What is the Highest Level of Education if You are Still in College? (Answered 2024)

There are a lot of students who are in their final year of college and start finding out jobs or looking for their master’s degree. In such a case they need to fill out their applications. When you are filling out the form you may have to answer a question which is the highest level of education completed. At that time you may also be confused about what is the highest level of education if you are still in college. Thus, here I will help you to find out the answer to this question along with whether you will have to add a GPA to a resume or not.

Quick Takeaways

• If you are in college but not have completed the degree then the highest level of education that you have completed is high school.
• If you are applying somewhere, you can still add the name of the degree and college and add the graduation year.
• You must make sure that the information you are adding to the application is right and appropriate.
• Following are the situations when you can add GPA in the resume-

1. When asked in the application
2. When having a high GPA
3. If the major related to the job has high Grades

However, you must read till the end so that you get a better understanding of the highest level of education.

What is the highest level of education if you are still in college?

If you are in college but not have completed the degree then the highest level of education that you have completed is high school. It means that a high school diploma will be used as proof of your highest level of education at that time.

What do you put for the highest level of education if you are still in college?

As mentioned above the highest level of education that you have completed when you are in college is high school. Therefore when you are filling up any form, you will have to mention your high school diploma in it. Also if you want to still show them that you are studying for a degree in a college you can add it in the following manner-

• BA in Economics – Stanford University – GPA 3.5 (Expected graduation: May 2024)
• Associate in Computer Science – Davenport University Grand Rapids, MI. Graduating May 2024

What should you do before filling out the application?

Following are some of the steps that you will need to take care of before filling out the application form-

1. Collect all the required documentation

The first thing that you must do is to collect all the required documents that are needed to complete the application. When you have a file that has all of the documents it will be easy for you to get the document on time.

2. Read the instructions

You must read all the applications before filling out the form. This will help you to understand what information the person is asking you. Also, it will help you to avoid mistakes and repetitions of the content you have already.

3. Do not leave any question

Whether it is compulsory or not you must not leave any of the boxes empty. When you leave a question or book empty, it looks like you are hiding something. If you go through a question that is not applicable to you then you will have to write N/A to represent ‘not applicable’.

4. Proofread 

Proofreading is the process where you will have to read the whole application again. When you proofread something it helps in removing the mistakes that you have made while writing something. Obviously, when you will proofread the application it will help you in making sure that all the information you have provided is correctly written.

5. Be open to salary (if it is a job application)

If you are filling out a job application you must make sure that you are flexible with the salary expectations. When you write a specific amount, it may discourage the hiring manager from your application. Thus try to add negotiable after writing the salary expectation. It will show them that you are flexible with the salary package.

Do jobs call your high school? 

Usually, the grades that you get in high school are not considered for getting a job. However, there are high chance that your employer make contact with the high school you have gone to. It is because they want to verify whether you have gone to the high school or not even if you are having high school diploma. In many jobs, employers also use specialized background checks to verify your history and educational background.

What are the things that you will need to add to your resume when you are still in college?

Following are the things that you can add to your resume while still being in the college-

• Name of the institution you are in
• Area of the study
• Current GPA
• Degree you are attending
• Current GPA along with words like ‘in Progress’

Should you add your GPA to an application?

Whether you should add your GPA in an application or not is a big question especially then you do not have a higher GPA. Thus, further, I have mentioned different situations where you will have to add GPA in the application-

1. When asked in the application

If the employer has asked you to fill out your GPA then you will need to add it even if it is low. Obviously, you will have to answer them why you are having low GPA. Thus, prepare yourself to deal with such questions.

2. When having a high GPA

Naturally, when you have a high GPA you will have to mention it. It is because a high GPA will make it look good when an employer looks at your resume. Also, there may be a minimum criteria of GPA needed for the job. In such a scenario if you have a GPA higher than that, then you must add it to the application. 

3. If the major related to the job has high Grades

When you study for a degree there are different subjects that you need to focus on. Suppose you have studied a degree in economics but there was also a business management course in it. Now, you may be going to a job that has a minimum requirement of business management knowledge. So even if you have a low GPA as of final grade, you must add the GPA of the business management course.

Although, you have learned about the situations where you should add your final GPA, now is the time to know the situations where you should not add GPA in the application-

1. When it is not your first job

If it is not your first job, the hiring manager will look at your experience rather than your grades.

2. Lower GPA

If your GPA is lower than 3.0 or even 3.4 then you must avoid adding it. It is because when you add up a low GPA it will discourage your manager from taking interest in your application.

 

Conclusion

If you are a student who is in college and trying to apply for the masters program then you may be thinking what is the highest level of education you have completed? When you are in college and have yet to pass the degree then The highest level of education completed will be high school. So when you are making a resume or filling out the form, you will have to mention that the highest level of education computer is the high school. However, you can add the degree name in the application along with the name of the institution you are studying the degree.