Xatal

If you thought your GPA stopped mattering once you entered college, I’m sorry to tell you that you’re wrong.

Colleges themselves will use your GPA for a variety of things — you’ll need a good GPA to stay in good academic standing, and your financial aid and scholarships will probably have a minimum GPA that you need to stay above. Sports may require a specific GPA, and other awards and bonuses will be given out according to your GPA. At graduation, different honors may also be assigned to you as well.

After college, your GPA may be used to help employers decide whether or not to hire you. A strong GPA shows that you were on top of your game, while a low GPA shows that you did the bare minimum. Graduate schools also require a GPA, just like your undergraduate applications did.

A general scale:

• 3.7+: Excellent
• 3.3-3.6: Very good
• 2.7-3.3: Average
• 2.0-2.7: Below average
• -2.0: Poor

This is a general rule of thumb, though what a “good” GPA is will inevitably vary based on a couple of important factors:

1. What is your major?

While every major is hard in its own way, some are definitely harder than others. If you’re a chemical engineering student, your course load is probably a bit heavier than a theater major. Usually it’s more understandable to have a low GPA in tougher majors.

2. What do other students in your major have?

How you compare to other students is what makes a huge difference. You can have a 3.6, but if everyone around you has a 3.8, it won’t do much good. This, of course, will depend a lot on your major as well as how hard the typical classes are for those students. This will vary from school to school and major to major, you’ll have to ask around to get an idea where you stand.

3. What school do you go to?

A 3.8 at MIT says a whole lot more than a 3.8 at a community college. The more prestigious your university is, (generally) the more having a high GPA will help you out.