<p>In simple terms, how does Wellesley's grade deflation process work? How will Wellesley's grade deflation policy affect transfers?</p>
<p>Also, what is the average GPA of a Wellesley student? I read somewhere that it's around a 3.3, but isn't that considered low for a transfer student? (I am currently a student at Wellesley looking to transfer for Fall 11 to another school)</p>
<p>Is there a way to check how we are doing in terms of grades right now, or must we wait until until the end of the semester to find out our GPA?</p>
<p>Hello fudge,
I know this is completely off-topic, but why are you transferring? I’m curious because I’m in the process of applying to Wellesley as a transfer.</p>
<p>If you are not in a 300 level class, or a class with a very small number of students (fewer than ten I think), then the grade policy applies. The grade policy merely states that the median grade of each class “should” be a B+. It does not state that the median grade must be a B+, or that professors should assign different grades than what they would prefer to comply with the grade policy–there <em>is</em> a mechanism to override the grade policy and have a higher median. </p>
<p>There is not a lot of information available about average GPAs at Wellesley, but I also have heard 3.33 is usually about average. As far as how that affects transfers, I don’t really see how it matters–3.33 is the (approximate) average GPA, not the GPA you are mandated to get (and yes, my overall GPA is around here so I know that it is by no means a slouchy, lazy person who gets this sort of GPA). A B+ is not so outrageously low, either as a personal GPA or an average. </p>
<p>Basically all professors explain how they are going to calculate your final grade, so you can of course do a rough estimation of where you are right now with the graded work you have received, but final grades will not be available until January. I don’t think I’ve ever guessed more than one grade higher or lower from the actual grade I got in a class (so maybe I’ll hope for an A- and end up with a B+, but never have I hoped for an A- and gotten a B), so rough estimation and realistic intuition will probably give you a good idea of what your GPA will look like. Beyond that, it is obviously your responsibility as a student hoping to transfer to figure out where that GPA is likely to get you admitted, along with whatever else they consider in transfer applications.</p>
<p>devotchka - There are multiple reasons in which I want to transfer out of here, most of them being personal. You can feel free to PM me if you want.</p>
<p>advantagious - re: average GPA … I was just wondering because in most successful transfer cases, the student had typically around a 3.5/3.7+ GPA. Also, even NYU says that the average GPA of their transfer students is around a 3.5 or higher. I’m just worried because will other schools take into consideration that Wellesley’s average GPA is around a 3.33 and that grade deflation may have affected our grades?</p>
<p>Also, in reponse to the grade deflation policy… do people ever receive the benefit of a curve and receive a higher grade in a class or is everyone curved down in a class?</p>
<p>Grade deflation seems to depend a lot on the department. (The sciences and the econ departments, for instance, take grade inflation very seriously, but many other departments not so much). </p>
<p>I don’t think my final grade has ever been graded down in a class, but I do feel that sometimes the grades I get on assignments are graded with the curve in mind. I’ve had a math class that curved so that the median final grade was at least a B. (This was not supposed to hurt anyone, and as far as I know it didn’t). </p>
<p>I transferred INTO Wellesley, but I asked my professors to sign midterm reports the spring semester before I applied. Professors at my old college had no problems with this. You can always ask a professor now how you are doing in a class, but it’s entirely possible that the professor won’t know.</p>