College Access
What does GPA stand for?
Grade Point Average
What are scholarships?
Money given to students to help pay for college that you don’t have to pay back
What is GPA?
The average of your grades across all classes.
You have a 65 in a class..what should you do?
Use your resources: talk to the teacher, attend success lab and remaster assignments if possible!
What GPA do competitive colleges often look for?
Around a 3.0–4.0, with many competitive schools looking closer to 3.5+
True or False: GPA can affect financial aid
✔️ True
Many scholarships and grants require a minimum GPA.
Is GPA an average or a single grade?
An average of all your class grades, not just one test or class
You forgot homework..how does that affect GPA?
It can lower your grade in that class, which lowers your GPA over time
True or False: Colleges only look at 12th grade GPA
❌ False
Colleges look at all 4 years of high school, not just senior year.
Higher GPA = more or less money?
More money
Higher GPA = more scholarship opportunities and financial aid options.
Does one bad grade affect GPA?
Yes!
One low grade can bring your overall GPA down.
You want to play sports. What might matter academically? What are colleges looking at besides your skill?
Your GPA and passing grades, since many sports teams and NCAA eligibility rules require academic standards.
Name 2 colleges and their GPA requirements
Temple University: 3.0 - 4.0
East Stroudsburg: Minimum of 2.5 for Business Management
Penn State: Minimum of 3.5 for Engineering
Morgan State: Minimum of 2.0 for Psychology
Neumann University: Minimum of 2.5 for Athletic Training
Why do colleges give money based on GPA?
Because GPA shows academic performance and helps colleges reward strong students and attract successful applicants.
Explain how GPA builds over time
Your GPA is built from every grade you earn from 9th–12th grade, so it grows and changes each year based on performance
What happens if you start improving in 10th grade?
Your GPA can improve over time, but it’s easier to build a strong GPA early than to fix a low one later.