How Colleges View Your GPAWeighted vs. Unweighted GPAIs a 3.8 GPA Good for College Admissions?Colleges You Can Get into with a 3.8 GPA How to Raise Your GPAFAQs: 3.8 GPA3.8 GPA for College? You Can Do This
Reviewed by:
Rohan Jotwani
Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University
Reviewed: 4/25/22
If you’re wondering, “How good is a 3.8 GPA?” or what a 3.8 GPA is weighted to unweighted, this guide has all the answers. Read on to learn more about what your GPA means for you.
Is a 3.8 GPA good enough to get into college?
“Good” and “bad” are difficult terms to use with GPA as they are subjective; one applicant might be over the moon if they received a 3.8 GPA, and another may burst into tears. As we will show, this is a high average. However, some universities may have freshmen with higher GPAs.
If you are worried about your GPA and college, this article will explore how colleges view your GPA and how you can improve it. We’ll also provide some colleges you can get into with a 3.8 GPA and tips for getting accepted.
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How Colleges View Your GPA
Grade point average (GPA) indicates the average value of your final course grades. When colleges look at your GPA, they are not looking at the number alone; admissions officers view your GPA within the context of your coursework difficulty. This is where the difference between weighted GPA and unweighted GPA comes to the fore.
Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA
A weighted GPA represents the average value of your final grades in a course while considering its difficulty. The more challenging course options you can choose at high school include AP classes, the IB Program, and honors courses.
The weighted GPA system aims to provide colleges with a clearer idea of a student’s college readiness, measured on a scale from 0 to 5.0.
Unlike a weighted GPA, an unweighted GPA indicates the average value of your final grades in your courses without factoring in their difficulty. For example, an A in an advanced course gives the same GPA as an A in a regular course.
Thus, if a student receives a mixture of A’s and B’s in advanced-level courses, their overall GPA may be lower than someone who received straight A’s in regular courses. Unlike weighted GPA, unweighted GPA is calculated on a scale from 0 to 4.0.
Most colleges don’t have a preference for either option. However, they will recalculate your GPA on an unweighted scale to determine a final figure.
Is a 3.8 GPA Good for College Admissions?
The minimum GPA needed to graduate and remain eligible for financial aid, experts say, is 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. So, is a 3.8 GPA good?
The average GPA achieved by high school students is 3.0. If you achieve a 3.8 GPA, your grades are likely above many of your peers. However, classing a 3.8 GPA as “good” depends on your chosen colleges and the difficulty of your courses.
For example, Harvard’s average GPA is 4.18, so you’ll have to get straight As in nearly all of your classes to be a competitive applicant.
Colleges You Can Get into with a 3.8 GPA
You may be wondering, “What colleges can I get into with a 3.8 gpa?” Let’s take a look at a few options.
New York University (NYU)
NYU is renowned for its innovative academics and international focus. It has degree-granting campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai and 11 study away sites worldwide. NYU is proud of its diverse and international student body from 133 countries.
NYU is one of the largest private universities in the country and is ranked 28th in U.S. News’ Best National University rankings. The average test scores and GPA of NYU’s admitted students are:
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is described as “one of the smallest and most collegiate schools among the nation’s top research universities.” Nearly 90% of its students remain on campus throughout their four-year programs, and there are 280 student organizations to join.
Rochester offers smaller class sizes and significant collaborations with faculty members. With no curricular requirements, every student can dictate their own learning experience. The University of Rochester is ranked 34th in U.S. News’s Best National University rankings.
The average high school GPA of Rochester’s admitted students is 3.75, and the middle 50% range of standardized test scores achieved are:
Boston University (BU)
Located in the historic city of Boston, Boston University has over 33,500 students from more than 130 countries spread across three campuses. BU is known for its innovative research; the university received $574 million in sponsored research awards.
BU encourages its students to pursue collaborative research efforts and provides opportunities to gain innovative experiences and skills. BU is ranked 42nd in U.S. News’s Best National University rankings.The average test scores and GPA of BU’s admitted students are:
Of course, these aren’t the only colleges that accept a 3.8 GPA or where your GPA would be competitive. If you’re wondering what other schools you can get into with a 3.8 GPA, here are some others:
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- University of Illinois
- Ohio State University
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
- Vanderbilt University
- Carnegie Mellon University
- University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Remember, your options aren’t limited to just these schools with a 3.8 GPA. It’s possible to get into schools with higher average GPAs if the rest of your application is perfected and well-rounded. Additionally, you can also take several steps to raise your GPA, which we will discuss now.
How to Raise Your GPA
Improving your GPA is no easy feat; it takes time, dedication, and effort. However, there are several strategies you can use to boost your GPA.
Meet With a Tutor
If you need more help with a class or two, consider scheduling sessions with a tutor. Tutors can help you improve your GPA and give expert advice about how to work more efficiently. You can also learn how to solve problems you have been struggling with.
You can find a free tutor in places like your school or at the library or a private admissions consultant.
These sessions should be as productive as possible, so identify areas you are not confident in and work through them. For example, if you are struggling with a math concept, mention it specifically when you are with your tutor.
Go to Summer School
Look, it may not be the most exciting option, but going to summer school can help boost your GPA if you are prepared to sacrifice some of your holidays.
Summer school offers you the luxury of smaller class sizes in a more relaxed environment, which is helpful for everyone, especially those students who struggle during the regular school year.
Additionally, you can focus on a subject of your choosing at summer school. This means you can pick a subject you have struggled with and use a new learning environment to get the grades you need.
FAQs: 3.8 GPA
Do you still have questions about what colleges you can get into with a 3.8 GPA? Read on to learn more.
1. Am I Guaranteed to Get Into Colleges that Accept a 3.8 GPA?
Your GPA will never guarantee you a spot at any school, but a strong GPA can strengthen your application. If the average admitted student has a GPA lower than 3.8, your GPA at that school is considered more competitive.
2. How Good Is a GPA of 3.8 Compared to Other High School Students?
A 3.8 GPA is considered relatively high compared to most high school students compared to the average of 3.0.
3. Can You Get Into Harvard With a 3.8 GPA?
Whether a 3.8 GPA can get you into Harvard or not depends on the rest of your application. Although Harvard is an incredibly competitive school, high test scores and a well-rounded profile can help increase your chances of acceptance.
However, you should try to raise your GPA even more if you plan to apply to Harvard.
4. If Admitted Students at a College Have GPAs Higher Than 3.8, Should I Still Apply?
There’s no reason not to apply to a “reach” school or two. After all, there’s still a chance you get accepted with a GPA slightly lower than that of the average admitted student. However, you should ensure you apply to some schools you’re more likely to be accepted with your current GPA.
5. What’s the Difference Between a Weighted 3.8 GPA and an Unweighted?
A weighted 3.8 GPA takes the difficulty of your courses into account and is typically measured between 0 to 5.0. An unweighted GPA of 3.8 is considered “higher” because it’s on a 4.0 scale.
6. Can I Bring Up My 3.8 GPA to a 4.0?
It’s possible to bring up a 3.8 GPA to a 4.0 with enough time and effort. It might be challenging to raise your GPA if this is your last semester, but two semesters or more should be enough time to get close to a 4.0.
3.8 GPA for College? You Can Do This
So, is a 3.8 GPA good enough to get into college?
In short, it depends on numerous factors: which type of GPA it is, what college you’re interested in, and what the average GPA of admitted students is. When compared to the average GPA achieved by high school students, 3.8 is certainly more competitive.
However, if you are striving for a 4.0 GPA, meeting a tutor and attending summer school are excellent ways to work through any issues and achieve higher grades.
NYU, Rochester, and BU are a few examples of many prestigious colleges that accept students with an average GPA under 3.8. Remember, colleges will look at your classes’ difficulty, so push yourself and take more challenging courses if your schedule allows it. Good luck!
FAQs
Is a 3.8 GPA Good for College Admissions? Your College Options? ›
Above all, you should be proud and step confidently into the college application process—a 3.8 GPA makes you an extremely competitive applicant at a majority of institutions.
Do Ivy Leagues accept 3.8 GPA? ›None of the Ivy League schools have a minimum GPA requirement for applications, which means anyone can apply regardless of their GPA. However, due to how competitive and selective the admission process is, whether or not you'll get an offer of admission is an entirely different story.
Is it hard to keep a 3.8 GPA in college? ›A 3.8 GPA, or Grade Point Average, is equivalent to an A- letter grade on a 4.0 GPA scale. This means is equivalent to a 90-92%. The national average GPA is 3.0 which means a 3.8 is far above average. Because a 3.8 is already so high it can be hard to raise, but with hard work and dedication it is possible!
Can I get into UCLA with a 3.8 GPA? ›UCLA's class of 2025 (batch of 2021) had an average high school GPA of 3.9—47.3 percent earned a 4.0, and 42.2 percent had a GPA between 3.75 and 3.99. Therefore, to answer the question “What GPA is required for UCLA?” Note that to be considered for admission to UCLA, you must be at the top of your class.
Is a 3.8 GPA impressive? ›A 3.8 GPA is considered to be a very good GPA and is often an indicator of strong academic performance.
Can I get into Yale with a 3.8 GPA? ›You should also have a 4.14 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score. For a school as selective as Yale, you'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application.
Can I get into Cornell with a 3.8 GPA? ›Academic record: Students should have a GPA of 3.5 or higher, and should have excellent analytic and communication skills.
Can I get into Princeton with a 3.8 GPA? ›Average GPA: 3.9
This makes Princeton Extremely Competitive for GPAs. (Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. With a GPA of 3.9, Princeton requires you to be at the top of your class. You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants.
Will an F ruin my GPA? The short answer is (surprisingly): No. If you have one “F” and all other grades in a 40-course program are “A” grades, your GPA will drop from a 4.0 to a 3.9. So, your existing GPA will be impacted, but will not be “ruined.”
Can 3.8 GPA get into Harvard? ›If you achieve a 3.8 GPA, your grades are likely above many of your peers. However, classing a 3.8 GPA as “good” depends on your chosen colleges and the difficulty of your courses. For example, Harvard's average GPA is 4.18, so you'll have to get straight As in nearly all of your classes to be a competitive applicant.
Can you get into Stanford with a 3.8 GPA? ›
A cumulative GPA of 3.8 is within the range of admitted students, so yes, you should apply assuming your standardized tests are within range and have accomplishments that will stand out in your college essays. Stanford has no minimum grade.
Can I get into Columbia with a 3.8 GPA? ›What GPA Do You Need To Get Into Columbia College? Columbia College's average GPA is 3.62. Columbia College does require GPA. This average GPA means Columbia College is very selective.
Is 3.8 GPA good for scholarships? ›Some scholarship committees only consider applicants whose GPA meets a certain threshold. Minimum requirements range from around 2.0 on the lower end to 3.75 or higher for competitive academic scholarships. Generally speaking, a 3.0 GPA or higher will give you a decent shot at qualifying for a variety of scholarships.
What honors is a 3.8 GPA? ›cum laude (GPA of 3.5–3.64); magna cum laude (GPA of 3.65–3.79); or. summa cum laude (GPA of 3.8–4.0).
What is the lowest GPA for Ivy League? ›Harvard University admits only 4% of its applicants and students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. While at Harvard, you must maintain a GPA of 2.0 to be considered in good academic standing.
Is a 3.8 Good for Harvard? ›The school has exceptionally high admission requirements, generally admitting students who can score in the top 2 percent on standardized admission tests. Harvard University typically accepts and attracts "A/A+" average high school students with an average GPA around 4.0.
Does Harvard accept 4.7 GPA? ›(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. With a GPA of 4.18, Harvard requires you to be at the top of your class. You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants.
Is a college GPA of 3.8 a honors? ›Graduating With Honors Requirements: Graduation with honors cum laude requirements vary. Cum laude grade point average estimates: gpa for cum laude - 3.5 to 3.7; gpa for magna cum laude - 3.8 to 3.9; gpa for summa cum laude - 4.0+. Magna cum laude gpa and summa cum laude gpa can tie, broken by additional factors.
Can I get into Brown with a 3.8 GPA? ›GPA. Brown University requires its applicants to be at the top of their class and have excellent grades. The average GPA of the admitted freshman class at Brown University is 3.94 on the 4.0 scale. The average unweighted GPA is 4.08.
What is the easiest Ivy League school to get into? ›The Easiest Ivy League schools to get into
Cornell is the easiest and youngest Ivy League school. It was established in 1865 and is situated in Ithaca, New York. Out of 49,114 candidates, Cornell accepted 5,330, for an admission percentage of around 10.9%.
Can I get into UCLA with a 3.94 GPA? ›
Average GPA: 3.9
This makes UCLA Extremely Competitive for GPAs. (Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. With a GPA of 3.9, UCLA requires you to be at the top of your class.
You should also have a 4.18 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score. For a school as selective as Harvard, you'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application. We'll cover those details next.
What is the cheapest Ivy League school? ›Princeton. Princeton is commonly regarded as the “cheapest Ivy” thanks to its extensive financial aid offerings. 62% of admitted students receive financial aid.
How do I combine two GPAs? ›- Multiply the credits for each course by the corresponding numerical grade point of the grade you earned. ...
- Add the total grade points together.
- Add together the number of credits you earned.
- Divide the grade point total by the total number of credits, rounding to the nearest hundredth.
The failing grade will NOT calculate in your GPA, but it will still show on your transcript. On your transcript, an "E" will show to the right of your failing grade to mark the course as "Excluded". On your transcript, an "I" will show to the right of the second time you took the class, marking it as "Included".
What is the average GPA for a valedictorian? ›Students who earn an unweighted 4.0 GPA, through the seventh semester of high school, will receive valedictorian designation.
Is a 3.8 GPA good for law school? ›DO raise that GPA, if it's not too late. You'll need a 3.8 or better to be above the median for a top 14 law school, and a 3.6 or better to be above the median for the top 50.
What is the lowest GPA Yale will accept? ›Visiting campus or attending an information session can be an excellent way to learn more about Yale, but it will not affect your chances of admission. What is the minimum GPA required for admission? We do not set a minimum GPA, nor do we attempt to re-weight GPA's to any standard other than what a school provides.
What GPA is required for Yale? ›In truth, you need close to a 4.0 unweighted GPA to get into Yale. That means nearly straight As in every class.
What GPA is required for Oxford? ›Undergraduate qualifications
If your graduate course at Oxford requires a 'first-class undergraduate degree with honours' in the UK system, you will usually need a bachelor's degree with an overall grade of Class 1, 'A' or 80%, or a GPA of 3.7 out of 4.0.
What GPA is required for MIT? ›
There is no minimum required GPA, but competitive applicants generally have a GPA of 3.5 or above, and mostly A's in mathematics and science courses. Testing must be completed by the October test date for spring (February) entry and by the March test date for fall (September) entry.
Can I get into Upenn with a 3.8 GPA? ›You should also have a 3.9 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score.
Can I get into Georgetown with a 3.8 GPA? ›Is your high school GPA good enough for Georgetown? The average high school GPA for admitted students at Georgetown is 3.89 on a 4.0 scale. (You can calculate your high school a GPA here.) This is a very competitive GPA, and Georgetown is clearly accepting students at the top of their high school class.
What is a 3.8 weighted GPA unweighted? ›If your school uses an unweighted GPA scale, a 3.8 is one of the highest GPAs you can get. You're most likely earning As and A-s in all of your classes. If your school uses a weighted scale, you may be earning As and A-s in low level classes, B+s in mid-level classes, or Bs and B-s in high level classes.
Can a 3.8 GPA get you to Harvard? ›To get to Harvard your GPA has to be at least a 4.0 and even then if you get in your lucky but they require at least a 4.18 GPA only .
Does Harvard accept 3.8 GPA? ›If you achieve a 3.8 GPA, your grades are likely above many of your peers. However, classing a 3.8 GPA as “good” depends on your chosen colleges and the difficulty of your courses. For example, Harvard's average GPA is 4.18, so you'll have to get straight As in nearly all of your classes to be a competitive applicant.
Can a 3.7 GPA get you into Ivy League? ›Yes, you can get into an Ivy League with a 3.7 GPA. Though, the lower your grade, the less your chances of getting into an Ivy League, but with a strong personal statement and a properly packaged application, you can get in with a grade even less than 3.7 GPA.
What is the lowest GPA to get into the Ivy League? ›None of the Ivy League schools have a minimum required GPA; however, the higher your GPA, the better your chances are at admission. Although the Ivies don't have a minimum GPA, many selective schools use the Academic Index as part of the admissions process, which places considerable weight on your grades.
Can I get into Yale with a 3.8 unweighted? ›What GPA do I need to get into Yale college admission? There is not much of a way to get around the fact that you need an unweighted grade point average of nearly 4.0 in order to pass Yale's admissions process and as part of Yale GPA and SAT requirements.
Can I get into UCLA with a 3.86 GPA? ›Average GPA: 3.9
This makes UCLA Extremely Competitive for GPAs. (Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. With a GPA of 3.9, UCLA requires you to be at the top of your class. You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants.
Is a 3.8 unweighted GPA good? ›
If your school uses an unweighted GPA scale, a 3.8 is one of the highest GPAs you can get. You're most likely earning As and A-s in all of your classes. If your school uses a weighted scale, you may be earning As and A-s in low level classes, B+s in mid-level classes, or Bs and B-s in high level classes.
Is a 4.8 GPA good for Ivy League? ›However, for college applicants, the average GPA is more likely between 3.5 and 4.0. If you're aiming for a top university such as one in the Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, or others of the same caliber, a 4.0 GPA — or close to it — is expected.