College grades/gpa?

Question

Okay, I plan on officially asking my college about this, but I figured I would also ask on here and see what people have to say.

I got an F in a core sociology class. Therefore, I have to re-take this class. I transferred schools after so I will not be taking it at the same school.

When I retake the sociology class, will the F I previously recieved STAY on my transcripts and lower my GPA? Or will it be replaced with the newly achieved grade?

It worries me because this one mistake may cost me a lot in the future. I don't know how much one F affects an entire college gpa, but I really am hoping to fix it.

Answer 1

On how much a single F effects an entire college GPA - it's less than 0.100 GPA points.

If you had a 4.0 on 117 hours and you got an F in a 3 hour course, your overall GPA would fall to 3.900 -- that one F had an effect on the entire 4-years of college of only .100; a single bad grade, considered by itself, isn't so damaging. It is really only 3/120th of your degree or 2.5% when considered by itself.

If we used the same example and you had a 3.0 GPA on 117 hours and a single 3 hour F; the effect on your GPA would only be -0.07 or a reduction to 2.93 -- 0.07 isn't all that significant in the bigger picture as long as you don't have a bunch of them.

On your other question, some colleges allow grade replacement (retaking the same class replaces the old grade) some allow grade averaging (retaking the class doesn't replace the grade, both attempts count in the GPA). The latter is the more common.

When transferring, most colleges won't transfer an F grade at all and so it will appear to fall off of your transcript. Keep in mind though that most calculate academic honors and scholarships using the cumulative collegiate GPA (which will consider that F).

In the future, if you think you're going to take an F (or D) then drop the class or ask about the possibility of an Incomplete.

Answer 2

It depends. I think at most colleges the F is incorporated in the GPA even if you retake it. My alma mater had a "last grade stands" policy. So if you retook the class, whatever grade you got replaced the old grade. Definately ask you college about their policy.

My guess, if you had all straight A's otherwise, an F wouldn't do too much damage. But if you still want to correct it, you could try dilluting the damage by taking additional courses to increase the ration of good grades to bad.

Answer 3

3.1 is not bad. im ending my senior year with a 3.1 and ive been accpted to some pretty decent colleges so far. although i do wish i tried harder in high school im still pretty satisfied. And YES Ninth grade does matter for college, they look at all four years of high school and they also consider sports/clubs, and SAT scores but remember to do community service they love to see that along with upholding a part time job ... but your GPA is the most important so take my advice and work extreamly hard ... you wont regret it

Answer 4

One F won't kill you if your other grades are good. I failed a particular class twice, and currently hold a 3.25 GPA. I would be curious if the F even transferred. Maybe you won't have to worry about it at all.

Answer 5

The "F" is def going to effect your GPA, without a doubt.