1. 3.0
2.0
How much is my GPA worth?
Some of the slides in this presentation have been adapted from a student-made presentation for Mr. Patel’s AVID Senior Seminar.

2. It will cost you college acceptance.

3. Colleges use multiple factors to decide who is admitted and who is denied.

4. Academic Profile
As published on College Data, the online college database, the following are the average academic profiles for incoming freshmen:
Community College
GPA
n/a
SAT
ACT

5. Academic Profile
As published on College Data, the online college database, the following are the average academic profiles for incoming freshmen:
Community College
SDSU
GPA
n/a
3.8, 3.0 w/ Compact
SAT
1150
ACT 26

6. Academic Profile
As published on College Data, the online college database, the following are the average academic profiles for incoming freshmen:
Community College
SDSU
UC Santa Cruz
GPA
n/a
3.8, 3.0 w/ Compact
3.78
SAT
1150
1758
ACT 26 28

7. Academic Profile
As published on College Data, the online college database, the following are the average academic profiles for incoming freshmen:
Community College
SDSU
UC Santa Cruz
Stanford
GPA
n/a
3.8, 3.0 w/ Compact
3.78
3.8+
SAT
1150
1758
2100
ACT 26 28
31-34

8. Compact for Success Attain a 3.0 CSU GPA (grades B or better)
at the time you apply to SDSU and graduate HS
Complete all A-G requirement
Grades B or better
Satisfy the ELM (Entry Level Math)
SAT 550 or higher or ACT 23
Satisfy the EPT (Entry Placement Test)
Score Except or conditionally exempt
Pass AP English Language test with 3 or higher
Take SAT AND ACT

9. It will cost you financial aide.

10. Unweighted VS Weighted
You need a 3.0 UN-weighted GPA to qualify for $$$$ to pay for your university tuition. This means all A’s and B’s.
Unweighted GPA: Your true GPA WITHOUT adding in extra points from Honors or AP classes.
Weighted GPA: Your “masked” GPA that includes the extra points from Honors or AP classes.
B = usually worth 3 pts.; C=usually worth 2 pts.
In an Honors/AP class: B= 4 pts.; C=3 pts. (because the classes are a lot harder)

11. What Your GPA is Worth:
If your family has great enough financial hardship, the state of California will “grant” you (give for free) $$$$ to pay your university tuition. BUT, you only get enough to cover the cost if your UNweighted GPA is 3.0 (all A’s and B’s).
Calgrant Type Based on GPA
University of California
(more prestigious, more expensive)
California State University
(easier to get in to, less expensive)
Private University
Calgrant A: 3.0 GPA (UNweighted!)
$12,192/yr.
($48,768 for 4 yrs.)
$5,472/yr.
($21,888 for 4 yrs.)
$9,708/yr.
($38,832 for 4 yrs.)
Calgrant B: 2.0 GPA (UNweighted!)
$1,551/yr.
($6,204 for 4 yrs.)

12. Now… How much do YOU think tuition costs at SDSU?

13. According to the CSU budget office tuition has almost doubled in the past five years. It is currently $6,578 for TUITION per year.

15. What Your GPA is Worth:
If your family has great enough financial hardship, the state of California will “grant” you (give for free) $$$$ to pay your university tuition. BUT, you only get enough to cover the cost if your UNweighted GPA is 3.0 (all A’s and B’s).
Calgrant Type Based on GPA
University of California
(more prestigious, more expensive)
California State University
(easier to get in to, less expensive)
Private University
Calgrant A: 3.0 GPA (UNweighted!)
$12,192/yr.
($48,768 for 4 yrs.)
$5,472/yr.
($21,888 for 4 yrs.)
$9,708/yr.
($38,832 for 4 yrs.)
Calgrant B: 2.0 GPA (UNweighted!)
$1,551/yr.
($6,204 for 4 yrs.)

16. Living On Campus Living with Parents $6,766 $25,068 $1,551 $5,215
This student was ACCEPTED to SDSU because her WEIGHTED GPA (3.16) helped her qualify for Compact for Success (3.0), BUT she could not pay for her tuition because her UNweighted GPA was below a 3.0 (It was 2.8).
Financial Aid Package for a student admitted to SDSU with a weighted GPA of 3.16 (unweighted = 2.8)and an EFC(expected family contribution) of 0
Living with Parents
Living On Campus
Tuition Per Year
$6,766
$25,068
Cal Grant B
$1,551
Unmet Need
$5,215
$23,517

17. Living On Campus Living with Parents $6,766 $25,068 $5,472 $1,294
What if this student HAD earned an UNweighted GPA of 3.0? The difference between a 2.8 and a 3.0 is probably ONE class (Honors/AP or regular) where she got a C.
Financial Aid Package for a student admitted to SDSU with an unweighted GPA of 3.0
and an EFC of 0
Living with Parents
Living On Campus
Tuition Per Year
$6,766
$25,068
Cal Grant A
$5,472
Unmet Need
$1,294
$19,596

18. SDSU tuition Calgrant pays after 4 yrs.
Do you think she would have tried harder to raise that C to a B if she knew it would have saved her $15,685?
UNweighted GPA
SDSU tuition student pays after 4 yrs.
SDSU tuition Calgrant pays after 4 yrs.
2.8
$20,860
$6,204
3.0
$5,175
$21,888
$$$$ you save if you get a 3.0 unweighted GPA (all A’s and B’s)
$15,685
Every time you get a C or lower, you significantly reduce your chances of being able to afford a university education!

19. How does this information impact students who are eligible for SDSU?
Many students who get accepted to SDSU based on a weighted GPA are getting inadequate financial aid packages to schools outside of San Diego (UNweighted GPA = too low).
This has forced some to go to live at home while attending SDSU and take out some loans.
However, many others never even apply to SDSU (because they want to go to a UC or a different city). If they were not admitted into UCSD or did not get Calgrant A, then they are faced with enrolling in a community college.

20. Community College Transfer Rate
One of the reasons that we encourage students to attend a four-year university right after high school is because the transfer rates at community colleges are so low. 
Community College
3 Year Transfer Rate (2009)
Southwestern
16.11%
San Diego City
15.03 %
San Diego Mesa
19.29%

21. What does this mean for you? If you attend a UC or CSU:
UNweighted GPA
CSU tuition that student pays after 4 yrs.
CSU tuition that Calgrant pays after 4 yrs.
2.8
$20,860
$6,204
3.0
$5,175
$21,888
$$$$ you save if you get a 3.0 unweighted GPA (all A’s and B’s)
$15,685
You need to get at least a 3.0 UNweighted GPA.
Apply to SDSU as a backup, in case you cannot afford to live on campus in another city.

22. How much is a 3.0 GPA
(UN-weighted) worth?
$48,768 (UC)
$21,888 (CSU)

23. Unweighted GPA Calculator

24. Step 4: Reflect on your GPA score: