AMCAS GPA A/A- system

[Healthful]

Hello all,

I was told a few months ago that when AMCAS converts grades they don't look at the A-/A lettering. I was told that an A- and an A are worth a 4.0 but when I look at the table provided below from their website it specifically states an A- is a 3.7. My school grades on a A-/A grading system and I was wondering if the numerical values (such as a 90, or 92) or just the alphabetical values such as an A- are considered when transferring GPA. Thank you in advance!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Lost in Translation]

It's almost certainly by credits. So if you earn an A- letter grade, AMCAS will mark it as a 3.7/4.0 on the transcript. If your class has higher cutoffs (i.e. A- starts at 92 rather, than the usual 90) then that sucks for you. If you get a 91, and that's what shows up on your transcript from your school as B+, it will be reported as a 3.3 by AMCAS.

 

[WedgeDawg]

A- is a 3.7

 

[deleted393595]

A- is a 3.7

That's just brutal. Makes me so thankful I went to a school without +/- grading.

On the other hand, I'm not sure if our tests ended up being harder because we didn't have +/-.

 

[Lawpy]

I was told a few months ago that when AMCAS converts grades they don't look at the A-/A lettering. I was told that an A- and an A are worth a 4.0 but when I look at the table provided below from their website it specifically states an A- is a 3.7.

If an A- and an A are both a 4.0, then what is the point of a +/- system since even an A+ = 4.0?

But to answer your question, an A- = 3.7 according to AMCAS Grade Conversion Guide.

 

[Healthful]

I was wondering the same exact thing but I was actually getting the Texas medical school application system and the AMCAS mixed up. The Texas system does not take into account the A- or B+ system but awards GPA points at a A,B,C grading scale. Thanks for the clarification to everyone who replied!

If an A- and an A are both a 4.0, then what is the point of a +/- system since even an A+ = 4.0?

But to answer your question, an A- = 3.7 according to AMCAS Grade Conversion Guide.

 

[amazing tekkers]

If an A- and an A are both a 4.0, then what is the point of a +/- system since even an A+ = 4.0?

But to answer your question, an A- = 3.7 according to AMCAS Grade Conversion Guide.

The person didn't do enough to get an A in the course (usually 93) so they were given an A-.

That's just brutal. Makes me so thankful I went to a school without +/- grading.

On the other hand, I'm not sure if our tests ended up being harder because we didn't have +/-.

Lucky you.

 

[Lucca]

TMDSAS does not care about +/-. AMCAS does.

 

[Govols22]

The plus/minus system would be great if every school in America used it. Unfortunately there is no consistency. A person trying to get an A at a +\- college would usually need to get a 93, while someone in another school without the +\- system would only need a 90. Whoopie for 3.3's amiright

 

[BluMist]

At my current school, each professor has a different score line for A/A- and so on.
I had two classes this past school year where 95 was the cutoff 🙁

 

[aklvkk]

same BluMist! I have two classes currently where the cutoff for an A is 95. An A- is anything below a 94.99.... It's not B's that are dragging down my GPA but rather the A-'s. lol...

 

[chcash]

same BluMist! I have two classes currently where the cutoff for an A is 95. An A- is anything below a 94.99.... It's not B's that are dragging down my GPA but rather the A-'s. lol...

I've had a number of those and, ironically, they all seem to be in the classes that are already exceptionally difficult. In those cases I feel good about just getting an A-, given the harsh criteria. But nonetheless, it's frustrating when professors set their own bar at 95, rather than 93. Pulling off a 93 can STILL be pretty unforgiving, depending on the grade breakdown of the class.

 

[WhittyPsyche]

That's just brutal. Makes me so thankful I went to a school without +/- grading.

On the other hand, I'm not sure if our tests ended up being harder because we didn't have +/-.

Thank goodness it's 3.7 in AMCAS, our school does 3.67 -_-

 

[Glandzburg]

My school used the A A/B B B/C C D F system, but the cutoffs for an A were not lowered. So while a 92 might get you an A- (3.7) at one school, it would likely get you an AB (3.5) at my school. But boo hoo, such is life.

 

[DrDorianTurkleton]

My school used the A A/B B B/C C D F system, but the cutoffs for an A were not lowered. So while a 92 might get you an A- (3.7) at one school, it would likely get you an AB (3.5) at my school. But boo hoo, such is life.

Oh do I know that grading system all too well 😛

 

[Hushman]

Sorry to use your thread to ask another question, but does anyone know how the grading in Canada works? For example, on the aamc site it lists multiple different criteria for Canadian schools (AAMC Site), but I can't seem to find which ones correlate to which school! Should I just estimate my GPA using the hardest one, and then that's my worst case scenario GPA?

 

[Hospitalized]

I wish I could do away with the +/- system. I only have 1 B and 2 B+, the rest are A- and A. Yet, my GPA is 3.8. I think I would be a mid-high 3.9 if all of my A-'s were A's. Sigh. Nothing beats having a 93% and getting a 3.7. Time after time.