I was thinking about applying as a premed, and even though the policy is gone, I’ve heard that professors continue to grade pretty harshly. How hard are the premed requirements at Princeton?
Natural science majors have some of the lowest average GPAs at Princeton. Still plenty of graduates go to Med School from Princeton.
Not alot of pre-med at Princeton for good reason…
Average GPA at Princeton is 3.44 https://thetab.com/us/princeton/2017/10/03/average-gpa-rises-3-435-two-years-grade-deflation-repeal-5393
Average GPA at Harvard is 3.65 http://features.thecrimson.com/2016/senior-survey/academics-narrative/
Yes, I do believe Princeton has grade deflation. But science majors at any top school will usually have the lowest average GPAs on campus
If grades matter most, Princeton is not the right choice.
@doorrealthe Princeton has officially rescinded the grade deflation policy. Many professors still continue to grade as they always did but now without the restriction of an official policy. A’s at Princeton are generally given for exceptional work. Without the policy, professors can grade without any type of curve. This means that excellent work will be rewarded across the board, while mediocre or substandard work will also receive the appropriate grade.
I am in agreement with @planner03 - if a specific grades are the priority, Princeton would not be my recommendation. It’s important to note that while not easy, great grades ARE attainable with discipline and hard work. My son BSE '16 was also a varsity athlete who graduated summa cum laude and had his choice of grad schools after Princeton.