Will My GPA Reset When I Transfer Colleges?

If I transfer to a different college, does my GPA start over or do my grades carry over from my current school? I'm trying to figure out how this will impact my academic record.

When you transfer to a different college, your GPA usually does not directly carry over from your previous institution. The new institution will typically not calculate your former GPA into their own system. However, the grades you earned at your previous institution do not disappear. Transcripts from all institutions you’ve attended are part of your permanent academic record.

In other words, while your GPA at your new school will initially only be determined by the classes you take there, when you apply for postgraduate opportunities like jobs or graduate programs, you may be asked to provide transcripts from all institutions you've attended. Your grades at your previous institution will still potentially have an impact in these settings.

Despite all of this, you should confirm with your intended transfer institution as the protocol might slightly vary from college to college. Some might take your previous college GPA into account in some particular ways, while others might not consider it at all.

For example, while your GPA typically won't transfer, some colleges might use your previous GPA to determine your eligibility for certain opportunities, like honors programs or scholarships. Therefore, it's important to not just focus on your GPA at your new institution but also strive for good grades at your current one!