<p>i hear that northwestern is famous for giving out hard grades, so i was wondering what is the GPA scale here.</p>
<p>like is an A- a 3.7 and a B a 3.5? can somebody post a scale? thanks</p>
<p>A 4.0
a- 3.7
b+ 3.3
b 3.0
b- 2.7
c+ 2.3
c 2.0
c- 1.7
d 1.0
f 0</p>
<p>I do not know if this will be “reassuring”…but…remember, your grades are not sent to your parents-UNLESS-you authorize their release to your parents. The only way I know how my DD is doing is when I get a letter from the Dean telling me she has earned a spot on the Dean’s List! (SOC-must earn 3.75-4.0 for Dean’s List)</p>
<p>^^NU has some weird cutoffs for Dean’s List.
It’s not only high - which is fine, each school can set its own standards - but it has an unfair effect in WCAS, where the Dean’s List cutoff is 3.7. As noted above, an A- at NU is a 3.7, so the WCAS Dean’s List requires an A- average, but it doesn’t end there.
Four A-'s get you on the Dean’s List, but an A, 2 A-'s and a B+ (which most schools regard as an identical level of achievement) don’t because of the oddity of making a B+ only 3.3 (instead of a 3.33/3.34) and an A- a 3.7 (instead of a 3.67).</p>
<p>^i think most schools do the same thing. they are saying the difference between A and A- is smaller than the gap between A- and B+. there’s no mathematical logic in it. but i think it fits the perception well. 4 A- probably does “look” a little better than A, 2A- and a B+.</p>
<p>Really? I thought NU was in the minority on this, and most schools work numerical equivalents so that 4 A-'s would be exactly equal to an A, 2 A- and a B+.
ROunding A- up from 3.67 to 3.7 and simultaneously rounding B+ down from 3.33 to 3.3 is unusual to me (and I think illogical).
I guess mine is not to reason why…
And I don’t agree with the “bigger gap” theory.</p>
<p>NU is in the minority on it. And WCAS mom’s described effect kept me off Dean’s list two Quarters now (thanks a lot Japanese program :-/ )</p>
<p>Ah well. Straight sailing without Japanese when I get back!</p>
<p>^Are you guys thinking of high schools? I don’t know much about the HS in America. But I’ve attended classes at 5 different colleges/universities (including NU) and they all have the same grade points/weights. Of course, there’s the possibility that all the schools I’ve attended just happen to belong to that minority; that seems unlikely however.</p>
<p>Most schools whose grading schemes I know (a nice spread) use the drop of A- to B+ as 3.66 and 3.33. Each step is the same. Many also have a 4.33 A+ (Cornell is grade deflated, rightttttt).</p>
<p>I just found that Harvard uses the scheme you described. My guess is both schemes are widely used.</p>
<p>According to [Academic</a> Grades and Notations](<a href=“http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/studentservices/policies/grades.html]Academic”>http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/studentservices/policies/grades.html), an A- gives you 3.7 and a B+ gives you 3.3 at Cornell. It is nice that you can have 4.3 (A+) at Cornell.</p>
<p>arbiter213, how manageable would you say that Japanese is past the 1st year (assuming you’re in your 3rd year that is) in comparison to first quarter of Japanese I? It seems like the general consensus on the CTECs is that Japanese is a true GPA killer.</p>
<p>Japanese always is, and always will be, a true GPA killer, and I now know objectively this has nothing to do with your actualy Japanese abilitiy- I placed into the top of third year students in my very competitive language intensive study abroad program and am getting nearly an A+ in the class here. It’s all at the feat of the teachers being insane. Its certainly managable past year 1, just as it is in year 1, but it doesn’t get any easier.</p>
<p>I don’t mean to say don’t take it if you want to learn- I find it very fun and rewarding. But know what you’re getting yourself into. I’m banking on 1) My GPA doing a HUGE turn upwards when I stop taking it 2) Law schools going “WOW! Japanese!” and not “****ty GPA, next.”</p>
<p>Thanks for advice, arbiter213. So far, Japanese hasn’t been too difficult but I wanted to get a sense of just I’m in for if I plan to use it as my language requirement or even minor in it. I imagine once the kanji really starts picking up, it’ll start getting much harder. I agree that Japanese is very rewarding – even after just one quarter I feel like I’ve gotten a much better grasp of the language than I had before.</p>
<p>It sounds like you had some previous experience- just know that after that runs out, it’ll start hurting you pretty badly. I have a friend who speaks fluently but can’t read or write or use Keigo, and he gets the same grades as me. I know one kid who lived in Tokyo for all of HS and gets the same grades too. If you’re getting A’s, I am in awe of you.</p>
<p>I’d also like to take this moment to plug Japan club, which is a group of solid people with great events, and a great way to find Japanese practice partners.</p>
<p>Ah, well I have a feeling that most language courses are a breeze the first quarter and that right now, the difficulty of this course can’t even compare to that of next year and the year after. Even if its going to bring my GPA down, I have a strong interest in the language and I definitely want to study this. Btw, who did you have as your teachers? Right now, I have Taira sensei and shes excellent at presenting the material.</p>
<p>I’ve been meaning to go to the Japanese club meetings but my other clubs or something always got in the way. I’m hoping I’ll be able to make the next meeting. Also, the kissaten sounds like a great chance to practice conversing but I feel like I should get some more experience before I start chatting it up with 2nd and 3rd years.</p>
<p>Taira Sensei is great as is Shiojima Sensei. I have not had Sato Sensei. And it will ramp up, but do your best!</p>
<p>Does the Dean’s List get updated on a quarterly basis or yearly basis?</p>
<p>It’s quarterly, but its not really a “list”- they just send you a certificate (I think- I’ve seen the certificates in their office, but have never seen the ones I was notified of receiving.)</p>