Has anyone had experience calculating their GPA for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admissions? I know different schools can have different systems, and I want to make sure I'm doing it right. Help?
Sure, I can guide you through this. The GPA used by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is calculated on a 4.0 scale. The first thing you need to do is convert each of your course grades to a similar scale. Here's a common way to do this:
A = 4.0
A- = 3.7
B+ = 3.3
B = 3.0
B- = 2.7
C+ = 2.3
C = 2.0
C- = 1.7
D+ = 1.3
D = 1.0
D- = 0.7
F = 0.0
Next, multiply each converted grade by the number of credit hours the course was worth. This will give you the total "quality points" for each course. Sum all these up over all your courses.
Finally, add up the total number of credit hours of all the classes you've taken, then divide the total quality points by the total credit hours. This will give you your GPA.
Keep in mind that RPI only considers academic courses in the calculations. Pass/fail courses, electives, or non-academic courses such as gym or music aren't usually included. Always confirm the specifics with the admissions office of RPI or look up their specific requirements online.
Note also that if you're applying as a high school student, your high school may calculate your GPA slightly differently, such as weighting AP or IB courses. In most cases, RPI is interested in the unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale. Good luck making your calculations!
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