Can you go back to college to increase your GPA once your degree is commenced?

Answer 1

Once a degree has been awarded everything is set in stone, and can't be changed. Many Universities also frown upon retaking courses for higher grades (unless you failed or otherwise didn't earn a high enough grade to continue on), and lots of them won't let you (at Brown some students actually asked professor to fail them instead of give them a C, so that they could retake it again).

Also, it's not a matter of grade inflation in the Masters (and PhD) programs that they require you keep a minimum of 3.0. It's to ensure that you're attaining a certain level of mastery with the material that's beyond the level you'd get as an undergraduate. Many programs design their Masters/PhD courses to prepare you for qualifying exams, and anything less than a B in those courses would leave you hopeless on those exams. Besides, are you really comfortable granting a Masters/PhD to someone who only gets C's and D's in their classes? That seems like their struggling to understand, not attaining a level of mastery.

Answer 2

I'm not too sure what you're asking. If you're asking, once your degree is finished and you have that diploma, can you raise your GPA? Then the answer is no. Just as most universities will not let you use classes from a Minor and turn them into a Major once you finish your degree. When that degree is in hand, you can do nothing to alter it, unless your school is a very special case.

If you're asking if you can raise a bad GPA while you're in school, but already started, then yes. Even the worst GPA can be raised. How high depends on how many more classes you have and how much you're willing to buckle down and work at it.

If you're afraid of a bad GPA from an BA affecting your chances of getting accepted to an MA program, don't be. My husband and I both had mediocre GPAs and I just finished my MA with about a 3.7. My husband has just been accepted into an MA program. In both our cases, we entered MA programs different from our BA Majors. Just look around and ask. Also, you can always take a few classes on the side, in your proposed MA Major to prove your worth. That's what I did.

As I wasn't quite sure of your exact question, I hope one of these answers helps you.

Answer 3

Back To College Gpa

Answer 4

As far as I know, all Universities have a limit in major units available to be taken. At my school, and most schools, the cap is at 225 units (180 its to graduate). I know most high school teachers get paid more depending on their unit total, so many of them go back to school and max out their units at 225. Usually what happens is that these can be counted into your overeall GPA but not your Major GPA regardless of the classes being major related.

The poster above me is correct about the MA situation. What she doesn't tell you is that once you get into an MA you stop getting normal grades and only recieve A's or B's from professors since the school drops you out if your GPA falls under a 3.0., so state schools, in their attempt to appear as if their students are reputable like those of major universities, will give their students inflated grades.

If your issue is to get into a Ph.D, J.D., M.D., or M.B.A. program, you are in one tough spot. The best way to get into the Ph.D program of your choice will be by going to a state school and getting the easy GPA masters degree and then get admitted into a Ph.D. Problem with this is that you'll have to re-do your MA work at the Ph.D institution. For a J.D., you'll be in a tough spot since they want really good GPA and a good score in the LSAT; this is the same for the MBA except you'll take the GMAT. As for an MD program, there is no way in hell unless you have a 3.0 minimum and a very good MCAT.