I ended up with a 4.0 GPA. Now what?

June 2, 2008 6:52 AM

I ended up with a 4.0 GPA. Now what? Are there any real advantages? Are there any decent US or Canadian scholarships I could apply for? Any programs/internships I could look into?

After being a college dropout for close to 3 years I decided to go back last spring. To my surprise I received an A in every single course and now have a 4.0 GPA.

I switched from my normal program to honors shortly thereafter because supposedly I'm more likely to receive scholarships if I'm in honors.

I'm afraid I'm letting this opportunity slide, mostly, since I'm not sure what kind of options are out there. The advising office in my college is useless, by the way.

posted by icarus to education (6 comments total)

What are your interests? The advising office can't pick what you would like to do for you. Nor can ask.me.

A gpa higher than 3.25 will usually let you get into certain companies, or into some governmental agencies.
posted by Monday at 7:11 AM on June 2, 2008

Advising try to pick what you would like to do, but that'd more than likely be a horrible failure (believe me, i know)

Yes, GPA > 3.25-3.5 is often required for some government jobs. If you want to intern for the govt you should be able to.

Check out your university's scholarship/fellowship programs. They probably have a list. You will probably qualify for some president's/dean's/named-after-donor's scholarship, and honors/4.0gpa will put you higher in the stack of applicants. You should also probably qualify for academic honor societies like phi beta kappa.

I have to say though, the real opportunities you should be worried about letting slide by are the opportunities to be studying/researching what you are really interested in.
posted by NormandyJack at 8:20 AM on June 2, 2008

Volunteer, intern, or research.

Those will get you the good scholarships, jobs, grad schools, etc.
posted by gauchodaspampas at 8:51 AM on June 2, 2008

What are your goals? What do you study? What would you like to do when you graduate?

If you can't answer these questions, programs and scholarships are not going to be of much use to you.
posted by ikkyu2 at 11:16 AM on June 2, 2008

I study business with a major in accounting and minor in info systems. Govt jobs are out of the question since I'm a permanent resident, not a citizen.
posted by icarus at 11:38 AM on June 2, 2008

Congrats on your hard work! With all due respect, one semester of 4.0 isn't going to produce a windfall unless you are consistently successful in your endeavor to get good grades. How many more semesters do you have left? What were your grades prior to dropping out? Otherwise I say what everyone above me has said. The doors will open at certain companies, and if you supplement your grades with other pursuits your resume will be more well-rounded and make you more marketable. In addition to what others have mentioned, there is also a nice sense of personal achievement, pride and satisfaction when you make Dean's List or graduate with honors (particularly if you have left and returned to school).

I will note though, that if your grades were really poor prior to leaving school, I don't know how that "adds up" for companies with minimum GPA requirements - like how they would calculate everything. Just something to think about (and at least two companies I've worked for have done education background checks or transcript requests, FWIW).

There may be programs supporting those that dropped out and returned to school. Those types are groups may be likely to be more impressed than other groups by your 4.0 and willing to fund your education further or provide other benefits. I do not know which groups those would be, but some sleuthing may turn something up.
posted by ml98tu at 1:05 PM on June 2, 2008