what do you round to when calculating your gpa?

[riley90]

I always assumed my GPA was something like 3.53. Then I used a GPA calculator (where you input letter grades) built into the application webpage of the university I'm applying to and it spit out 3.48. It reduced my GPA because it would round grades like a 3.3333.... to 3.33 for example. It may not be much of a difference, but 3.5 is a pivotal number and psychologically there's a bigger difference between something below 3.5 and something above. It wouldn't be an issue at all if the GPA was on my transcript, but the grad school asks for the GPA from my last 60 credits which doesn't appear on the transcript and has to be calculated. Is this a standard way to calculate a GPA? Is there no such thing as a standard way? Should I not be worried if, on another application, say, the departmental application, or application for funding, where I report the GPA myself instead of using a built in calculator, I report the higher value?

I know, I know, I'm making a big deal out of nothing, but still, little things like this matter, especially when competing for funding

[violet.]

I would not round it up. They will probably not want to hear your logic for why you rounded if they have any questions about it or check it. I would just be honest upfront. I'm sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear, and I may be wrong. Good luck in your application!