Have you ever wondered what your GPA would be if you didn't fail that awful chemistry class? Ever wonder what your GPA is? Are you sick and tired of plugging in quality points into your TI-83 only to get a stupid "input error"? Or maybe your registrar miscalculated your GPA on your transcript? Or maybe you use one of the online GPA calculators but your computer, like mine is stupid and locks up all the time?!
Well I used to answer yes to all of the above, until I figured out how to make my very own GPA calculator in excel (complete with bells and whistles!) This is sooooo much easier than inputing all that *^%$ into your calculator once you get the hang of it, I PROMISE!!!
The pictures are small so if you can't click on them, you can follow along through my webshots (Each picture has the steps captioned below it!)
good-times.webshots.com . . .
STEP 1 Organize your spreadsheet like the example shown below. Put all of your classes into column B. Add more classes under the appropriate semester as needed.
STEP 2 Put the grades you earned for each class in column C. Hopefully no F's!
STEP 3 Enter the quality points you receive for each grade in column D. Schools with a 4.0 system will have the following point scale- A=4, A-=3.7, B+=3.3, B=3.0....
STEP 4 Enter the credits earned for each class (even for classes you have failed) in column E.
STEP 5 This is where it might get tricky... In cell F2, write =D2*E2 Then press enter. The formula will calculate the quality points you earned for that class.
STEP 6 Right click your mouse (or go to edit). Select copy, then right click into F3(the cell directly below that first one) and click paste. Repeat this down the column for every class.
STEP 7 type =SUM(F2:F11) into F12. If you have more classes change F11 to whatever cell contains the quality points for that last class. (So if I had 2 more classes I would type =SUM(F2:F13) in F14.)
STEP 8 Type =SUM(E2:E11) into E12. You can also add up the credits by hand, but I find that to be annoying.
STEP 9 In F13 type =F12/E12 Or in other words you are dividing the quality points by the total credits.
STEP 10 If you want to add more classes at a later date, copy and paste the items in E12, F12 and F13 down as many lines as you need. (So if you need to add 2 more classes paste those three items 2 lines lower. The formulas should stay the same.) Then add in the grades, points and credits and the calculator will do the rest! Voila your final gpa changed with the addition of 2 more A's
Pat yourself on the back if it worked, if not scream obsenities at excel!!
YOU ARE DONE!!!! NOW you can figure out your major or minor GPA. You can also figure out what your GPA will be if you get a 4.0 next semester or if you retake that darn Organic chem class. Don't forget to save the spreadsheet for next semester!
Even though though excel can be a pain in the butt, this GPA spreadsheet has helped me so much! (I figured that if I retake that darn class and get an A, my GPA will go up by .1!!!) I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and if you have any questions please reply or PM me!!
Maureen
