Your grade point average (GPA) is made up of all the final grades from every class you take during your high school career. It is calculated by adding up the grade points earned in each course and dividing that total by the number of courses taken.
Now let's talk about a 3.7 GPA.
What is a 3.7 GPA?
A 3.7 GPA stands for a Grade Point Average of 3.7 on a 4.0 scale. It indicates that you've earned a predominantly A- average in your courses. A 3.7 GPA is considered to be a very good GPA and is often an indicator of strong academic performance.
Is a 3.7 GPA Good?
While “good” is traditionally considered subjective, a 3.7 GPA is 7-tenths above the national average high school GPA of 3.0. Earning a 3.7 GPA indicates consistent academic achievement and means you can apply to just about any school with a good chance of being accepted (except for the Ivy League schools, but that’s because there are no circ*mstances of guaranteed admission at Ivies).
A 3.7 GPA substantially clears the unofficial benchmark that most colleges use for competitive admission (3.0) and is also higher than the baseline average for more selective schools (3.5). Since one of the goals of a good GPA is to make you eligible for admission to as many colleges as possible, a 3.7 GPA establishes a very good foundation for that purpose.
How Does a 3.7 GPA Affect College Admissions?
A 3.7 GPA is a strong GPA, but it may not guarantee admission to highly selective colleges. Admissions committees consider your entire application when making their decisions, including yourtest scores, extracurricular activities,recommendations, andessays.
A 3.7 GPA may make you a competitive candidate. But if you aren't sure, it's best to try to improve your GPA, which we discussed above. You can alsoput additional effort into extracurricular activities, sports, and community service to make your application more competitive.
What Colleges Can I Apply to With a 3.7 GPA?
With a 3.7 GPA, there will be a large variety of colleges and universities to choose from. We’ve put together a sample list below consisting of schools that have a history of accepting students in the 3.7-3.8 range.
Freshmen and Sophom*ores
If you’re a freshman or sophom*ore, keep adhering to the study habits and dedicated effort that helped earn a 3.7 GPA. Maintaining a consistent performance ensures that you’ll have a wide assortment of college options to choose from. If you're concerned or want to raise your grades, we shared some tips for you above.
Juniors
As for juniors, there’s not enough time to significantly raise your GPA. Instead, with standardized test season approaching, focus on preparing for the ACT or SAT. Many colleges consider entrance exam scores and GPA equally as important, so be sure to devote enough time to prepare adequately. Take a few practice ACT or SAT tests and make notes on the questions that are especially difficult. If you can fit it into your schedule, sign up for a test prep class, which is often offered by high schools or the district.
Seniors
If you’re a senior, now is the time to make sure the rest of your application stands out as much as a 3.7 GPA. Pay a visit to your school’s college counselors to ask them to review your college essay and offer suggestions for improvement. Attend college information sessions with visiting admissions officers to get to know more about their schools since this will provide a fuller picture of what their schools are looking for in an applicant. If there are any after-school activities you’ve always wanted to try, now is the time to join a new organization. Every extracurricular activity could make a difference when applying to a competitive college.
What scholarships can you get with a 3.7 GPA?
You’ll be hard-pressed to find scholarships that you can’t apply to, except for a scant few that require a 4.0. Apply to a wide variety of scholarships and earn some money to offset the cost of tuition!
View All Scholarships
What Are Colleges Looking At Other Than a 3.7 High School GPA?
Colleges look at student applications holistically, so on top of earning a great GPA and standardized test scores, you’ll want to show interest by participating in clubs or sports. Prominently display any or all of the following on your college application:
- SAT Scores / ACT Scores
- Extracurricular/After-school activities
- Your Sports
- Application Essays
- Volunteer Work / Community Service
- Jobs / Internships / Special Projects
How Can I Improve My 3.7 GPA?
If you have a 3.7 GPA and would like to improve it, here are some tips:
Identify areas of weakness: Identify the subjects or courses where you struggled or received lower grades. Work on improving your skills and understanding of these topics.
Take challenging courses: Challenge yourself by taking advanced or honors-level courses in your areas of strength. This will help you demonstrate your academic abilities and show that you are willing to push yourself.
Focus on time management: Manage your time effectively by creating a schedule that balances academic work with other commitments such as work or extracurricular activities.
Attend office hours and seek help: Attend office hours and seek help from professors or tutors. They can provide guidance on how to improve your grades and understanding of the material.
Study effectively: Develop effective study habits such as creating a study plan, taking notes, and reviewing material regularly.
Stay organized: Keep track of your assignments, deadlines, and exams. This will help you avoid procrastination and stay on top of your academic work.
Remember, improving your GPA takes time and effort, so be patient and persistent in your efforts.
What is a Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA?
A weighted GPA considers the difficulty of the classes you take. For example, honors, Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) classestypically have a higher weight, meaning that a higher grade in these classes will result in a higher GPA. A weighted GPA is often used in college admissions to assess the academic rigor of a student's high school curriculum.
On the other hand, an unweighted GPA assigns a standard value to each letter grade regardless of the class's difficulty level. For example, an A in an honors class is assigned the same value as an A in a regular class. An unweighted GPA is often used in high school to give a general overview of a student's academic performance.
