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[GaimeGuy]

I'm just wondering: Does it serve any purpose other than a guide as to your overall grade in college? High school GPA's are a factor considered when entering college. Does college GPA play a much less important role than in high school?

 

[kumanoki]

I'm just wondering: Does it serve any purpose other than a guide as to your overall grade in college? High school GPA's are a factor considered when entering college. Does college GPA play a much less important role than in high school?

You overall GPA may determine eligibility for ongoing scholarships or grants. As far as I know, employers won't give a damn what your GPA was in college, becuase it isn't an effective measure of a prospective employee.

 

[Ecrofirt]

All I know is that I need to maintain a 3.2 GPA, or I lose my scholarship.

 

[Bebpo]

It's somewhat important for graduate schools. Most of the ones I've looked at say you need a minimum of a 3.0 to get in.

 

[teiresias]

In engineering professions GPA can be very important for landing your first job, but the damage of a relatively low one (meaning no lower than maybe 3.3) can sometimes be minimized if you have alot of interning or co-op experience. However, every place I've interviewed asks for both undergrad and graduate school transcripts. After your first job though you generally won't even put your GPA on your resume anyway, just your schools and degrees.

 

[GaimeGuy]

So basically, it doesn't play any role except a somewhat minimal one in your startup job after college.

 

[whytemyke]

i've looked at some top notch grad schools and even like Georgetown says that they accept as low as a 3.0... if you're looking at grad school that's all GPA really matters. That and the GRE/GMAT/LSAT

 

[retardboy]

Yeah... Pretty much only grad school really cares.

 

[demon]

I guess this means no grad school for mee!!

 

[fart]

you can use it as a cupholder!

 

[way more]

Yeah... Pretty much only grad school really cares.

Well world, I'm fucked.

 

[The Fronde]

Are grad schools like college, where they care about extracurricular activities a lot? Or is it pretty much GPA?

 

[nitewulf]

for grad schools, you definitely need a 3.0+ GPA to have a decent shot of being accepted.
for engineering majors, it's VERY important (NOT minimal) to have a 3.0+ GPA on your resume, as otherwise you wont even be called in for an interview. they have cut-offs. this is obviously true for your first job attempt.
for instance, IBM only looks at 3.4+ resumes.
unless of course you are very active and have been doing inernships and get offers before graduation. which happens a lot, actually. because in practical work life, your GPA is irrelevant, how you perform projects and deal with your co-workers is far more important.
after you get the first job though, nobody gives a shit for subsequent job interviews. your first job experience takes over everything else.

edit:

Are grad schools like college, where they care about extracurricular activities a lot? Or is it pretty much GPA?

GPA.
professor recommendations.
GRE score.
personal statement.
depending on your major you have to submit portfolios (architecture).

 

[ChrisReid]

I've run into a number of situations where college GPA ended up being much more important than high school GPA. Getting into competitive majors and departments depends a lot on GPA. Some don't realisitically take people below 3.5. Ditto for graduate schools. You might be able to apply with a 3.0 or higher, but it really hurts below 3.5. Many employers hiring college recruits also base heavily on GPA. Boeing employment for recent college graduates pretty much gets broken down by that 3.5 line too. So don't slack off.

 

[CrystalGemini]

Employers want to see experience. Meaning internships. GPA comes second only if you and another potential employee have the same amount or quality of experience (again, usually internships). Employers can really give a rats ass about how well you write essays or take tests. Unless of course, that's what you're applying to do...

 

[sonicfan]

I also know that in finance, your GPA can matter. I have seen many job listings for entry level and 2 to 5 years experience level jobs looking for people with 3.5 or better undergraduate GPAs. Also, coming from a "top school" also is important, but I'm never 100% what they mean, other than maybe Ivy league or other top business schools like Michigan, Stanford, etc.

 

[advancegrant]

I work for the US Government - and when hired they looked at GPA - people over 3.0 were started at a higher salary. That made the work in college feel like it was worth something.