Knowing the different types of GPAs will help you see what programs you will be competitive for. Here is everything you need to know about your GPA!
Hello. It’s me. Again. 🙂
There isn’t a perfect time to talk about GPA, so I figured the sooner, the better. Plus, from experience, I correct many students who think they understand the whole GPA story but don’t.
First, there are a few different types of GPA.
- Overall: This is based on all classes, from all colleges, EVER.
- DPD: This is based on ONLY the courses on your DPD Course List Form that you get from your director. This form needs to have the DICAS logo at the top… that is how you know it is the proper form.
- DPD Professional: This is based on the DPD courses classified as Professional on your DPD Course List Form.
- DPD Science: This is based on the DPD courses classified as Science on your DPD Course List Form.
These are the GPAs that you would want to determine, and if you have some courses in progress right now that will be done before you apply, you can at least “guess” what your grades will be and what your final application GPAs will be.
Then, add your courses to DICAS…
In DICAS, you can enter your DPD courses and grades in the Coursework section. If you need help, watch the DICAS Tutorial found on Members Only’s DI Application Resources page. Add in your “guesses,” too, if you can. Then, you can click on the GPA Calculations link in your DICAS dashboard to see the numbers.
You have your GPAs calculated. Now what?
GPA makes a lot of people nervous, especially for those with a pretty average value. It could always be higher, couldn’t it? Well, the cold, hard truth is that you can’t do much about it. It is what it is. But let’s not make the situation worse by mishandling what you are working with. Here are my two most prominent thoughts on GPA:
I rarely think it is necessary to talk about GPA in the personal statement.
Usually, I only make an exception if I want my client to show a considerable improvement in GPA later on in college or if there is some untold story that needs an explanation (like a death or illness or disability of some kind…not that you couldn’t figure out how to study or didn’t have time management.). You control what you say in that personal statement, and keeping it positive and confident is key! To say in your statement that your weakness is a GPA of 3.4 would be a terrible idea. (Sorry, that is harsh, but it is still a terrible idea.)
I suggest you look at the average GPA of current interns in The Applicant Guide to Supervised Practice.
This guide can be found here. This number will be more telling of the caliber of applicants that match their program. I’ve seen many programs with a 2.75 overall GPA requirement and an average GPA of current interns as of 3.75. AH! If this number isn’t in the guide, then definitely ask the program director, so you know if you are genuinely competitive there.
Alright, the GPA talk is finally over. I feel better getting this off my chest 🙂
Until next time!
Jenny
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