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puboiler23
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2.95 GPA. Can I round up to 3.0 on my application 15 Jun 2011, 19:32
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I don't think I need to go in to too much explanation here. My cumulative GPA on my transcript was 2.95. Obviously 3.0 looks way better. Can I put that down?
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2.95 GPA. Can I round up to 3.0 on my application 15 Jun 2011, 20:39
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No. I think all the schools I applied to specifically stated put your GPA to two decimal places. Not to mention you have to send in your transcript anyway. Plus, it will just make you look shady and dishonest anyway even if you are allowed to round.
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2.95 GPA. Can I round up to 3.0 on my application 15 Jun 2011, 20:45
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Absolutely not. You will have to send a transcript to them anyways so when they take a look at it you will look like someone who is not providing honest information. Then, they will wonder what else is not accurate in your application.
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2.95 GPA. Can I round up to 3.0 on my application 15 Jun 2011, 21:02
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puboiler23
I don't think I need to go in to too much explanation here. My cumulative GPA on my transcript was 2.95. Obviously 3.0 looks way better. Can I put that down?
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One of the adcom's Q&A session from few yrs ago, specifically said that 3.27 is not same as 3.3. They told the applicants to put the GPA exactly as it appears on your transcript (unless it is indicated to round up to certain digits in the application; for example your transcript says "3.275" and the online application only has "X.XX" format, etc)
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2.95 GPA. Can I round up to 3.0 on my application 16 Jun 2011, 04:47
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What about on your resume?

I have a 3.58 GPA but have always rounded it to a 3.6 on my resume.

I will of course put 3.58 on the education section of the application itself, but do I really need to go to two decimal places on my resume? imo it just adds clutter, and I've been told by recruiters (job recruiters, not b-school adcoms) that this type of rounding on the resume is okay.
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2.95 GPA. Can I round up to 3.0 on my application 16 Jun 2011, 08:14
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MDF
What about on your resume?

I have a 3.58 GPA but have always rounded it to a 3.6 on my resume.

I will of course put 3.58 on the education section of the application itself, but do I really need to go to two decimal places on my resume? imo it just adds clutter, and I've been told by recruiters (job recruiters, not b-school adcoms) that this type of rounding on the resume is okay.
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In general I also go only 1 decimal place on my resume but for all aspects of my b-school application, I went 2 decimal places to be consistent across my transcripts, online application, etc.
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2.95 GPA. Can I round up to 3.0 on my application 16 Jun 2011, 08:52
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eskimoroll

In general I also go only 1 decimal place on my resume but for all aspects of my b-school application, I went 2 decimal places to be consistent across my transcripts, online application, etc.
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Your reasoning for consistency makes a lot of sense. Thanks
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2.95 GPA. Can I round up to 3.0 on my application 16 Jun 2011, 11:33
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what if my transcript does not contain any GPA? There is a list of courses taken and their marks. In addition, there is a single mark for my thesis paper (diploma work). That is it: there is nothing mentioned about GPA or ranking. Will adcom spend 20 minutes calculating my GPA for me???
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2.95 GPA. Can I round up to 3.0 on my application 16 Jun 2011, 12:10
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Vorskl
what if my transcript does not contain any GPA? There is a list of courses taken and their marks. In addition, there is a single mark for my thesis paper (diploma work). That is it: there is nothing mentioned about GPA or ranking. Will adcom spend 20 minutes calculating my GPA for me???
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Are you saying that when you input the GPA, that you'd fudge it? While they probably won't spend 20 minutes calculating your GPA for you, why would you risk it? Remember, character is important in this process. :)
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2.95 GPA. Can I round up to 3.0 on my application Updated on: 16 Jun 2011, 12:15
Originally posted by AN225 on 16 Jun 2011, 12:12.
Last edited by AN225 on 16 Jun 2011, 12:15, edited 1 time in total.
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eskimoroll
Vorskl
what if my transcript does not contain any GPA? There is a list of courses taken and their marks. In addition, there is a single mark for my thesis paper (diploma work). That is it: there is nothing mentioned about GPA or ranking. Will adcom spend 20 minutes calculating my GPA for me???

Are you saying that when you input the GPA, that you'd fudge it? While they probably won't spend 20 minutes calculating your GPA for you, why would you risk it? Remember, character is important in this process. :)
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I see you are of a very high opinion about fellow applicants. :lol:

What I mean is shall I then calculate the number myself and round to ... what? 3.7? 3.77? 3.777???

One more question: do you include the course paper marks into GPA calculation?
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what if my transcript does not contain any GPA? There is a list of courses taken and their marks. In addition, there is a single mark for my thesis paper (diploma work). That is it: there is nothing mentioned about GPA or ranking. Will adcom spend 20 minutes calculating my GPA for me???

Are you saying that when you input the GPA, that you'd fudge it? While they probably won't spend 20 minutes calculating your GPA for you, why would you risk it? Remember, character is important in this process. :)

I see you are of a very high opinion about fellow applicants. :lol:

What I mean is shall I then calculate the number myself and round to ... what? 3.7? 3.77? 3.777???
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I do think that most of my fellow applicants are good people but I'm a social optimist. :-D

Yes, in that case, I'd calculate the number yourself and round to 2 decimal places.
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2.95 GPA. Can I round up to 3.0 on my application 16 Jun 2011, 13:29
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What about if you transferred schools? I went to community college for my first 2 years and got a 3.48 and in my 2 years at university, I had a 3.54. Do I use my total cumulative GPA or my GPA from the university I graduated from? Coincidentally, I had 60 hours at both community college and university. I know alot of MS programs only look at your last 60 hours.
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2.95 GPA. Can I round up to 3.0 on my application 16 Jun 2011, 13:33
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aznboi986
What about if you transferred schools? I went to community college for my first 2 years and got a 3.48 and in my 2 years at university, I had a 3.54. Do I use my total cumulative GPA or my GPA from the university I graduated from? Coincidentally, I had 60 hours at both community college and university. I know alot of MS programs only look at your last 60 hours.
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The online application has room for multiple universities. You'd need to submit two separate transcripts as well I'd assume.
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2.95 GPA. Can I round up to 3.0 on my application 16 Jun 2011, 14:22
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aznboi, as eskimoroll pointed out, the online application has several spots for you to put down each university that you have attended, as well as the respective GPA.

However, there are schools (not all) that will ask for a cumulative GPA. In that case, I believe it's okay if you calculate out your overall GPA that includes your undergrad institutions. My situation was the same as yours. I had two colleges (2 years of each) and I definitely didn't fudge anything. I carefully calculated out my GPA using the unit basis and hours studied. I double checked with Columbia, which was one of the schools I applied for, and was approved of this method. But I've only done this with applications that ask for a cumulative GPA.
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2.95 GPA. Can I round up to 3.0 on my application 17 Jun 2011, 07:58
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puboiler23
I don't think I need to go in to too much explanation here. My cumulative GPA on my transcript was 2.95. Obviously 3.0 looks way better. Can I put that down?

One of the adcom's Q&A session from few yrs ago, specifically said that 3.27 is not same as 3.3. They told the applicants to put the GPA exactly as it appears on your transcript (unless it is indicated to round up to certain digits in the application; for example your transcript says "3.275" and the online application only has "X.XX" format, etc)
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I actually have a GPA like that and I rounded DOWN, not up. I rather have them think of me as not taking full advantage of the rounding rules than as trying to pull a fast one.
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aznboi986
What about if you transferred schools? I went to community college for my first 2 years and got a 3.48 and in my 2 years at university, I had a 3.54. Do I use my total cumulative GPA or my GPA from the university I graduated from? Coincidentally, I had 60 hours at both community college and university. I know alot of MS programs only look at your last 60 hours.
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Use each GPA separately. If you transferred from one school to another, your grades do not reflect in the new school's transcript anyway, only the fact that you took some credits in another school. In your specific case your GPAs are very similar anyway so it won't make a difference that you had a 3.48 vs. 3.54.
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2.95 GPA. Can I round up to 3.0 on my application 17 Jun 2011, 19:03
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puboiler23
I don't think I need to go in to too much explanation here. My cumulative GPA on my transcript was 2.95. Obviously 3.0 looks way better. Can I put that down?
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nink

One of the adcom's Q&A session from few yrs ago, specifically said that 3.27 is not same as 3.3. They told the applicants to put the GPA exactly as it appears on your transcript (unless it is indicated to round up to certain digits in the application; for example your transcript says "3.275" and the online application only has "X.XX" format, etc)
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I know a guy (cough, ahem, who could it be old timers?!) who went to B-school around the same time as me. His listed GPA was 2.999 on his transcript.

I should add that it inhibited him hugely and he could only go to Chicago, where he got by.
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2.95 GPA. Can I round up to 3.0 on my application 20 Jun 2011, 06:18
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Perhaps if he rounded up to 3 he could have gotten into a superior school. Perhaps one a few miles to the north.

The question of rounding seems to have been beaten to death here, but I will add that I 100% agree with not trying to fudge your GPA - and in reality the difference in GPA that results from rounding up, down or any other way will not really matter in whether you get an admit. Your time would be much better served focusing on the parts of the applications that you have control over at this point, like your essays.
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2.95 GPA. Can I round up to 3.0 on my application 20 Jun 2011, 17:29
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puboiler23
I don't think I need to go in to too much explanation here. My cumulative GPA on my transcript was 2.95. Obviously 3.0 looks way better. Can I put that down?
nink

One of the adcom's Q&A session from few yrs ago, specifically said that 3.27 is not same as 3.3. They told the applicants to put the GPA exactly as it appears on your transcript (unless it is indicated to round up to certain digits in the application; for example your transcript says "3.275" and the online application only has "X.XX" format, etc)

I know a guy (cough, ahem, who could it be old timers?!) who went to B-school around the same time as me. His listed GPA was 2.999 on his transcript.

I should add that it inhibited him hugely and he could only go to Chicago, where he got by.
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In this case, it only makes sense to not round. We all know the magic of nines...I mean there's a freaking Beatles song about it.