Admission committees give a lot of importance to your high school GPA because it shows how you have been performing academically over a long period in school. It reflects your ability and motivation to do well consistently. Usually, a cumulative GPA of 3 to 3.3 is needed to gain admission into doctoral programs. However, this GPA may not be enough for getting admittance into graduate school because other factors, like course quality, may also come into play.
All grades do not have the same value. Admission committees also see the courses that you have taken. For instance, if you get a B in Advanced Statistics, it has more value than if you study Introduction to Pottery and get an A in it. The context of the grade point average has a lot of significance. The admission officers see where you obtained the GPA and the courses that you completed. So it is better to tackle a challenging academic course and have a low GPA than take an easy school course, such as Basket Weaving for Beginners and get a higher grade point average.
Admission committees look at your transcript closely. They see the overall GPA and the grade point average for courses related to the academic programs you want to join. For instance, your GPA in math and science courses if you have applied to a graduate program in the faculty of science or medical school. So make it a point to study those courses relevant to the graduate programs you intend to join in the future.
So now you know that your GPA plays a vital role in whether or not you get admitted into graduates school. To increase your chances of getting in, remember to always give 100% in your classes and keep an eye on your GPA. If you have any further questions, let us know in the comments section below.
Oh, and I almost forget, good luck and Godspeed.
