Should you include it?
There are several issues to consider here. Lots of employers like to see a 3.0 or higher. On the other hand, the average college GPA is around 2.7. If yours is near that number, then you might want to include it. If you don't include your GPA, some employers may wonder exactly how terrible it is; you will leave it to their imagination. If your GPA is below what anyone can imagine, perhaps you should leave it off.
There are some other ways to illustrate your academic performance:
Major GPA: (GPA in your major courses only)
GPA during last two years: (if you got your head on straight during your junior year)
How to Calculate Your Major GPA:
Credits |
Grade |
Points |
4 |
A (4) |
16 |
3 |
B (3) |
9 |
3 |
B- (2.67) |
8.01 |
2 |
C (2) |
4 |
--- |
--- |
|
12 |
37.01 |
Using only the courses from your major area, record the number of credit hours and the numerical grade you received (see your Capital Undergraduate Bulletin), and calculate the subsequent number of points that the class is ultimately worth, given your performance (multiply Credits x Numerical Grade).
In the example on the left, the student has taken four classes totaling 12 Credit Hours. Based on the numerical value of each grade, the total Points equals 37.01.
To find the grade point average for these four classes, we divide the Points by the Credits (37.01/12). The GPA = 3.08.
Other Items to Include:
STUDY ABROAD experience. List it after your Capital University information, in the same format.
UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY, Sydney, Australia
Study Abroad Natural Resources Program, Fall 2002
GPA: 3.02/4.00
AWARDS OR HONORS. If these are academic in nature, you can either list them with your Capital University information or in an "Activities/Honors" section.
CAPITAL UNIVERSITY, Columbus, Ohio
Bachelor of Arts, May 2003
Major: English Minor: Marketing
GPA: 3.12/4.00
Dean's list, four semesters
