How is GPA calculated?

[Ian Wong]

Here's a thread that I pruned out (trying to keep the Accepted/Rejected/Waitlisted thread on-topic):

non wrote:<!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote>Quote:<hr> how did u figure out your GPA???What does a 3.7 correspond to in the u of s percentage scale??is there a formula? I would like to know what my GPA is.<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END-->---
Carry on!

Ian
UBC, Med 3

[governorgeneral]

at mcgill, anyway:

4.0 = 85 - 100% (A)
3.7 = 80 - 84.9 (A-)
3.3 = 75 - 79.9 (B+)
3.0 = 70 - 74.9 (B)
2.7 = 65 - 69.9 (B-)
2.3 = 60 - 64.9 (C+)
2.0 = 55 - 59.9 (C)
1.0 = 50 - 54.9 (D)
0.0 = <50 (F)

and when i say "84.9" etc, i mean it... some profs won't round up an 84.775. =(

a lot of my courses (esp arts courses) don't have percentages, just the letter grade. i was told that they'll just take the lowest possible percentage value (eg an "A" becomes just an 85%), which really sucks because i know that i've done better than that in some of them.

i think the 4-point scale is a better indicator than raw percentages. when you're taking science courses where your grade's based only on a 30 question, 30% midterm and a 70 question, 70% final (a pretty typical distribution), the difference between a 90% and an 85% is pretty meaningless. it's not like in high school where the teacher can personally track you and even things out with class participation marks. the 4-point scale removes the pseudo-objectiveness of a raw percentage score and gives you a better picture of how you did.

anyways, most every school has a different formula to figure out your GPA, so i figure just send them your transcript and let them figure it out. yeah, some schools are harder than others, and they won't factor that into the conversion. but then again, it was your decision to go to another school.

[PhantomPhoenix]

What happens if I go to a school that only gives out letter grades how do I convert backwards?

Does Sask have a table?

[kosmo14]

I am not too sure on that one as I was an in province app. I will find out for you. From talking to some oop people they all seem to have been better off when converting from letter grade to % grade, but I am not too sure why.

[PhantomPhoenix]

if they did better converting from letter grades it is probably bc they take the average of the associated range

for example an A at my school is 80-90

so if u convert backwards and take the average of that range..u get an 85 even though chances are u probably got in the low 80's

I know I really benefit at McGill....they convert my A's into perfect 4s on the GPA scale


Please let me know...it really has a dramatic effect on what my average would be...