January 2006

Briefly speaking: A close look at the GPA

Student Erin Loury checks her grades online. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)

For many students at UC Davis, their GPA or grade point average defines their existence, especially if they have aspirations beyond an undergraduate education. Regardless whether a student intends to go on to graduate school, the GPA may remain important throughout the academic career, says Frank Wada, university registrar for UC Davis.

The GPA gives a general impression of how well a student is performing on an academic level and is a critical component in applying for scholarships, maintaining eligibility to play for university athletic teams and even qualifying for a good student discount on auto insurance.

By the numbers

A student's GPA is based on a 4.0 scale. Points for an individual course are calculated by multiplying the numerical value of the grade received by the number of units assigned to that course. For example, an A, worth four points, in a four unit class would constitute 16 points, and a B, worth three points, in the same class would garner 12 points. The total points earned for all courses considered are then averaged over the number of units for those courses attempted to achieve the GPA.

Detailed information about grades and methods of calculating a student's GPA can be found in the UC Davis General Catalog.

Many UC Davis students not only have a UC GPA, but a cumulative GPA that includes any transferable community college or other university level courses. And because some courses are taken on a pass/no pass basis, the units are not calculated into their GPA.

UC Davis students are expected to maintain a C average (2.0 GPA) or better in all coursework and are considered "scholastically deficient" if they are unable to maintain a C average.

Wada says that some graduate schools may only consider the GPA earned during the student's most recent 90 quarter units (along with a variety of other admission factors). And individual departments or programs may vary in how they look at the GPA.

Open dialogue encouraged

"Sometimes, unfortunately, students put too much pressure on themselves," Wada says. "They need to find a balance, and I would encourage parents to have open conversations about their student's goals.

"Showing an openness to have that dialogue," he added, "may allow students to acknowledge some of the academic challenges they may be experiencing and help identify alternatives or pathways that can support their goals."

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