<p>How are the grading curves at Northwestern? People say that they are curved to a C+/B- rather than a B/B+ like many Ivy league schools ( Cornell, Harvard, Brown, etc.). Is that true?</p>
<p>I’d like to know this too. I think Cornell is reputed for being a real pressure-cooker though, in terms of academics.</p>
<p>While there is variance across majors and schools, I would not say that there is significant inflation or deflation relative to peer institutions. Premed courses, and especially organic chemistry, have harsh grading curves, although this is relatively common. Cornell, Princeton, Johns Hopkins are known for grade deflation while Harvard is well-known for inflation.</p>
<p>So why do people keep claying the intro to pre med courses and many of the STEM classes are hard even though the average GPA is 3.41 according to gradeinflation.com</p>
<p>At NU, the specialty schools have more grade inflation. Don’t expect the arts&sci and engineering schools have that average. On top of that, the upper-level classes are more grade inflated. Lower-level STEM and premed courses are the tough ones.</p>