I read that CSU limits the capped GPA at 4.4. I am not sure, if I have wrong perception but it seems to that 4.4 capped GPA can be achieved with exactly 20 semester A-G courses with 8 or more honors courses: (20*4+8)/20 = 4.4
That is roughly 5 A-G courses per 10th and 11th grade. For any student, straight A or not, anything more than 5 A-G courses is a losing game with lower weighted GPA. Unless someone has no honors points to add, i.e., weighted and unweighted GPA are the same.
I understand that CPSLO is different, so keeping it aside. My son has lots of A-G courses in grade 10 and 11 - in total 46 semester. Most are community college courses. His CSU capped GPA will be: (46*4+8)/46=4.17.
As we are local to SJSU, his SJSU impaction point index will be (464+8)/46800+200=3540. I am looking at SJSU student profile with impaction point index for 2023 [1]. Doesn’t seem like SJSU CS is a safety school anymore.
Will working hard impact negatively where application process is not holistic?
SJSU admissions has stated previously that they do not include DE/CC courses for their CSU GPA calculation. They use the HS CSU GPA calculated on the Cal State Apply application for their impaction index. I would contact SJSU admissions for confirmation.
But yes, the more a-g courses you take, the lower the CSU capped weighted GPA will become, however the CSU’s do consider the # of a-g courses taken above the minimums for HS course rigor.
The impaction index is 3440 for CS in your link. Looks like 3540 will exceed this and you should be fine even if they include DE/CC classes. Since you are local the extra 200 points seem to be helping you cross the impaction index.
Think so. The last two years it has been 3440. The highest is 3480 for fall 2022. Anyway if they do not consider DE/CC classes your index would be even higher and you can call them and confirm this if you desire.
Anyway do have backup options as this is the most competitive major at SJSU. Do not rely on the second choice option at SJSU as they only consider it for non-competitive majors.
SJSU considers only high school courses while computing GPA. The only exception is when someone does not have enough A-G high school course. At that point they will start pulling in college courses in respective areas until A-G is satisfied.
I did not ask about grade levels or weighted vs unweighted. Based on all the information, I would guess they consider weighted.
Considering only high school GPA will help my kid, but I still believe it is unfair for those who have taken more “high school” courses. It is OK for a college which is not competitive, otherwise, it is unfair.
Yes, some students to not have access to AP/IB or DE courses so their CSU GPA’s are going to be lower which can put them at a disadvantage but also students are evaluated within the context of what resources are available to them.
Challenging yourself as a student is important to all schools and HS course rigor is taken into consideration.
Life in general is not fair and SJSU is an impacted campus which means it is a competitive school.
If any student is unhappy with the application/admission process and feel that it is a disadvantage then they should not apply and find schools that favor the students academic profile and hard work.
Would you please present a reference to such a claim that CSU considers context of the resources available to a student?
Totally agree.
With due respect, cannot agree here. If something is not fair, we should not just bypass, even if it is not impacting us.
IMHO, impacted campuses or impacted majors should consider the context of the student and that is the right thing to do. Just blindly taking CSU GPA is not an answer.
Campuses will use a combination of students’ “a-g” GPA and supplemental factors to determine admission eligibility. Supplemental Factors that campuses may use include:
Number of courses exceeding minimum “a-g” requirements,
GPA in math and or science courses,
Household income,
Extracurricular and leadership involvement,
Educational program participation in high school
Other available information that would inform the campus admission decision.
Unfortunately for many of the CSU’s, the supplemental factors are not always specifically listed such as SLO’s other variables in their selection criteria.
Just saw an Instagram post from the CSU counselor conference regarding the Multi-Factor admission score and secondary factors which includes Location of High school and educational opportunities available.
CSUs probably do not want to do any subjective or holistic admissions reading.
However, the weighted-capped GPA can be changed to avoid the dilution effect by doing something like making the cap be something like total number of a-g courses times 0.4.
I.e. if you have a typical 20 a-g courses, you can get up to 8 honors points, while if you have 30 a-g courses, you can get up to 12 honors points. If you have the minimum possible 15 a-g courses, you can get up to 6 honors points.
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