Understand what the GPA scale means. According to Peterson's article: "How Colleges Look at Your GPA Score," most colleges want students to have GPAs that are at or above a 3.0. A 3.0 GPA means that students made cumulative B averages. They might have made some As, and they could have earned a few Cs. A 3.0 average usually means that students have very few to no Ds or Fs.
Look at college lists for the average GPA for their incoming freshmen. The average GPA is significant information that reflects whether the student body is academically competitive, and it demonstrates whether the school is highly selective in the admissions process.
Schools that have high average GPA scores typically have more strict admissions requirements. While admissions counselors look at a variety of factors, including essays and letters of recommendation, they expect students to maintain a high GPA. Although course difficulty may be considered, admissions officers believe strong students work hard to succeed, so they may well decline applications from students with low GPAs.
Don't worry if you have trouble getting through your high school classes. Some students may take Advanced Placement classes that are extremely demanding, and they find halfway through the semester that they cannot achieve high marks. In this case, students should not panic if they discover that their GPAs are below average. They can still get into a decent college regardless. Many non-selective and even some selective schools will consider accepting students who have below-average GPAs.
Students with low GPAs should try to excel at standardized tests to show admissions counselors they are academically competitive. They can also ask teachers to prepare letters of recommendation if they earned As or Bs in their classes. Having teachers vouch for you indicates to the admissions department that you have respectable qualities and show promise.