<p>This has been touched on in another thread, and it touched me because the discussion revolves around GPA expectations for an engineering major and loss of scholarship/honors program. </p>
<p>My kids are both engineering majors; I’m curious, as well as hopelessly out of date (in my day, anything over a 3.0 was basically pretty good).</p>
<p>What is a ‘good GPA’? Does it matter what major/course studies? Math/science vs. English/social studies? Music and Art? </p>
<p>Many scholarships are dependent on GPA. Is it fair to demand the same GPA for all entering freshmen (say, for honors), without regard to major?</p>
<p>Should it matter that someone is taking, say, community and recreation (OK, I made that up, but you get the idea) vs. premed (notorious for weedouts)?</p>
<p>“Should it matter that someone is taking, say, community and recreation (OK, I made that up, but you get the idea) vs. premed (notorious for weedouts)?”</p>
<p>I know my kid was pretty groused about this one as he was premed. His core group of classes consisted of those that every other student dreaded just having one of (bio/chem major). He kind of whined on occasion about fairness. He learned it was one of life’s lessons… fairness is just a concept, not a reality.</p>
<p>Doubleplay, I bet the type of engineering major will effect that. My son’s undergraduate GPA BSME was a 3.6. In general, a resume with a GPA under 3 is tossed. My husband has worked for major hi tech companies for over 30 years and hired and managed interns. He says the GPA is the main thing all engineering companies look at - whether your first or future employment. There is not a shortage of 4.0s, according to him.</p>
<p>The scholarships my kids had/have required they maintain a 2.0.</p>
<p>As far as courses, my 3.6 GPA son took yoga, wine tasting and ballroom dancing. He also took art/studio classes, and he had a core curriculum that included humanities, foreign language, history, sociology, psychology in addition to the many physics, chemistry, bio and engineering classes.</p>
<p>His scholarships required he be a full time student, not take any breaks (4 years straight), and they had restrictions on overseas studies.</p>
<p>I think the determination of a “good” GPA depends hugely on the school, courses, and future plans. </p>
<p>At my college, 3.25 is Dean’s List and is usually considered to be a pretty good GPA. I’d say in general a student’s considered to be doing fine if he has 3.0+ at my college (I have no idea what the standard is at another school), but of course pre-med students or students wanting to go into i-banking are going to want something more in the 3.5+ range. Merit scholarships are guaranteed as long as the student is full-time and has a GPA above 1.75.</p>
<p>The ‘good’ GPA will vary by major and by college. Engineering majors typically have lower GPAs than other majors due to the way the ‘curve’ and weeding. Some colleges have grade inflation and others grade deflation so a particular GPA at one college is not necessarily equivalent to a GPA from another college. </p>
<p>It’s true, but not fair IMO, that some engineering companies will not consider those with a GPA below 3.0 but it’s not true for all companies. Consider that at UCLA/UCSD for example, the average CS major GPA is somewhere around a 2.6-2.7 yet virtually all CS graduates from these schools will be employed in the field and have decent opportunities. Not all companies ask for GPA. Nevertheless, a GPA below a 3.0 can limit some opportunities.</p>
<p>I say ‘not fair’ because of the variance of GPA by major and specific college. It’s generally far easier to obtain a high GPA with less effort in a major like PoliSci than something like CS at the same college. I also think some companies that exclude anything below a 3.0 for an engineering major are missing out on some potentially great candidates who have more going for them than simply a high GPA.</p>
<p>That’s a good question. I think it depends on the student, and where they may intend to head next (grad or professional school, workforce, etc.), and what the total package (CV) looks like to the persons doing the evaluating. </p>
<p>Mine has a 3.4-ish overall, with both degrees and four minors, and it’s all crammed into five years with a D-1 varsity sport, a student government officer position, and some other pretty serious stuff. The pre-med core was hard and the liberal arts classes were easy.l It’s a weird package and probably wouldn’t fly in more conservative environments, but, it works perfectly for her. So I guess it all depends on the student, and where they tend to go next…</p>
<p>As an employer, I tend to toss the perfect 4.0’s when there isn’t anything else of significance on the CV. This week I interviewed a 3.8 Ivy grad but decided not to consider her further, in favor of a 3.2 from the state U, because the latter had a more diverse CV - on and off-campus leadership activities, and did a he far better job on the interview (he actually listened to what I asked him, responded accordingly, and ASKED me for the job). But then in other environments the Ivy grad would win hands down I imagine.</p>
<p>As to the more difficult majors, I always like to ask job applicants to talk about their majors, why they chose them, how they liked them, was it hard, etc. I look for a connection between the discussion of their college experience and the passion for the major, vs. the number. It’s pretty easy that way to get a strong sense of someone’s thought processes, and how that might play out in a work environment.</p>
<p>Doubleplay, I still think it is reasonably accepted that a student with a more difficult major is given the benefit of the doubt when compared to the softer majors. I am still impressed with any Electrical Engineer that can score anything above a 3.0. Just as violinists said above, there is most definitely stratification amongst the Engineers. When I went to college, there was a General Engineering Major that was the fall back for all the hard core Engineering Majors that couldn’t make the GPA. Even graduating with a degree in General Engineering was a feat in my book.</p>
<p>I was also referring to hi tech companies that are the largest in the world. Probably smaller companies that get less applicants are not as selective. On CC, I have read the average GPA for an engineering student is 2.8, so hiring practices vary.</p>
<p>“It’s generally far easier to obtain a high GPA with less effort in a major like PoliSci than something like CS at the same college.”</p>
<p>I think a better way to state this is that a humanities student who makes a solid effort is likely to get a good GPA whereas a premed or engineering type major student may make a serious effort and still not experience success in all the classes- the work is difficult, the curve is difficult, the experience is tough- you can be very bright and do your best and still get a B-C-D-F for one reason or another. I have not seen that in the humanities, but I don’t want to minimize the accomplishments of a humanities major, even at a CC if one does not take the class and the work seriously enough one gets a B or a partier may get a C or D. So an A in a humanities class at CC does mean the person worked hard, it’s just not quite representing the same thing as an A in Ochem at Berkeley.</p>
<p>Many IB require 3.5 and above. Math degree is generally viewed as a hard degree in A&S. Engineering is highly regarded in banking also, especially ones with high GPA.</p>
<p>Other considerations are your extracurriculars - are you a varsity athlete spending lots of time training - and your personality. Connections you make through friendships can be invaluable when it is time to find an internship or job.</p>
<p>I think one’s shmoozing skills should never be underestimated.</p>
<p>It depends on who is reviewing the GPA.</p>
<p>If the reviewers are Adcoms for Med Schools or Law Schools, depending on which school you apply to, the standards vary. However, a GPA > = 3.5 would have a fair chance at most Grad schools for admission assuming that there are ECs to go along with this GPA, of course.</p>
<p>Most institutions in the Northeast that offer scholarships require that students maintain a 3.5 GPA.</p>
<p>Therefore, the first question should be what is the next step you D or S plan to take? Then narrow down to schools she/he would like to target, and work down the requirements at that school.</p>
<p>Many employers also ask for your GPA.</p>