I would be interested in hearing from anyone in the community as to how you feel about UChicago’s grade deflation. Specifically, how do you discuss this with your child in a constructive, affirming way?
Does grade deflation mean getting the grade you deserve?
UChicago’s average GPA (per LSAC, at least) has actually been increasing over time. Lots of reasons for this. It’s just not the ridiculously high GPA’s that you see at other places. Dean’s List is 3.25 or higher every year and most of the College makes that. Each major will have a specific GPA requirement for Honors. See the College Catalog - Programs of Study for those details. http://collegecatalog.uchicago.edu/thecollege/programsofstudy/
OP, perhaps you can tell your DC the same thing we told both of our kids: the work is hard and you will be stretched and even stressed. But you will also be enormously proud of every high grade you receive because it was earned. And behind every ‘meh’ grade is a great story because it shows you weren’t afraid to take a risk and try to learn something new. It’s ok for the resume and job interviews to reveal some character on top of all that other, more typical, stuff.
I think that kids are made up of the right stuff and have no problem having a good GPA at UChicago. Do they have to work for that grade, yes. Do they have to work harder than their peers at other top notch schools? I’m not sure anyone can accurately say as few have experienced an undergraduate education at more than one school. Sure you can look at average GPA’s, but there are so many other factors that weigh in, most notably, the average credentials of students have been increasing at all institutions.
That being said, one year in, my S has not struggled too much with grades at UChicago. Granted, he is not in the pre-med track, which I hear is brutal. And he has only had the core classes for the most part, which I’ve read from former students are much easier, but people do graduate with GPA’s north of 3.8 often. If others can do it, so can you. That’s how I talked to my son about it. I told him to approach each class as an opportunity to learn as much as you can about the subject, as that is the goal of education, not to get a grade. It was a lesson I learned too late in my own education experience. After one semester in my graduate engineering program, I complained that my A seemed to be “down valued” as many of my classmates also got an “A” and didn’t do nearly as good of work as I had. That is when she passed that little nugget to me and it has stuck with me forever and I have passed it on to any who listen. Your goal as a student is to learn. Learn a subject so well that you can use the material. A class isn’t an obstacle to overcome, it is an opportunity to become a better person.
“but people do graduate with GPA’s north of 3.8 often.”
What percentage, does anyone know? Would think that’s PBK territory which means 10%. Or is PBK typically an even higher GPA at UChicago?
I thought PBK was 3.9 territory