Quick Question

Applying to College
1

<p>I've noticed different schools have different standards for grading as in the scale itself is different.
So lets say for school A the scale goes like:
99-100 A+
96-99 A
94-95 A-
92-93 B+
89-91 B
etc.</p>

<p>And school B's scale goes like
97-100 A+
94-97 A
91-93 A-
88-90 B+
86-88 B
etc.</p>

<p>Then the GPA that various students from different schools receive differ even though they might receive similar number grades. Why is that?
I've been told that this is due to the fact that some schools are much more challenging but thats completely relative isn't it?
I have friends who attended my school, which has a difficult grading scale, go to other schools with more lenient grading scales and they tell me our school is just as, if not more difficult. What I want to know is how this plays out in the big scheme. How do colleges tell if one school has harsher standards than other schools, or do they not?</p>

2

<p>If you’re talking about less than the most selective colleges, then NO – the differences don’t matter much to them.</p>

<p>If you’re speaking about the top schools, then they try their best through history, comparison and relationships w/school officials to note the differences. But ultimately the schools are perfectly fine with less than perfect data – it’s an art, not a science. They aren’t machining fine tools – they’re subjectively admitting students. </p>

<p>What does that mean for you? Don’t sweat it – you can’t do anything about it anyway.</p>