Ever since the HSC result came out, no one could look at Tania’s blank face. She missed GPA 5 just for a few marks and got 4.90 from Science. Tension and frustration is killing her from dawn to dusk. She can’t help saying, “What am I going to do with this life? All of my friends got GPA 5 except me. I’m good for nothing.” This is not just Tania’s feelings, Rajib feels the same. He got 4.80 from Humanities.You didnt get GPA 5, so what?
However, if we look around, there are many examples of successful students and professionals who did not receive high GPA in either SSC or HSC
Firoz Choudhury
Ever since the HSC result came out, no one could look at Tanias blank face. She missed GPA 5 just for a few marks and got 4.90 from Science. Tension and frustration is killing her from dawn to dusk. She cant help saying, What am I going to do with this life? All of my friends got GPA 5 except me. Im good for nothing. This is not just Tanias feelings, Rajib feels the same. He got 4.80 from Humanities.
Right now there are a few lac Tanias and Rajibs in the country who missed GPA 5 for some reason. Most of them are drowned in deep frustration and dont know how to bounce back.
However, if we look around, there are many examples of successful students and professionals who did not receive GPA in either SSC or HSC. Despite their so called failures, they managed to get in universities and other higher educational institutions, which eventually led them to successful careers. Even in the history of admission tests, there are students who didnt receive GPA 5 in none of the exams. Lets talk about Sohag Haoladar. A student of Dhaka Medical College now, Sohag says, I didnt get GPA 5 in neither in SSC, nor in HSC. In fact in one exam I got 4.88. But in 2012-2013 years Medical College Admission Test, I secured 182nd place in merit list.
Saiful Islam was a student of Applied Physics in Dhaka University. He said, I got 4.69 in SSC and 4.90 in HSC. Initially I was frustrated, but didnt lose hope. I worked hard and eventually got enrolled in Dhaka University- the best university in country and became 65th in the Admission Test (2007-2008).
Another student of Dhaka University, Zahid Hasan of Law department, shares a similar story. He said, My SSC GPA was only 4.13 and HSC GPA was 4.90. But I didnt give up as I knew who has a good command on general knowledge will surely do well in the admission test. Finally I was able to pass the Kha Unit Admission Test and got to study in Dhaka University.
Despite gettingGPA 4.70 in HSC, Fahmi Ahsan became first class first in Management and Information Systems (MIS) department in Dhaka University and proved that, nothing is impossible if one tries hard enough. This is true in professional life too. Alamin Mohammad, a student of International Business Department in Dhaka University passed 33rd BCS examination, though he scored 4.80 in HSC.
Those of you who are feeling demotivate due to misconceptions regarding how much GPA matters, should know that having GPA 5 is not the main requirement for university admission test. According to last years admission criteria, students from science background are required to have a combined GPA of 8.00 (HSC and SSC or equivalent exams; excluding 4th subject) to sit for Ka Unit admission test. Similarly, B Unit requires 7.00 (HSC and SSC or equivalent exams; excluding 4th subject), C Unit requires 7.50 (HSC and SSC or equivalent exams; excluding 4th subject), D Unit requires 7.00 (HSC and SSC or equivalent exams; excluding 4th subject) and E Unit (Fine Arts) requires only 6.50.
Lets look at Medical Admission Test. Here the requirement is having a combined GPA of 8.00 in HSC and SSC or equivalent exams and separately at least 3.50 in both of the exams.
From all the information above, you can surely realize than just because you got 4.8 or 4.5 in HSC, does not mean your chance of success is any less than a GPA 5 holder student. All the doors are open for you, just like they were before. Confidence, right information and hard work will take you to the place you desire.
Where top institutions like University of Dhaka and Dhaka Medical College do not require one to get GPA 5, other universities almost always have similar requirement or less. So you can easily take a chance in those universities and test your merit.
In HSC 2016 and equivalent exams, 58276 students were able to get GPA 5. However, even all public universities combined we do not have this many seats available. So the admission battle will require true merit, not GPA 5.
It is important to keep in mind that university admission tests are extremely competitive exams where you have to demonstrate your competence. So there is no scope and time for depression. Start your preparation right now. The clock is ticking and time to win the battle is running out. So, get ready and never, ever lose hope.
The writer is faculty at Dept of Journalism Communication Media Studies, State Universityof Bangladesh
