Hey guys, as someone aiming high, I'm kind of anxious about my GPA. What's the national average GPA for high school students? Like, what's considered 'good' or 'above average'? How does the national average compare to the average GPA of students accepted at top tier schools?
The national average high school GPA for students in the United States approximately sits between 3.0 and 3.2 on the unweighted 4.0 scale. This would be generally considered to be 'average' in a broad sense. 'Good' might be often associated with a GPA above this average - around 3.5 to 3.7, while 'above average' might refer to GPAs of 3.8 and up.
However, top-tier schools usually accept students with significantly higher GPAs. The incoming class profile typically shows average GPAs around 3.7 to 4.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for unweighted GPA. This demonstrates a focus on academic rigor and success in challenging courses.
Keep in mind that GPA is just one component of your application. Admissions offices look at various factors such as your course rigor, standardized test scores, and extracurricular involvements among other things. Make sure to give sufficient attention to all areas of your application to maximize your chances of being admitted to top-tier schools.
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