AMCAS Grade Conversation

[Mav-babe 2015]

Hey guys,
I was wondering how Amcas standardizes grades for everyone. My school gives out A/B/C/D or F so wouldn't my GPA be slightly lower than someone whose schools uses a +/- system? I looked at the conversion spread sheet, and I didn't find it all that helpful. It seems like some people are at a slightly higher advantage.

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[Ismet]

Moving to pre-allo.

Yes, your GPA will be different from someone at a school with +/-. That's the way it is.

Your school's grading scheme falls under the bottom table on page 3 of the AMCAS conversion guide: https://www.aamc.org/students/download/181676/data/amcas_grade_conversion_guide.pdf

 

[M12B]

Hey guys,
I was wondering how Amcas standardizes grades for everyone. My school gives out A/B/C/D or F so wouldn't my GPA would be slightly lower than someone whose schools uses a +/- system. I looked at the conversion spread sheet, and I didn't find it all that helpful. It seems like some people are at slightly high advantage.

Whether or not it is a disadvantage is honestly dependent on how many +'s and -'s you would have had.
With respect to +'s, yes, you'd be at a disadvantage, but with respect to -'s, you're at an advantage.

Scenario:
Let's say you and Joe Schmo both get a 92% in a class. Your school gives you an A because A- does not exist, but Joe Schmo's school gives him an A-.
AMCAS will give you 4 points, but give Joe Schmo 3.7 for the exact same percentage grade just because his school listed it as an A-.

In theory, the advantages/disadvantages will even out and with 4 years worth of classes the advantage/disadvantage is probably minimal.
But like Ismet said, that's the way it is. They have to standardize it somehow. Hope this helps!

 

[Mav-babe 2015]

Thank you guys for clearing that up for me. I guess it's out of my hands so I shouldn't worry to much about it I guess.