the community must work together to encourage and safeguard academic success.
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Well said :)
Good information, probably summed up best in the last heading of "make school a priority". If students followed that one piece of advice and did nothing else they would be well on their way.
This makes me angry. Like, who is going to achieve that perfect, 4.0 mold. Academics aren't all there is to life. I'm not going to eliminate all other activities in my life to focus on school. School is not my priority. Because I don't fit that mold. I know very few who do. I happen to be a kick ass writer, but guess what, I'm failing algebra II. Gawd, my two friends both got into the same college. It's a pretty hard college to get into, it's an acting college. One took 4 AP classes, the other didn't take any. If I wanted to focus on school, and do what this advised me, I shouldn't take theatre classes every year. I should take something that will let me get a higher GPA. Screw everyone who thinks that everyone has to fit into that perfect, cookie cutter, mold. :))
well allison u have to understand that this page isn't for students like you. their for students who want to be in very hard and competitive jobs like CEOs. Or in my case, want to get into a great college they've been dreaming of since they've been 10. I'm not even a freshmen yet but im planning ahead so tht i can maintain good grades when i am. I want to focus on school for the next 8 years so that i can get into the naval academy and then graduate from it and then after the navy start a company with my brother (aeronautical engineer), my cousin (hydraulics engineer), and me (degrees in economics, engineering, all the stuff the USNA requires you to learn). this is for people like me, with goals that are hard to accomplish and need near perfect grades
i forgot to write what company i want to start that ties in with the navy, it's weaponry for the government. Morsecode Weaponry, look it up in a few years
I'm a high school junior and my GPA is a 2.43. I need to know how much I need to increase my grades to go to a 4 year college. Anyone no?
Hi Cheerstar94!
That is a complicated question. First, it would depend on which college you plan on going to. Then, the following will most likely factor in:
-SAT/ACT scores
-Extra curricular activities (sports, clubs, volunteering, etc)
-Socioeconomic background (where you grew up, did your parents go to college, are you a first gen immigrant etc)
You should also take into consideration that your high school GPA will not be the same GPA colleges and universities look at. Most colleges only factor in your GPA from your sophomore and junior year and might exclude elective courses and PE. You'll still need to pass all the college prerequisite courses as well.
Best bet is too meet with your high school counselor right away with a few universities and colleges in mind and they should be able to give you a better idea of a safe zone for your GPA.
Good luck!
I'm a sophomore in high school and I have a 2.9 un-weighed gpa. I'm currently super depressed regarding my grades. Is there any possible way (with me taking extra courses on the summer plus during school) to get valedictorian? Or does taking more courses not bring up your gpa? Thank you.
Hi Mary,
That would really depend on what your school factors into choosing a valedictorian. If they base it purely on GPA, unless everyone else is doing poorly, I would say you're out of the race. Most valedictorians already have above a 4.0 once they reach sophomore year.
Now, some high schools factor in club membership, athletics, and other school participation as well. I would speak with your guidance counselor about it if you really want to know.
That being said - remember to focus on your long term goals. You don't need to be valedictorian to get into a great college or into your dream career.
Taking extra courses does not necessarily bring your GPA up. Getting into 5.0 weighted courses and earning A's in all of those courses that semester will.
For example, you're better off taking 4 5.0 weighted courses and getting all A's in those, then taking 7 5.0 weighted courses and getting all B's, or even half A's and half B's. Most schools adjust GPA by quarter or semester, so you just want to concentrate on making each semester schedule you take doable.
Quality over quantity :)
Just make sure you're taking the courses you need to graduate, the courses required to get into the college you want to enter, and the courses required for the possible college majors you might choose. Do the best you can in those courses, especially sophomore and junior year - those 2 years count the most when you apply to college.
Do the best you can with what you can handle without jumping over the edge and you'll be fine. You might not be able to be valedictorian, but you can still get close to a 4.0 and move on to college.
Once in college, who cares? Your GPA resets anyway! And who knows, maybe you'll be valedictorian of your college graduating class instead ;)
I appreciate it very much! You have no idea, I cry all the time thinking I'll just end up in some crappy college. God Bless!
No problem Mary!
Remember, you get second chances. Even if you don't get into the college you want straight out of high school, you can transfer to a better college later. Even if you go the community or junior college route first (which is cheaper anyway), you can still transfer to a 4 year university after you finish your lower division units.
Your final degree will be from the institution you graduate from, not the one you start with. Transfer requirements are usually less competitive then ones straight out of high school as well.
So just do your best and try not to stress too much about it :)
Very important and interesting article!
hey BEN- USNA i completely agree ! tell me more about that Morsecode Weaponry thing.
Can you take an AP Calculus class more than once even if you haven't failed it, but to get a better grade and a higher class rank?
i have a 3.11 unweighted gpa right now as a junior. this really scares me. i dont know what to do to make it better. this quarter i did really well so if i keep it up will my gpa improve a lot or only a little?
roma: Most high schools will not let you retake a class unless you failed it originally. I want to say no, but it really depends on the school.
sharapie: if you keep earning A's, your GPA will definitely go up. Try to take more honors and AP classes the second half of the year. Anything above a 3.1 will raise your GPA at this point, and many of the honors and AP classes will get you a 4.0 for a B and a 5.0 for an A. If you can work hard to earn those grades, you have some room for improvement :)
Senior year won't help you much in terms of college admissions and improving your GPA.
Your next best bet is focusing on the standardized tests - SAT, SAT II, and ACT. If you can study for these tests and earn really high scores, your lower GPA will not hurt you as much.
Also, if you will be applying to colleges that look at extra-curricular activities, factor in demographics and socio-economic backgrounds, etc you'll probably have a better chance if you can earn points in these areas.
I'm currently a junior,and I've maintained straight a's throughout high school, but three unnecessary classes drip my GPA to the point where i'm merely 19th in my class. I managed a 29 on the act, and plan to retake. I'm joining the team, i'm on the quizbowl team, a well as key club, and will soon join national honor society. will it matter in the long run?
The football team*
I am a freshman and lets say that my gpa is around a 2.5-2.7 at the end of the year. How hard would it be to raise my gpa all the way up to a 3.0-3.3? Oh and also i play soccer and am pretty good at it and should make the varsity team, Does that help which colleges might choose me?
dwilso: 19th in your class? You're still doing very well! And those extra curricular activities can definitely help with a number of universities. I would take the SAT and the SAT IIs possible as well, just to be on the safe side and give you a few more options. Unless you're GPA is under a 3.5, I don't see you really needing to worry too much :)
Kvar: You have plenty of time to get your GPA up to a 3.3... even a 4.0. And remember, colleges usually only factor in your sophmore and junior grades. Playing soccer will also help get you into some colleges. Just work hard in class and you'll be fine :)
I wanted to put this out there but not everyone can get into honors even if they want to my advise would be do your best,stay postive and don't push yourself to hard. Don't burn
yourself out, yes your future is relieing on this but if you take it one step at a time, your grades will go up, if your not getting something make sure you ask in class, I can't say that enough your have to ask questions. When typing/texting write in complete sentences and begin reading 2 hours a night, it will increase your ACT scores.
So I am a junior and I had an D in french 1 for my final grade in the class. I made all a's and b's in my other class. What should I do to improve my gpa with that D? and since its french, does colleges look into it a lot?
Hello
I'm in grade 8, just got in high school, and I want to know what grades I need to get into college. I want to be just a simple doctor, not like surgery or anything. I'm in state high school in Brisbane, Queensland so any chance anyone knows anything about these schools and what I should do to get in college please???
hi im in my sophomore year. I have a 3.6 gpa after the first semester, but I had a really bad freshman year and my gpa was very low. what should i do? i dont want to finish high school with a bad gpa.
Just take the classes you can handle, focus on academics, and do your best. Most colleges don't factor in freshman year :)
is there a chance of my gpa getting to a 3.0 if im a junior...btw my gpa 2.75..if so how many honors or ap classes will it take?PLEASE I NEED AN ANSWER ASAP
Definitely! But you're betting off speaking with your counselor to plan the best route senior year to do so :)
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Being in highschool is very tough and people can distract you easily, but it is best to stay on task, and focus.