Hi there! I’ve visited your website for guidance and I’d like to ask a question personally. I’m a first year CS student. I dropped one course and failed 3 courses-2 of which are required to get into the CS program. I’m taking all three this summer and so far so good–I’m not messing this up again. My annual and cumulative GPA is really low…a little over 1.5. I’ve been thinking about the future and if grad school is something I’d want to do later on and now I’m worried about what I’ve done. If I do extremely well in these classes(90+), will it increase by GPA by much? And is it too late to get a GPA around the 3.5 or above area for when I graduate? Thanks a lot!
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hey there,
i’m so glad you’ve found my ramblings helpful! i like to imagine that some of you come here for Guidance capital-G, and not just for gifs or to send me into a college-question-related torpor.
unfortunately, i can’t answer your math problem because you didn’t give me all the variables. how many credits did you finish with in first year? was the course you dropped a 0.5 or 1.0 credit course? these things will affect your CGPA and i can’t figure it out without knowing them. besides, i’m not a calculator, dude. here’s your calculator.
anyway, while the cut-off for UofT’s M.Sc. in Applied Computing (i’m just gonna go with that degree because you didn’t specify a program) is a 3.3, it’s only over the last two years of your undergrad degree. so even if you did muck up first year, it’s not game over yet. but:
there are two general reasons people do not-so-hot in first year: 1) they weren’t ready. uni moved too fast and they underestimated it. it takes them some time to find their groove, but when they do, it’s smooth sailing. if that’s your situation, then you should 100% go for grad school! but if it’s reason 2) you’re just not motivated because you’re not enjoying yourself, then it’s NOT WORTH IT.
so while you’re doing that trademark student move of calculating potential GPAs (“so, if i get a 76% in this course…no, let’s say 78%, i can definitely get a 78%, then…maybe…my parents will love me…“), also think about whether this is really right for you. are you overwhelming yourself for good marks or do you feel like you can handle the work? and can you see yourself working as a slave to our mechanical overlords for life’s important questions?
cheers,
aska