Importance of GPA on a Bachelors Degree?

[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.