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Transfer GPA

Undergraduate
New answer on Apr 15, 2023
5 Answers
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Anonymous A asked on Apr 12, 2023

As someone that just transferred this semester to a target school, how do I calculate overall GPA?

My GPA at my previous institution is a 3.8 but at my current university, I am worried that my first and only semester before I apply to MBB would be a 3.6 (semester has not ended yet but project it to be a 3.6). Will I be able to average my GPAs from both universities on my resume to make it look better?

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Cristian
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Content Creator
replied on Apr 13, 2023
#1 rated MBB & McKinsey Coach

Hi there, 

Indeed this can be quite difficult.

To calculate your overall GPA, you will need to combine the grades you received at both universities and calculate the average. 

To do this, you can follow these steps:

1. Convert the grades you received at each institution to the same scale. Different institutions may use different grading scales, so you will need to convert your grades to a common scale. For example, if one institution uses a 4.0 scale and the other uses a 100-point scale, you will need to convert the grades on the 100-point scale to the 4.0 scale.

2. Calculate the total grade points you have earned. Multiply the number of credit hours for each course by the grade point equivalent for that grade, and then add up the total grade points earned for all courses.

3. Calculate your overall GPA. Divide the total grade points earned by the total credit hours attempted.

As for your second question, it is generally not recommended to average GPAs from different universities, as it can be seen as misleading. Instead, it is more transparent to list your GPA from each institution separately on your resume. However, you can still highlight your strong academic performance at your previous institution in your resume or cover letter to demonstrate your academic ability.

Best,
Cristian

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Ian
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replied on Apr 13, 2023
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi there,

You need to put the GPA that would be on your transcipt. You can't “fudge” GPAs.

If you are applying before this semester ends, you can put 3.8. If you are applying after this semester ends, you need to put the true GPA (your university should have a tool/calculator on how to calculate this)

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Francesco
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replied on Apr 13, 2023
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success (➡ interviewoffers.com) | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi there,

Q: As someone that just transferred this semester to a target school, how do I calculate overall GPA?

Your school should automatically provide a conversion for your transcript (they might not recognize all the previous exams, so the actual GPA could be different from the weighted average of the two GPAs). You can then use that GPA in your application.

As mentioned by Ian, if you still don’t have the new GPA and apply now, you can use your current one (3.8) as it is the only one for which you should have official results.

Best,

Francesco

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Hagen
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replied on Apr 13, 2023
#1 Bain coach | >95% success rate | interviewer for 8+ years | mentor and coach for 7+ years

Hi there,

I think this is an interesting question that may be relevant for many people. I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:

  • First of all, if you are worried that your GPA might drop, I would highly advise you to consider applying before the semester ends.
  • Moreover, I would advise you to reach out to your current university, as they will need to provide you with a conversion.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

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Emily
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replied on Apr 15, 2023
Ex McKinsey EM & interviewer (5 yrs) USA & UK| Coached / interviewed 300 +|Free 15 min intro| Stanford MBA|Non-trad

It varies by university and which scores they will accept from a transfer university. I suggest reaching out to your university and asking them. 

Good luck! 

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Cristian gave the best answer

Cristian

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