Hey, feeling a bit stressed about this. How does the GPA calculation work at Stony Brook University? And is it vastly different from high school grading? Also, how crucial is a high GPA to thrive in Stony Brook?
The way GPA is calculated at Stony Brook University is quite similar to many other universities. Each course you take is worth a certain number of credits, usually between 1-4. You earn a specific number of points depending on your grade in each course: an A is 4 points, B is 3 points, C is 2 points, and so on.
To calculate your GPA, you multiply the points you earned in each course with the number of credits that course was worth. You then sum all of these for every course you've taken, and divide by the total number of credits you've taken. This gives you your cumulative GPA.
It can be different from high school grading, as there may be more emphasis on exams and less on homework. There's also typically a curve in college courses, which means even if you score 85% on a test, you might still get a B+ or A- if most students scored below that.
As for how impactful the GPA is at Stony Brook, it's essential but not the only factor in your success. Of course, the lower your GPA, the fewer opportunities you might have for internships, jobs, or grad school. However, you'll also want to focus on other aspects of your college experience, like extracurricular activities, networking, internships, research, etc. Many recruiters and grad schools look beyond GPA, considering things like involvement in campus activities or relevant work experience. Don't stress too much about the GPA; remember to make time for personal growth and enjoyment. You're in college to learn, and making mistakes is part of that process.
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