How does college GPA transfer between colleges?

I'm a junior currently thinking about going to college, but I'm curious about how GPA works if I decide to transfer schools later on. Does my GPA reset, or do some of my grades carry over?

When you transfer between colleges, your GPA from your original institution typically does not carry over to your new school. Each institution has its own academic policies, evaluation criteria, and grading scales. As a result, the courses you took at your previous college are evaluated individually and then can be transferred as credits, but not as a GPA directly.

For instance, if you earned an 'A' in a course at your previous college and that course is considered equivalent to a course at your new institution, you would receive credit for that course, but it would not directly impact your GPA at your new school. Your GPA at your new school is determined by the grades you earn in courses you take after the transfer.

However, that's not to say your previous GPA isn't important. If you apply to graduate programs or for certain scholarships, for example, you may need to provide both your GPA from your previous institution and your GPA from your current school.

Keep in mind that these are general trends, and the specifics can vary from one college to another. Therefore, always check with the specific institutions involved in your transfer to understand their unique policies. Ultimately, maintaining a strong academic record throughout your college career, regardless of whether you transfer, is key to opening up future opportunities.