One of the easiest ways to improve your GPA is by repeating courses. Especially, if you have any grades that are less than ‘C’ (‘CD’, ‘D’, or ‘F’), you should repeat them as soon as possible (the next semester, summer, etc).
- If you fail a required BSME course, you will have to repeat and pass the class to meet the degree requirement.
- Even if it is an elective course that is not required specifically, a repeat of a poor grade is probably warranted as well.
- All current Michigan Tech grades are included in GPA calculations regardless of course status as a degree required course or not.
- Students may repeat a course no more than two times (3 total attempts allowed). Sign-offs from your academic advisor, Financial Aid, and the Dean of Students office are required to repeat a course a 2nd and final time (3rd attempt). You may download the 3rd attempt form here. This process is mostly a formal acknowledgement from the student that the 3rd attempt is the final attempt and a failing grade in a required course will necessitate a major change. It is also in place to make sure the student is well-advised about how to best facilitate success in the final course attempt.
- Students may repeat any previous grade. This is a recent change made after the Spring 2021 semester.
- The most recent grade is used in your GPA calculation even if it is lower than the previous grade (including failure after a previous passing grade, resulting in loss of credit).
- Course attempts are repeats only if the exact same or equivalent course number is completed (example of equivalent course numbers: MA 1160 and MA 1161).
- See an academic advisor if you believe you need a similar repeat (only applicable if a course is/was no longer offered after a grade in a course is earned, i.e. student did not have an opportunity to repeat).
- You may transfer credit from another institution to replace a grade in a course as long as the requirements outlined in FAQ #5 are met. However, earned transfer credits are not included in any GPA calculations. Transfer repeats can impact your GPAs if the transfer replaces a previous Michigan Tech grade. Removal of poor grades from these calculations may cause GPAs to improve once transfer credits are entered. Please note once again, the Michigan Tech grade is completely removed from the GPA calculation by the transfer, but the earned grade from the transferring institution will not be used to calculate Michigan Tech GPAs. Transfer repeats only can remove prior grades if the transfer credit is evaluated equivalent to the exact same course number at Michigan Tech that was originally completed (or an equivalent course like the Calculus I example above).
- Prerequisite courses must be passed in order to continue to next course. In most cases is is not advisable to move ahead in a course sequence if you have not earned a ‘C’ or better in a pre-req course, even though you may have passed the course.
- Concurrent pre-req courses may be taken at the same time.
- Minimum GPAs are established that must be met in order to maintain good academic standing: University cumulative GPA ≥ 2.00 and cumulative departmental GPA ≥ 2.00 (MEEM courses, based on at least 16 credits) and current semester GPA ≥ 2.00.
- The minimum ≥ 2.00 cumulative and departmental GPAs are also required for graduation
- Repeating courses may impact financial aid. Please visit the Student Financial Services Center to discuss specific situations.