Importance of GPA on a Bachelors Degree?

[seanmathews]

I remember this being brought up quite often, with receiving a BA/BS degree from TESC (im sure other schools as well), with the GPA being "N/A" due to testing out of the entire degree. With more and more of us on these forums finishing our degree and moving onto Careers and/or Masters Degrees, i shall ask.

What complications, if any, have arose from have a GPA of "N/A" on your degree?

Have there been schools that questions it?
Any job/career/interviews where it has been brought up?

One school im looking into for my masters is CCU (California Coast University), i have not looked much into it, once i finish my last class for my BSBA i will be starting my masters path. But, I am unsure how they will see it, and the last thing i want is for my GPA to affect my chances of completing my Masters when and where i would like.

I hope to have my last class and my BSBA in the books within a few weeks. But if i choose to get a GPA from a relatively easy class and get an A, giving me a 4.0, i will be looking at an Extra 12 weeks / 1 term.

Im trying to decide if the wait is worth the gain. Whether or not it will make a huge difference.
What my benefit would be, having a GPA of 4.0?

(I say 4.0 hoping i would get an A in that course, or else, that would suck if i did bad and had my GPA reflect that.)

Opinions and feedback please

Thank you

[Prloko]

I remember this being brought up quite often, with receiving a BA/BS degree from TESC (im sure other schools as well), with the GPA being "N/A" due to testing out of the entire degree. With more and more of us on these forums finishing our degree and moving onto Careers and/or Masters Degrees, i shall ask.

What complications, if any, have arose from have a GPA of "N/A" on your degree?

Have there been schools that questions it?
Any job/career/interviews where it has been brought up?

One school im looking into for my masters is CCU (California Coast University), i have not looked much into it, once i finish my last class for my BSBA i will be starting my masters path. But, I am unsure how they will see it, and the last thing i want is for my GPA to affect my chances of completing my Masters when and where i would like.

I hope to have my last class and my BSBA in the books within a few weeks. But if i choose to get a GPA from a relatively easy class and get an A, giving me a 4.0, i will be looking at an Extra 12 weeks / 1 term.

Im trying to decide if the wait is worth the gain. Whether or not it will make a huge difference.
What my benefit would be, having a GPA of 4.0?

(I say 4.0 hoping i would get an A in that course, or else, that would suck if i did bad and had my GPA reflect that.)

Opinions and feedback please

Thank you

I don't have any experience, but I would wager that having no GPA would raise some flags for some schools, then again only having three graded credits will raise flags with others. CCU is a nationally accredited for-profit so they are probably (highlight on probably) going to be flexible, but you should definitely speak to their registrar.

[cookderosa]

The only people with no GPA are those who tested out of all 120 credits. I know there are people who fall into that group, but it's a shrinking group, especially since the addition of the capstone. I took 4 quarters/1 year of course-work at TESC to avoid the potential concern/red flags you mention. Though I did about half my degree as "cr" none of the undergrad or grad schools I've since applied to/attended said anything.

[Daithi]

As cookderosa pointed out, most people will now have a GPA -- even if you only took one Capstone course to earn that grade.

Would a graduate school look down on a 4.0 GPA that is based on just one course? Maybe, maybe not. However, there have been several people who have tested out of most of their courses and were then accepted into top grad schools and even medical school. So, it didn't seem to harm them. It is actually even possible that the grad school will be happy to accept your 4.0 GPA and not care that it is based on just one course. The reason for this is that top grad schools are ranked in U.S. News and World Report, and the GPAs of students is a big factor in that ranking.

Another place your 4.0 GPA could be used is on a resume. Indicating a 4.0 GPA in the education section of the resume could earn you some points in the decision process of who to hire. It could also blow up in your face. If the prospective employer asks for transcripts and sees you tested out of everything they could view your mentioning a 4.0 GPA as deceptive. So, I wouldn't mention it if there is a possibility they will want transcripts. However, I think this may apply more to young people looking for their first "real" job. I don't believe most employers look at at transcripts. Your actual work history is far more important. In this case the 4.0 GPA is just something that looks good, and is in the back of an employer's mind as they decide who to hire.

[seanmathews]

I don't have any experience, but I would wager that having no GPA would raise some flags for some schools, then again only having three graded credits will raise flags with others. CCU is a nationally accredited for-profit so they are probably (highlight on probably) going to be flexible, but you should definitely speak to their registrar.

Now, im glad you said that, is there any issue with CCU being a Nationally Accredited for-profit school? I heard, all the time, that for my bachelors i should stay away from NA schools and stick with RA. Is that the same case with a Masters? I spoke with someone from CCU about it, and they informed me NA is only an issue if im going into Psychology or Education (Which is neither the case). Im looking for a simple Masters to complete, just to complete, for personal accomplishment reasons and for my resume.

And also for anyone else reading this, their opinion on a NA Masters Program?



Also, I am under the pre-July 1st enrollment, and my Capstone was also tested out of (Business Policy) so if i TECEP my last course, i will have NO GPA. CCU did confirm that it will not be an issue. But of course, I wanna keep my options open and look into other schools that could offer me a Masters Program.

[Prloko]

Now, im glad you said that, is there any issue with CCU being a Nationally Accredited for-profit school? I heard, all the time, that for my bachelors i should stay away from NA schools and stick with RA. Is that the same case with a Masters? I spoke with someone from CCU about it, and they informed me NA is only an issue if im going into Psychology or Education (Which is neither the case). Im looking for a simple Masters to complete, just to complete, for personal accomplishment reasons and for my resume.

There's always education snobs. There are people who thumb their nose on CLEP and the Big 3. The federal government doesn't give a hoot if your degree is NA or RA, it's the same to them, but there are many employers (government and private) who insist on RA (some are even beginning to insist on programmatic accreditation.). In the end, it is what is best for you. I'm not in a hiring position, but what would matter to me personally is your experience and intellect; unfortunately many hiring managers don't feel that way.

I just did a google search on CCU, and unfortunately the third search result down is a complaint on rip-off report. The complainant pretty much states that she/he got a 4 year degree in a few months with almost no work and wants their money back. If I'm an employer and search your school that is what's going to be on the first page of their search. It doesn't mean that it is true, or that the school is bad, but just some food for thought.

[Daithi]

Also, I am under the pre-July 1st enrollment, and my Capstone was also tested out of (Business Policy) so if i TECEP my last course, i will have NO GPA. CCU did confirm that it will not be an issue. But of course, I wanna keep my options open and look into other schools that could offer me a Masters Program.

If it were me, I'd want a GPA. I probably take the easiest possible course I could just to get that single grade. Does TESC have any 1 credits courses (i.e. cheap courses) that are graded? Something like medical terminology, or something, that can be done as an elective?

[sanantone]

What do you want to major in for your master's degree? I don't see the incentive for attending CCU when you can get a cheap, RA degree that's self-paced from WGU or Patten University. Does CCU even require a minimum undergraduate GPA? I can't find anything on their website.

I graduated without a GPA from TESC, but I did have graded credits from other colleges, so it really hasn't been an issue for me. I've applied for a lot of federal government jobs, and it seems like GPA is important to them. As Prloko said, they don't care about NA vs. RA (although, I'm sure they have a bias toward more prestigious schools). Most private employers don't even know that there is such a thing as NA vs. RA, but a lot of local and state agencies do. I've found the local and state agencies in Texas to be generally not accepting of NA degrees. For business, very few companies will ask for AACSB accreditation. Of course, an NA for-profit won't have this. Programmatic accreditation is more important in mental health/healthcare and engineering.

TESC used to offer a 1-credit, Jane Austen course, but I think it's gone.

Edit: Sorry, the Jane Austen course still exists. I heard it's really easy.
http://www2.tesc.edu/course.php?CourseCode=ENG-298&sem=

[seanmathews]

What do you want to major in for your master's degree? I don't see the incentive for attending CCU when you can get a cheap, RA degree that's self-paced from WGU or Patten University. Does CCU even require a minimum undergraduate GPA? I can't find anything on their website.

I graduated without a GPA from TESC, but I did have graded credits from other colleges, so it really hasn't been an issue for me. I've applied for a lot of federal government jobs, and it seems like GPA is important to them. As Prloko said, they don't care about NA vs. RA (although, I'm sure they have a bias toward more prestigious schools). Most private employers don't even know that there is such a thing as NA vs. RA, but a lot of local and state agencies do. I've found the local and state agencies in Texas to be generally not accepting of NA degrees. For business, very few companies will ask for AACSB accreditation. Of course, an NA for-profit won't have this. Programmatic accreditation is more important in mental health/healthcare and engineering.

TESC used to offer a 1-credit, Jane Austen course, but I think it's gone.

Edit: Sorry, the Jane Austen course still exists. I heard it's really easy.
Thomas Edison State College: Secondary Category Landing Page

The reason i first chose CCU was because it is literally 15 minutes from my house, giving me very easy accessibility to their program and giving me a chance to sit down and talk to a counselor/admissions/records, anybody, when any questions arise. Someone also mentioned it as a good school where they completed their Masters in a short period of time.

I spoke with a representative today on the phone and she informed me it is NA and the tuition for their Masters program is about $8000 (Not per year, but for their entire masters program) plus im sure there are costs per class. I believe it is entirely self paced.

What do i want my Masters to be in? I am not 100% sure, to be honest, something simple. The masters is mainly for me to say "I have a Masters" and obviously gain some knowledge from it, put it on my resume and be able to stop my schooling knowing i accomplished a good milestone. But there is no specific field it needs to be in for my career. I was leaning towards MBA since that is what my Bachelors will be in, but again, I am not 100% sure.

I will look into WGU and Patten University as well and do some comparing. Everyone input is also very helpful in making my decision.

I do have a prior GPA from my CC which, if it became an issue of the N/A GPA, then they would just go off my previous coursework at the CC, which i think its at a 3.XX so its not too bad.

[sanantone]

Also, if you ever decide to become a college instructor, whether full-time or as an adjunct, accreditation will be a major issue at RA schools. Even some NA schools will not accept NA degrees for instructor positions.