Many students in the United States school system have set professional goals for themselves after their academic careers are over. The U.S. has an extensive network of colleges and universities spread out throughout the country. The common denominator every one of these schools has is the Grade Point Average (GPA). This statistic is used to help select students who apply to an institution of higher learning.
A student's GPA is a strong indicator of how he or she will perform at the university level, but it is not the only thing universities measure. Many other factors come into play when a person applies for entrance to a university. Extracurricular activities, community involvement, and personal hardships are all considered in the application process. However, the first thing schools look at is the GPA.
GPAs in the U.S. are a standardized method of measuring a student's academic performance. It is based on a 4.0 scale, and works together with the A to F grading system. Generally speaking, an A grade will earn the student a 4.0 GPA. If the student receives a B, then his or her GPA comes in at 3.0. C grades equal a 2.0, D 1.0 and an F grade is 0.0... If a student takes four classes, and receives two A's, one B and a C, his or her GPA would be 3.25, which is acceptable at many schools, but not all. The best thing to do is to try to get as many A grades as possible to increase your chances at getting into a highly-rated school. The top universities in the country require a GPA of at least 3.5, but it is best to get as close to 4.0 as possible. Most students who apply at top-rated universities have well over a 3.5 GPA.
