How hard is it to have a 3.5

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
21

<p>This might have been the original article written about grade inflation, written in 2005. I think this is one reason some people also wanted to institute the "Achievement Index," to encourage students to <em>not</em> avoid the courses that are often graded harder, or those courses that are known to be difficult.</p>

<p>Again, all universities have seen grade inflation over the decades, and I think this Turchi Report studied grades from 1969 to 1999 (I think), which did show some inflation. Since that report, I gather there's been some awareness of the issue; consequently, as stated before, I suspect there's been some level of grade deflation going on--perhaps in some depts more than others(?) I thought the Achievement Index was a great idea, from what I read about it, but it got voted down.
<a href="http://media.www.dailytarheel.com/media/storage/paper885/news/2005/02/18/University/Inflated.Grades.Still.Perturb.Officials-1363389.shtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://media.www.dailytarheel.com/media/storage/paper885/news/2005/02/18/University/Inflated.Grades.Still.Perturb.Officials-1363389.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>And, for more fun reading, here's yet another opinion or "Viewpoint" piece, written in 2001 for the DTH, entitled "Fuzzy Math? The Myth of Grade Inflation Exposed."
<a href="http://media.www.dailytarheel.com/media/storage/paper885/news/2001/12/03/Viewpoints/Fuzzy.Math.The.Myth.Of.Grade.Inflation.Exposed-1346166.shtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://media.www.dailytarheel.com/media/storage/paper885/news/2001/12/03/Viewpoints/Fuzzy.Math.The.Myth.Of.Grade.Inflation.Exposed-1346166.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>To quote from the DTH:
"The correlation is obvious: If you give students 24-hour access to unlimited information, they are going to write better papers."</p>

<p>I guess they didn't have turnitin.com back then.</p>

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<p>Eadad:
WHat is URM?
And has u S taken MCAT yet? If he did, how well did UNC prepare hime for that?</p>

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<p>Sunnyrain</p>

<p>URM= Under Represented Minority which usually translates as African American, Hispanic, Native Indian</p>

<p>Yes, he has taken the MCAT and UNC prepared him VERY well. He also took a Kaplan prep class during the Spring semester as a refresher because it had been a while since he took his Biology classes plus he wanted to learn to pace himself through the test.</p>

<p>He has asked me not to share his score but is was in the 99+ percentile. We are all obviously VERY pleased.</p>

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<p>So basically it means a small percentage of students get A's?</p>

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<p>GOB</p>

<p>Please don't take this wrong way but you are worrying far too much and school hasn't started yet. With the academic success you have previously had (you certainly wouldn't have had the many fine offers/opportunities you had without it) you will be fine and will do very well at UNC. Continue the work ethic and study habits you obviously already have and the rest will fall into place.</p>

<p>Stop worrying and enjoy the remaining days of summer, the school year will be here before you know it. You will be fine.</p>

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<p>Haha thanks eadad. Although, I think I came across more worried online than I actually am. :) (Sometimes typing can't convey actual feelings.) I just didn't entirely understand what grade deflation meant, so I wanted to get more of a definition and how it would play out in the classroom.</p>

<p>I think I'll be fine. I just can't expect to be pulling a 4.0 in college like I did in high school. :-P</p>

28

<p>You can always set your sights on a 4.0 but with the +/- grading system you can still have all grades in the A range and not be at a 4.0. As I've said before, everyone who counts like employers and grad and professional schools are fully aware of the UNC grading system so a 3.6 or 3.7 is a very fine accomplishment.</p>

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<p>Calm down, everybody. We're not even moved in yet, lol. Relax. We'll be fine: )</p>

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<p>eadad- Congrats to your son on his awesome score! Where does he want to go to med school? Just curious: )</p>