Does your GPA reset when you transfer colleges?

I'm planning to transfer colleges and I'm curious about GPA effects. Does my GPA reset completely when I start at the new college, or will my old grades somehow affect it?

Yes, in most cases, your GPA resets when you transfer to a new college. The coursework completed at your previous institution typically won't directly impact your new GPA. It resets because the grading scales could be different at each institution and the courses could have different difficulty levels.

However, your old grades won't disappear entirely and will still count for something. For example, when you apply for grad school or certain jobs, you may be asked to provide all of your college transcripts from any institution you attended. Thus, those grades you earned at your previous college will still be on your record and might be considered.

Transferring colleges doesn't allow you to completely erase a poor academic history, but it does offer a clean slate going forward at your new school. Use your transfer as a chance to improve upon your academic performance in a new environment! Keep in mind that your grades from your previous institution will likely still be considered if you apply to graduate school, so be prepared to account for your full academic history in those situations.