ASK ADVISOR ALEX
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Advisor Alex’s Apt Advice for the Week of April 16, 2007

• The new degree audit system, DIG, will be available to Arts and Sciences students this week. Keep an eye out for information on how you can DIG IT to get a quick and easy assessment of your degree requirements anytime!
  
  
• Haven’t submitted your Degree Audit Application for Spring commencement yet? Do it now! Applications must be completed and submitted to the OASIS by April 26 to ensure that your name appears in the Spring commencement program.

[top]

Ask Advisor Alex

Dear Advisor Alex:
I am trying to get my GPA up so I can apply to the Education program. If I am pretty sure what grades I am going to get, how can I predict my cumulative GPA after this semester?

Thanks,
Calculating Calvin

Dear Calculating:
The GPA calculation can be a little daunting if you don’t know what you are looking at. Your cumulative GPA is determined by dividing your total quality points by your index credits. Quality points are the weight of each grade (A=4.0, B=3.0, etc.) multiplied the number of credits a course was worth. So, for example, if you got a C in a 3 credit course, the weight of the C, 2.0, times the 3 credits gives you 6 quality points. This is done for each class you’ve taken, all the quality points are totaled, and this total is divided by your index credits to arrive at your cumulative GPA.

So, to guess at your GPA after this semester, there are 4 steps. First, multiply the weight of each grade you plan to get in each class (be realistic!) by the number of credits that class is worth to get the quality points for each class. Total these quality points and add them to the number of quality points you already have. Next, add the number of credits you are currently taking to the number of index credits you already have. Finally, divide the quality points by the index credits to get your cumulative GPA. Ta da! If you get confused, you can try the GPA calculator here: http://registrar.hunter.cuny.edu/subpages/gpacalculator.shtml, or ask an advisor for help.

Always,
Advisor Alex

[top]

Dear Advisor Alex:
A friend of mine just told me about a scholarship she is receiving that is helping her pay her tuition. How do I find out about scholarships that I might qualify for?

Sincerely,
Needy Ned

Dear Needy:
Great question! There are a ton of scholarships and grants out there from a huge variety of sources that are available to all kinds of students, and chances are there is one for you. The trick is finding them! Start by looking over the Student Services website for grants and scholarships, which has information on what funds are available and how to apply: http://studentservices.hunter.cuny.edu/grants.htm. You can download the Hunter College Grants Guide from that site, or come to Student Services in 1119E for a printed copy. The weekly E-bulletin from Student Services also includes a list of available scholarships and fellowships with approaching application deadlines: http://studentservices.hunter.cuny.edu/events.htm.

Good luck!

Always,
Advisor Alex

For more advisement information or questions, check out the advisement website: http://studentservices.hunter.cuny.edu/advising.htm
Contact Student Services at: 212-772-4882, Room #1119-East
Contact a Peer Advisor in the Student Center at: 212-650-3282, Room #417 West

For previous editions of Advisor Alex Apt Advice and Ask Advisor Alex letters, please visit: http://studentservices.hunter.cuny.edu/advising/advising_askarchives.htm

[top]