what's a "decent" GPA for freshmen? -- Virtually Advising Q+A

The Q: This sounds like a fairly simplistic question, but what is considered a "decent" GPA for a first time freshmen at a state university?

The A: Not so simple a question as you might think! Whether your GPA is "decent" or not depends on an awful lot of factors: the school you're going to, the types of courses you've taken (and the professors teaching them), the requirements of any academic scholarships you might have, and -- most importantly -- your own personal goals and expectations.

If you're worried that you're not doing as well in your first year as you hoped, try not to beat yourself up about it. A huge number of students struggle during their first year, for all sorts of reasons -- anything from difficulty taking notes to homesickness. The good news is that you've got more than three years to pick up the slack. So take whatever time you need now to figure out what's tripping you up -- and what you can do to get over those bumps in the road. A quick visit with your adviser, one of your professors or a campus counselor might help you get yourself back on track.

Best,

—Myles Helfand, General Advisor