How many terms can I simulate?

As many as you want to enter; each additional term simply extends the same running simulation.

What if my assumed GPA equals my starting GPA?

Your cumulative GPA stays exactly where it started, term after term, since there is no gap between your assumed and current GPA to close.

Can credits per term change between terms?

Not in this tool; it assumes one steady credit load. For an add/drop scenario in a single term, see Credit Load Effect on GPA instead.

Why does the GPA gain shrink each term even at the same pace?

Because GPA is credit-weighted; the same future credits make up a smaller fraction of a larger cumulative total as more terms pass.

How many terms at a steady pace would it take to reach my GPA goal?

Enter your starting GPA and credits, a steady number of credits per term, and a GPA you could sustain each of those terms. This simulates your cumulative GPA one term at a time so you can see exactly when it crosses a target, not just a single end-state projection.

Need your next decision? GPA Recovery Scenario

How we calculated this

Each term adds the same credits and assumed term GPA to your running quality points and credits, and cumulative GPA is recomputed fresh from those totals after every term, never by averaging term GPAs directly. Using the example values above (30 credits at 3.2, adding 15 credits per term at 4.0), your cumulative GPA reaches 3.4667 after one term and 3.6 after two terms.

The pace of improvement slows as your total credits grow, since each additional term's credits make up a smaller share of your overall total; the same term GPA moves your cumulative GPA less the further along you are.

Limitations

This assumes the exact same credits and GPA every single term, which is a simplification; a real term-by-term path almost always varies. Use GPA Scenario Comparison if you want to compare a few different flat-rate paths instead of one specific pace.

Common mistakes

A common error is assuming a GPA well above what you have actually sustained in past terms, which makes the simulated pace look faster than it realistically would be. Another is confusing "terms simulated" with "terms until my target"; this tool shows you the GPA after each simulated term so you can see for yourself which term first reaches your goal, rather than solving for that term number directly.

Frequently asked

How many terms can I simulate?: As many as you want to enter; each additional term simply extends the same running simulation.
What if my assumed GPA equals my starting GPA?: Your cumulative GPA stays exactly where it started, term after term, since there is no gap between your assumed and current GPA to close.
Can credits per term change between terms?: Not in this tool; it assumes one steady credit load. For an add/drop scenario in a single term, see Credit Load Effect on GPA instead.
Why does the GPA gain shrink each term even at the same pace?: Because GPA is credit-weighted; the same future credits make up a smaller fraction of a larger cumulative total as more terms pass.

Next decision

To compare this pace against a different named plan directly, see GPA Recovery Scenario.

For why comparing named scenarios usually beats trusting one single projection, read GPA Scenarios vs. a Single Projection.