How will repeating a course affect my GPA?
If you repeat a course, only the highest grade earned will be used when calculating the cumulative GPA.
Repeating a failed course:
If you repeat and pass a course that you previously failed, your GPA will increase, likely to a significant extent. The previous failed attempt will remain on your transcript but the failing grade will be excluded from your GPA.
How will taking a course that is an exclusion of another course affect my GPA?
An exclusion* is a set of two or more courses that are not the same, but that have considerable overlap in content such that both may not count towards the requirements of your degree. Students are not normally permitted to enrol in a course that excludes one that they have already taken.
If you obtain permission to take a course that is an exclusion of another course(s) that you have taken, the grades in all excluded courses will contribute to your GPA. However, you may only count one of the courses (the course with the highest grade) towards your total degree requirements.
For example: SOCY 211/3.0 and STAT 263/3.0 are exclusions. If you choose to take both courses, both graded units will be included in your cumulative GPA but you will only be allowed to count a maximum of 3.0 units towards your degree requirements.
*Exclusions are identified in the Academic Calendar course descriptions or in SOLUS in the following manner:
EXCLUSION: No more than 3.0 units from BIOL 243/3.0; ECON 250/3.0; GPHY 247/3.0; KNPE 251/3.0; POLS 385/3.0; PSYC 202/3.0; SOCY 211/3.0; STAT 263/3.0.
How will my transcript be evaluated externally?
Your Queen’s transcript is an important record of your academic achievements in university, but it is by no means the only indicator of your overall abilities: building a good resume and a network of individuals who can act as references is also very important.
Having said this, it is important to remember that those evaluating your transcript are likely to be looking at a lot more than just your GPA. They are going to be far more interested in such things as: what courses did you take? How consistent is the student’s performance? How applicable are the skillsets and knowledge you have acquired as an undergraduate to the position/award to which you are applying? The following links deal with some specific examples.
How will my transcript be evaluated by a graduate school?
Generally, the people evaluating transcripts for entry into a graduate school are frontline faculty members, just like those you have encountered in your classes as an undergraduate. They will be particularly interested in your performance in courses relevant to the discipline to which you are applying, probably far more than the overall GPA. They will also be looking for trends in your academic performance: a student who starts out weakly in first year but who ends up as an A student at the end of their undergraduate career may be viewed more favourably compared to a student with a more consistent, but ultimately less impressive, record. The courses you choose will also be important: what electives you choose to complement your discipline are critical to showing that you are intellectually mature and prepared to do graduate work. Remember that your reference letters and any previous research experience are likely to be considered to be at least as important as your overall grades. You should contact the appropriate admissions officer or the appropriate graduate school website if you have questions about your academic eligibility.
How will my transcript be evaluated by a professional school (education, medical, law, etc.)
Professional schools all have different criteria for admission. The transcript is one of them, but aptitude tests (MCAT, LSAT) and references are also important. Some useful information on the evaluation of transcripts by professional schools in Ontario can be found at the links below:
How will my transcript be evaluated by a scholarship agency?
Certainly it is true that “A” students tend to get scholarships. But it is important to remember that many external scholarship agencies use grades as just one criterion when assessing you for scholarships: research experience, job experience, and evidence of communication, leadership and interpersonal skills are all important components, particularly for the most prestigious scholarships. If applying for a major scholarship, you should carefully review the instructions from the scholarship agency, and if necessary contact them directly if you have questions.
How will my transcript be evaluated by a potential employer?
Interestingly enough, many employers don’t place a lot of importance on the grades you got in university. Many of them will want a transcript merely to confirm your academic credentials. They will often be much more interested in your skillsets, interpersonal skills, teamwork and previous job experience.
Will drops show on my official transcript?
If you drop a course before the deadline to drop without academic penalty, the dropped course will not appear on your transcript. However, if you drop a full year course in the Winter term, the first term of this course will appear on your transcript with the notation “NG” for not graded.
