A+ vs A- on transcript

[idandps]

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I heard that when filling out the AMCAS application, A+ automatically becomes A. And this is because some schools don't even have a +/- grading system. Then it seems only fair that the AMCAS system changes A- to A as well when it calculates the GPA. Does anyone know about this? Any help would be appreciated. 😉

 

[CptCrunch]

I heard that when filling out the AMCAS application, A+ automatically becomes A. And this is because some schools don't even have a +/- grading system. Then it seems only fair that the AMCAS system changes A- to A as well when it calculates the GPA. Does anyone know about this? Any help would be appreciated. 😉

I think A+ is changed to an A, but A- remains an A- and counts as 3.7.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

I heard that when filling out the AMCAS application, A+ automatically becomes A. And this is because some schools don't even have a +/- grading system. Then it seems only fair that the AMCAS system changes A- to A as well when it calculates the GPA. Does anyone know about this? Any help would be appreciated. 😉

You heard correctly. A+ = 4.0. A- = 3.7. It's all on the AMCAS website. Here's a link directly to the grade conversion guide for 2007.

http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/2007amcasgradeconversionguide2.pdf

 

[Kikaku21]

I think A+ is changed to an A, but A- remains an A- and counts as 3.7.

Thats correct. Trust me. I am the king of the A-. My GPA would go up 0.2 if an A- were a 4.0

 

[doublehh03]

Thats correct. Trust me. I am the king of the A-. My GPA would go up 0.2 if an A- were a 4.0

me 2. i have quite a few A-s. If those had been As, my GPA would be near 3.9+ rather than 3.8 somethin

i hate A-s, but kinda love a B+ when you do get Bs haha

 

[bbas]

As far as I'm concerned, there's no such thing as an A+. There's no advantage GPA wise in getting an A+, and at many universities such a grade doesn't even exist.

 

[idandps]

Darn, those bastands 😱 But the fact that A- is converted to 3.7 is only encouraging since my school assigns 3.67 to the grade. So now I understand that A+ doesn't affect my GPA, but will the ADCOMS be able to see that I got some A+?

 

[Lilah]

What about schools that don't give +/- grades...seems kind of unfair. For school that use the +/- system, it’s annoying to have to worry about A- but if you go to a school that doesn’t give +/- you would probably also be unhappy having to get a B when it could be a B+ at other places.

It would be better if all schools used the same system.

 

[jbrice1639]

What about schools that don't give +/- grades...seems kind of unfair. For school that use the +/- system, it’s annoying to have to worry about A- but if you go to a school that doesn’t give +/- you would probably also be unhappy having to get a B when it could be a B+ at other places.

It would be better if all schools used the same system.

luckily for us, this is the only instance ever when life is not completely fair...so at least we've got that going for us...

 

[medrad]

Darn, those bastands 😱 But the fact that A- is converted to 3.7 is only encouraging since my school assigns 3.67 to the grade. So now I understand that A+ doesn't affect my GPA, but will the ADCOMS be able to see that I got some A+?

An A+ will show up on the AMCAS pdf summary of your application. I imagine that schools will have access to it, but I am not sure how deep they dive into your file.

 

[akinf]

If you're applying from Canadian schools, is it the same way as well. My school doesn't have A-, but we have A and A+, does all that become 4.00?

 

[Dr.Andrews]

If you're applying from Canadian schools, is it the same way as well. My school doesn't have A-, but we have A and A+, does all that become 4.00?

I am also from Canada and would be interested in knowing this.

 

[riceman04]

I heard that when filling out the AMCAS application, A+ automatically becomes A. And this is because some schools don't even have a +/- grading system. Then it seems only fair that the AMCAS system changes A- to A as well when it calculates the GPA. Does anyone know about this? Any help would be appreciated. 😉

Hahahaha good try!!!!!.....Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut...It wont work!

 

[Compass]

My school only gives As, no +/- 😵. I never knew said grading system was popular.

 

[tch001]

My GPA would be much higher if A+s were included 🙁

I really feel like they should either count allll +/- (including A+) or none of them

 

[DrBowtie]

My GPA would be much higher if A+s were included 🙁

I really feel like they should either count allll +/- (including A+) or none of them

So A+'s count a 4.3s?

 

[Lilah]

luckily for us, this is the only instance ever when life is not completely fair...so at least we've got that going for us...

Life is rarely fair but that doesn’t mean we can’t wish it were more so.
Grading is generally pretty subjective anyway…so oh well.

 

[tch001]

So A+'s count a 4.3s?

In my school's calculated GPA, yup! The person who graduated 1st in the class this year had a 4.25 😱

 

[etf]

basically, if something seems fair and is to your credit, assume it does not apply in the med school admissions process. conversely, if something goes against you, assume it applies.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

In my school's calculated GPA, yup! The person who graduated 1st in the class this year had a 4.25 😱

My school calculates A+'s as 4.0.

I graduated 1st in my class. I sang the national anthem and school song at the Engineering commencement so I had to have an aisle seat in the front row. When it came time to bestow diplomas I was first in line! 😉 Har har har.

 

[bbas]

basically, if something seems fair and is to your credit, assume it does not apply in the med school admissions process. conversely, if something goes against you, assume it applies.

Haha, yeah that's how it seems sometimes.

 

[Looque]

Haha, yeah that's how it seems sometimes.

Whether a class is scaled on the +/- system is left to the professor's discretion at my school; I would say most opt to use it. A+s only count as a 4.0 for GPA purposes, though.

In regards to the AMCAS GPA calculations, when I read over the process as described on their website, it seemed as if they defer to the school's process for calculating GPA--that if a school uses the +/- system, so will AMCAS. If not, AMCAS won't either. It sounded to me as if they also use the school's GPA assignment for +/-s also, be it n.3, n.5, n.7 or whatever.

...you'll want to check that, though, because I admittedly skimmed through it only briefly without paying too much attention to it.

 

[TheFreshPrince]

Whether a class is scaled on the +/- system is left to the professor's discretion at my school; I would say most opt to use it. A+s only count as a 4.0 for GPA purposes, though.

In regards to the AMCAS GPA calculations, when I read over the process as described on their website, it seemed as if they defer to the school's process for calculating GPA--that if a school uses the +/- system, so will AMCAS. If not, AMCAS won't either. It sounded to me as if they also use the school's GPA assignment for +/-s also, be it n.3, n.5, n.7 or whatever.

...you'll want to check that, though, because I admittedly skimmed through it only briefly without paying too much attention to it.

Amcas is correct. A lot of schools don't recognize an A+. I know there are some schools that don't have -/+ system but they are in the minority.

 

[doublehh03]

but A+s i think are very rare. at my school in a class of 300-400 ppl, A+s are usually given out to like the top 3-5 people in the class. in some classes, you have to have 100% to get it.

that's why i think A+s are treated as 4.0s like As b/c very few have it. however, A-s are given w/ regularity.

 

[Mister Pie]

I think having A+'s count as 4.3s would cause the heads of 50% of premeds to explode.

 

[dbhvt]

but A+s i think are very rare. at my school in a class of 300-400 ppl, A+s are usually given out to like the top 3-5 people in the class. in some classes, you have to have 100% to get it.

that's why i think A+s are treated as 4.0s like As b/c very few have it. however, A-s are given w/ regularity.

A class of 3-400? Top 3-5 is the cut off for A, fool. Haven't you ever heard of the classic elephant curve?

 

[doublehh03]

A class of 3-400? Top 3-5 is the cut off for A, fool. Haven't you ever heard of the classic elephant curve?

i think you misread. top 3-5 is the A+; then the next top 10% is an A and around 5-7% after that is an A- or even lower for some other courses

 

[dbhvt]

i think you misread. top 3-5 is the A+; then the next top 10% is an A and around 5-7% after that is an A- or even lower for some other courses

Nah, the trunk of the elephant curve makes up the A's (top 1 percent). The ears are the B's, the ass=D's, tail=F's. Head= C's, but the ears kind of obscure it in the histogram, so they just give B's to them (since it's kind of subjective whether you fall in the head or the ears).

This is a classic grade distribution curve. Almost everyone at my school used it. If you aren't familiar with it, you need to go back and take stats again.

 

[doublehh03]

Nah, the trunk of the elephant curve makes up the A's (top 1 percent). The ears are the B's, the ass=D's, tail=F's. Head= C's, but the ears kind of obscure it in the histogram, so they just give B's to them (since it's kind of subjective whether you fall in the head or the ears).

This is a classic grade distribution curve. Almost everyone at my school used it. If you aren't familiar with it, you need to go back and take stats again.

well maybe i do then