To calculate your GPA, you need to:
1. Know your grading scale: A typical scale is A=4.0, B=3.0, C=2.0, D=1.0, F=0.0. However, some schools use pluses and minuses (A+, A, A-, etc.), which will affect the calculation.
2. Know the credit hours for each course: Some courses are worth 3 credit hours, others might be 1, 4, or even more.
3. Calculate the grade points for each course: Multiply the numerical grade (e.g., 4.0 for an A) by the number of credit hours for that course.
4. Sum the grade points: Add up the grade points from all your courses.
5. Sum the credit hours: Add up the credit hours from all your courses.
6. Divide total grade points by total credit hours: This gives you your GPA.
Example:
Let's say you're aiming for a 3.6 GPA and are taking 15 credit hours:
* Scenario 1 (easier): You could get mostly A's and a few B's. For instance, 12 credit hours of A's (12*4 = 48 grade points) and 3 credit hours of B's (3*3 = 9 grade points). Total grade points: 57. 57/15 = 3.8 GPA.
* Scenario 2 (harder): You could get some lower grades. This requires more careful calculation to reach a 3.6 average. You'd need a combination of grades that results in a total grade point average of 3.6 x 15 = 54.
To figure out what grades *you* need: You need to provide the number of credit hours for each course you're taking. Then, we can work backward from your desired 3.6 GPA to determine the grade combinations that would achieve it.