GPA with minus grades

Question

Okay this one has just been bugging me a little bit. Do business schools take into account that some schools have minus and plus grades like A- (3.66), B+ (3.33), B- (2.66)... and that someone who goes to a school like this might have a lower GPA than having gone to a school that uses the traditional A, B, C, D, F? I realize though that this can also help someone who would have recieved a B at one school (3.0) and a B+ (3.33) a different school. I was just thinking about this because if I went to a school that used the traditional gpa system I would have something around a 3.98 whereas now I have a 3.82 because of them damn A- grades. 

Another twist to this is I know some schools give more leanency towards lower grades from people who went to "difficult" schools. But what if you went to a "less difficult" school that uses minuses for grades and that results in lower gpa than some who went to a "harder" school that used the normal way, do they take that into account? I feel though for someone who is applying to b-school they might be at a disadvantage in a situation like mine, do b-schools take that in mind and recalculate your gpa as if there weren't any minus or plus grades in order to "level" the playing field?

Thanks.

agsfaltex · Answer

Grades is  not  going to be the reason if you don't get in! Most schools have their own ways of normalizing the various grading systems and strength of programs.

johnnyx9 · Answer

The last time I heard of the "traditional" A, B, C, D, F system was when I got a D in handwriting class in third grade, are there colleges that actually use this system?

I think most admissions committees are familiar with different grading scales whether they're international or unorthodox so I don't think you'll be disadvantaged.

(Was that first paragraph reminiscent of the Harvard pr*ck in Good Will Hunting who's busting Ben Affleck's b*lls in the bar?)

lngbrdr · Answer

I know UF still uses the traditional GPA system, since my brother goes there, I assume there are others.

lngbrdr · Answer

Are you just refering to my situation? Although I would have to agree the biggest damage may be the school I go to, although it is a state school, but not anywhere near one. I just went since it was pretty much free.

lngbrdr · Answer

Rhyme, I'm sorry you misunderstood me and what I am talking about. I respect you and your comments on this board this is nothing against you but you certainly have not been exposed to this. There is NO such thing is this system of an A+. Absolutely nothing. I believe some schools institute this to help prop up middle of the road people however the top people who normally earn all A's this does not help whatsoever. In fact in a school like this a C- is not passing where at another school that same grade would have been considered. I acknowledge that yes in some cases the minus and plus system helps people however for me it doesn't.

I personally assumed the A, B, C, D, F system to be traditional. I only assumed maybe it is not however for simplicities sake I referred to it so people could understand what I am saying. 

So you know what I am referring to:
Traditional:
A: 90-100 = 4.0
B: 80-90 = 3.0
C: 80-70 = 2.0
and so on.

Minus and Plus
A:92/94(depends on school and class) - 100 = 4.0
A-:92-90 = 3.66
B+:88-90 = 3.33
B:82-88 = 3.00

Between the two systems you can easily convert the grades, well only easy when you go from a "minus and plus" to a "traditional". A grade at my school that is an A- or A would be a A using the other system. You would certainly have to take into account all the grades B+ and the other pluses. However I repeat there is NO SUCH THING as a A+.

I was not debating a 3.82 versus a 3.98, I was just asking. Good lord you would have thought I killed someone with the way you are coming at me. 

And no I am not trying to lower the achievements of someone who goes to a "better" school. I am simply raising another point. Great you went to a good school but....

Rhyme, I don't want to sound like a dick and I am sorry if I come off that way. I do aprreciate your comments and hopefully you won't have to come and attack me again. Thanks.

lepium · Answer

3.82 vs 3.98 or even 3.8 vs. 4.0 is a non-issue. In fact, I personally think GPAs are overrated in our perceptions of how much they matter in admissions. 

Focus on the rest of the app., which is way more important.

Hope it helps. L.

lngbrdr · Answer

Thats what I figured but I was just wondering if they take into account the different ways schools calculate GPAs since there seems to be no one standard.

pelihu · Answer

That was a little harsh, but I will agree with Rhyme's point that for the purposes of applying to business school, there will be no difference between 3.82 v. 3.98 - I think this is common knowledge to all that frequent this board. I see that you're new here lngbrdr.

I think you hit upon it in your own question, there are just too many variables for GPA to carry much weight in the process. There are differences in grading systems (A-F, 1-5, 1-10, percentages, I've heard of a bunch), and there's no consistency between schools, majors, possible grade inflation, different standards around the world, etc.

Since there's no way to really compare grades, I believe a more general approach is used by most schools. They look at grades in combination with the quality of a school, then factor in any knowledge they may have regarding the difficulty of a major and/or grade inflation, and then they probably categorize the result generally. The key question they want to answer is whether someone can handle the MBA program, and might award brownie points for people that have clearly excelled in past academics. The specifics of actual grades are meaningless because there is so much variability they cannot account for.

Anyhow, my conclusion is the same as Rhyme's - don't worry about it.

lngbrdr · Answer

Yep I'm new. I just found this forum a couple of days before I took the GMAT so I couldn't really take advantage of the good tips and all, ohh well. I did pretty well on my first attempt though with a 680 Q47 and V37 AWA 5.5. Kind of changed my plans as I am still in undergrad I am going to end up getting some professional experience and try for a top 25 school. My top pick is Michigan but thats a long time away. Right now I am just learning about the whole application process.

rhyme · Answer

Hey sorry if I came across as harsh, didn't mean to..... its the limits of an online interaction... you have a 3.80, you shouldn't even be fretting

I've deleted my post as a sign of goodwill.

lngbrdr · Answer

I suppose your right. But for me any GPA point I can get is useful since I don't go to a really good undergrad so there may be questions of my ability to cope with the more demanding courses.

rhyme · Answer

Well, unless you are attending the Hawaiian School of Underwater Basket Weaving, I wouldn't worry. And anyway, there's an easy way for you to dispel that truth if you really really are worried about it (though I'd argue you probably dont need to be) -- just take an econ or accounting or stats course through a top schools distance learning option - UCLA, for instance, I believe, lets you do online courses.

dabots · Answer

i actually asked tuck admissions this question a few years ago and they said they just look a the numbers and not the +/-. so i guess it depends on whether your school calculates gpa using the +/-. my school was a in a stupid transition period where they had +/- on grades but did not factor it into gpa calculation.

GPA with minus grades

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