Virginia Tech's GPA Scale ?

I heard Virginia Tech's GPA scale can be different from the standard 4.0 scale. Could anyone help clarify how that works?

Yes, you're correct. Virginia Tech has a unique grading scale that is indeed different from the standard unweighted 4.0 GPA scale typically utilized by many universities and high schools.

Virginia Tech uses a so-called "Expanded Grading System," where A's, B's, etc., are broken down further into plus and minus grades. Briefly, an A+ grade is worth 4.0 points, an A is 4.0 points, an A- is 3.7 points, a B+ is 3.3 points, a B is 3.0 points, a B- is 2.7 points, a C+ is 2.3 points, a C is 2.0 points, a C- is 1.7 points, a D+ is 1.3 points, a D is 1.0 points, a D- is 0.7 points, while an F is 0 points.

That said, it's crucial to remember that the GPA calculated by Virginia Tech might be different from your high school's calculation, given the discrepancies between grading scales. Therefore, it's advisable to focus on academic excellence as a whole, diligently working towards high grades across all your subjects, rather than trying to calculate your exact GPA according to Virginia Tech's scale. A consistently strong academic record will certainly stand out to admissions officers!

Finally, remember that your overall academic profile, including the rigor of your curriculum, your test scores, and your academic trajectory, also play significant roles in how your application is assessed. So, while GPA is certainly an essential part of your profile, it's just one part of the bigger picture, and that's a perspective you should keep in mind.