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Duke University
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UCLA
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Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

What constitutes a 'decent' GPA?

Hey everyone, I've been wondering... What's usually considered a 'decent' GPA in the eyes of most colleges? Is there a specific range or threshold I should aim for? Thanks for your help.

2 months ago

Certainly, the consideration of what constitutes a 'decent' GPA can vary widely based on the specific college or university. For more selective schools, particularly those in the top tier, a GPA of 3.7 or more (on a 4.0 scale) could be considered decent. These schools typically have a middle 50% range of GPAs between 3.7 - 4.0.

However, many excellent colleges consider a GPA above 3.0 to be decent and competitive. This would include many state universities or regional colleges. For instance, a student with a GPA between 3.0 - 3.5 would be well within the consideration set for a number of these schools.

Keep in mind that colleges also look at the rigor of your course load when evaluating your GPA. If you're taking more challenging courses, such as honors or AP classes, colleges understand that maintaining a high GPA is tougher, and they take this into consideration.

With that said, GPA is just one factor in a holistic admissions process. It's as important to demonstrate your personal qualities, leadership skills, and passions through your extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation.

In sum, aim for as high a GPA as you can manage, but also ensure you're participating in meaningful activities and continue to pursue your passions outside of schoolwork.

And remember, specific requirements may also change depending on the state or country system, so it's always pertinent to check with the individual institutions you're interested in.

2 months ago

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