Challenging GPA Conversion by AMCAS

[Masamune4567]

Hello. I think one of the GPAs they gave me is extremely low. It is a 3.9 in British Columbia, but AMCAS is giving me a 3.0 ...
How do I go about challenging a GPA conversion by AMCAS. Has anyone ever done this or have some information on it?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[MoosePilot]

Hello. I think one of the GPAs they gave me is extremely low. It is a 3.9 in British Columbia, but AMCAS is giving me a 3.0 ...
How do I go about challenging a GPA conversion by AMCAS. Has anyone ever done this or have some information on it?

Did you go through and check that everything they did was according to their rules?

 

[Masamune4567]

Did you go through and check that everything they did was according to their rules?

Hi Moose. My mark was 86%. I went to the GPA conversion chart, but there are so many tables it is confusing as all hell. I get down to the Canadian chart and see 3 different rows. Furthermore, I see that if I went to a US school, but the US percentages I wouldn't have gotten a 3.0

This is really confusing/stupid. Does anyone have information in appealing GPA conversions?

 

[greendot]

An 86% is a B, which is a 3.0 in the United States.

 

[hnbui]

An 86% is a B, which is a 3.0 in the United States.

yeah. How is it that 86% is a 3.9 in british columbia? Weird.

 

[docbill]

yeah. How is it that 86% is a 3.9 in british columbia? Weird.

NONONON.. guys.. don't misundertand. 86% at UBC is an A. UBC is not an easy university either. It is Number 3 or 4 in Canada.

They must of made a mistake. It happens. Contact them and let them know.

How did they calculate your other courses. 75%= and 92%=.?

 

[DrBowtie]

Canadian scores confuse me. Is getting an 86% like getting 86/100 points?

 

[sillystring]

Definitely challenge this...I would first try to contact AMCAS and see how they normally convert international grades. Maybe the registrar or someone else at UBC can help with a letter describing the grading system. I did undergrad and grad work in the UK and remember that the grading system was totally different. If you scored in the 70's, it was considered an A because that was where the scores usually topped out. Don't let AMCAS shortchange you on your GPA because it sounds like your GPA should have been much higher. Good luck!

 

[greendot]

If 86% is 86/100 points (and I can't imagine what else it would be), then how does that translate to an A?

 

[willthatsall]

Here's what I don't understand. Say an 86% is an A. What does your transcript say? Does it say "A", or does it say "86"? Because if it says A, then I don't see how AMCAS could mess it up. But if it says 86, then it's more understandable.

 

[jeffsleepy]

You guys never have classes where 86% is an A? It just depends on how hard they want to make the tests.

 

[Kazema]

Looking at the chart, it seems like an 86% at a Canadian school should equate to at least an A-, or 3.7. Definitely call AMCAS and ask about it.

 

[willthatsall]

You guys never have classes where 86% is an A? It just depends on how hard they want to make the tests.

Yeah I know of a prof who has A's from 85. I just don't see how the grading system works. Does the transcript have A's on it or just numbers?

 

[hillbelly]

According to their system, the lowest your grade could possibly be is 3.7

 

[Masamune4567]

NONONON.. guys.. don't misundertand. 86% at UBC is an A. UBC is not an easy university either. It is Number 3 or 4 in Canada.

They must of made a mistake. It happens. Contact them and let them know.

How did they calculate your other courses. 75%= and 92%=.?

Hello.

My transcript says anything above 80% is an A and anything above 90% in an A+. I don't understand how my 86% can be given a 3.0 GPA weighting. How could I go about resolving this? I think 3.0 is a very harsh GPA calculation.

 

[Masamune4567]

Here's what I don't understand. Say an 86% is an A. What does your transcript say? Does it say "A", or does it say "86"? Because if it says A, then I don't see how AMCAS could mess it up. But if it says 86, then it's more understandable.

My transcript says 86 on it but on the back of my transcript it says anything above 80 is an A and abything above 90 is an A+

 

[Masamune4567]

Bump 😛

 

[esc]

I had grades from 3 Ontario schools on my transcripts, and two of those (both mid 80s and the only two courses I took at that school) were converted to 3.00. They were anomolies because they didn't correlate with any of my other similar grades from other schools (I think it should be at least 3.70).

I definitely think something is wrong, but I never challenged mine because it was just the two credits, so no advice about the steps to take.

 

[Masamune4567]

I had grades from 3 Ontario schools on my transcripts, and two of those (both mid 80s and the only two courses I took at that school) were converted to 3.00. They were anomolies because they didn't correlate with any of my other similar grades from other schools (I think it should be at least 3.70).

I definitely think something is wrong, but I never challenged mine because it was just the two credits, so no advice about the steps to take.

Why didn't you challenge the GPA conversion. If I want to challenge AMCAS conversion, do I call them up and do it? Or is there some kind of form I have to fill out? Which University did you go to by the way? Were marks in the 80's considered A's?

 

[caliente]

At my school in Canada, 80+ is considered an A. Your numerical grade shows up on the transcript; on the back there is a legend with the various shades of A (A-,A,A+)

In some of my classes, if you receive 90+, it places you FIMRLY in the top 1-3% of your class. I've been in classes where NOBODY has received 90+. Usually, no more than 10% of the class receives 90+. Also, if your cumulative average for the year is ~92+ .... that places you in the top 3% of your ENTIRE degree program (i.e. top 3% out of everybody enrolled in year x of a BSc(H) degree).

This is probably why, at my school, anything 80 or above is considered an A. I think most schools in Canada are like this.

Roughly, our A grades convert like this...
90+ = 4.0
85-89 = 3.9
80-84 = 3.7

 

[caliente]

Hello. I think one of the GPAs they gave me is extremely low. It is a 3.9 in British Columbia, but AMCAS is giving me a 3.0 ...
How do I go about challenging a GPA conversion by AMCAS. Has anyone ever done this or have some information on it?

Hey...I checked my application from this year quickly. I can't seem to find the AMCAS-assigned gpa for each individual course on my transcript, but I do see the "AMCAS grade".

Mark on transcript = AMCAS grade
80 = A-
85 = A-
88 = A
89 = A


I don't see UBC being graded differently from my school. I don't know much about Simon Fraser, though. Either way, just email AMCAS first and ask them how you should proceed.

 

[caliente]

If 86% is 86/100 points (and I can't imagine what else it would be), then how does that translate to an A?

Just curious...to all those attending American universities: ROUGHLY HOW MANY PEOPLE (%-wise) RECEIVE GRADES OF 90+ IN YOUR CLASSES?

 

[fullefect1]

I wish some of my classes graded on a scale like that. Maybe the AMCAS just thinks your school is to easy on you.. hahaha.. If that grading system was followed at my school I would probably have something like a 3.999999. So is this why some canadian applicants say it is really hard to get into a US school because their GPA's drop about .5 points when it gets adjusted?

 

[rdmoore2]

Just curious...to all those attending American universities: ROUGHLY HOW MANY PEOPLE (%-wise) RECEIVE GRADES OF 90+ IN YOUR CLASSES?

That of course depend on the professor but it is not uncommon for 5-10% of the class to get A's in engineering. Some majors will produce upwards of 25-35% A's.

 

[caliente]

I wish some of my classes graded on a scale like that. Maybe the AMCAS just thinks your school is to easy on you.. hahaha.. If that grading system was followed at my school I would probably have something like a 3.999999. So is this why some canadian applicants say it is really hard to get into a US school because their GPA's drop about .5 points when it gets adjusted?

Probably...I think AMCAS penalizes grades in the low 80's (and below) more severely than the Canadian gpa system.

In Canada, low 80's are considered quite good and acceptable since relatively few people receive 90+.

 

[docbill]

Hello.

My transcript says anything above 80% is an A and anything above 90% in an A+. I don't understand how my 86% can be given a 3.0 GPA weighting. How could I go about resolving this? I think 3.0 is a very harsh GPA calculation.

Just call them on Monday and tell them that there is a mistake.
They will fix it. it should be either 3.7 or 3.9.

I thought UBC puts the grade. Do they put only %?

Like I said just call them. NOthing harsh nothing major. WHAT HAPPEN TO YOUR OTHER GRADES. Was that the only high mark you had?

 

[dajimmers]

My transcript says 86 on it but on the back of my transcript it says anything above 80 is an A and abything above 90 is an A+

You expected them to look at the back of the transcript? Fool!

 

[Flopotomist]

Where is this magical land where 80 is an A??

 

[TheMightyAngus]

I studied abroad in England, where under there system:

70+ = 1st degree = the equivalent of an A
60-70 = 2.1 = Between B+ and A-
50-60 = 2.2 = Between C+ and B-
40-50 = 3rd degree = about a C

Marks above 80 are extremely rare. An average above a 70 gets you highest honors and is considered a major achievement. It's impossible to earn above a 90. And, no one gets lower than a C. I think they do this because of the tradition of humbling students as opposed to the American system where they pump up everyone's ego. It's kinda like physics classes when people get ecstatic for scoring above 50%

Anyway, is this similar to the Canadian system in that the highest scores correlate to lower numbers? Cause if it is, you may need to get your registrar to write a letter to the AAMC to explain the grading system. I had to do this to get credit at my university because they were confused as hell with the transcript.

 

[Masamune4567]

You expected them to look at the back of the transcript? Fool!

How am I supposed to change the official transcript my university gave me?

 

[Masamune4567]

Just call them on Monday and tell them that there is a mistake.
They will fix it. it should be either 3.7 or 3.9.

I thought UBC puts the grade. Do they put only %?

Like I said just call them. NOthing harsh nothing major. WHAT HAPPEN TO YOUR OTHER GRADES. Was that the only high mark you had?

Hi docbill. UBC puts the % on the transcript as well as the class average and how many people were in the class. ON THE BACK OF THE TRANSCRIPT, it says anything above 80% is an A and anything above 90% in an A+

No. This was my only low mark. All my other marks were over 95% (I ****ing hate math 🙁 )

I am going to call them later and ask them to change the grade. What do you think I should say? I don't want them to say, 'nope your 3.0 stands and it is the right conversion'

 

[jmnykrkts]

As far as I know, the conversion system goes like this:

85-100% = A = 4.0
80-85% = A- = 3.7
75-80% = B+ = 3.3
70-75% = B = 3.0
65-70 = B- = 2.7 ..... and so on

This is how McGill does it at least and I'm fairly certain that this is the generally accepted conversion system across Canada, probably with a couple of exceptions. For instance, some schools work on the 4.3 system where anything over 90% is considered an A+ and gets a 4.3. Although this would of course only count for a 4.0 for AMCAS purposes.
An 80% here is indeed still a good grade (3.7) and grades above 90% are very rare.
You DEFINITELY need to challenge your AMCAS GPA because from what I can tell, you should have a 4.0

 

[domukin]

I studied abroad in England, where under there system:

70+ = 1st degree = the equivalent of an A
60-70 = 2.1 = Between B+ and A-
50-60 = 2.2 = Between C+ and B-
40-50 = 3rd degree = about a C

Haha, that's was my distribution for Structural Biochem @UCSD, but about 25%-30% got a D or F too.

 

[docbill]

Hi docbill. UBC puts the % on the transcript as well as the class average and how many people were in the class. ON THE BACK OF THE TRANSCRIPT, it says anything above 80% is an A and anything above 90% in an A+

No. This was my only low mark. All my other marks were over 95% (I ****ing hate math 🙁 )

I am going to call them later and ask them to change the grade. What do you think I should say? I don't want them to say, 'nope your 3.0 stands and it is the right conversion'

Just point out that there may be a mistake. Tell them which course. Tell them you got so and so % and according to UBC and AAMCAS application system this would translate to 3.70 GPA.

I would be surprized if they don't realize that.

If they say no... ask them to explain how your other courses (all higher - WHAT A LOOSER). Only a few % difference deviate so far from this one.

 

[rimanek]

At the risk of being slow on the uptake, can someone please tell me where on the AMCAS I can see the GPA they calculate for me? The "course work" section has nothing except for all the information I have entered. In case it matters, they have received my transcripts. Thanks.

 

[Kazema]

Have they finished verifying? I don't think the GPA shows up until then.

 

[Off2Oz]

That of course depend on the professor but it is not uncommon for 5-10% of the class to get A's in engineering. Some majors will produce upwards of 25-35% A's.

25-35% are 90% or more? Yeah, it's definitely not like that over here in Canada.. But the chart for AMCAS compensates for this, and I'll be disputing it too if they put me too low. =P

M.

 

[rimanek]

Have they finished verifying? I don't think the GPA shows up until then.

Ah, I see. And verification starts only after I "submit" my completed application, correct?

 

[anystream]

Ah, I see. And verification starts only after I "submit" my completed application, correct?

yea, they check what you entered against your official transcript, and sum it all up.

 

[45408]

Where is this magical land where 80 is an A??

who cares? if they don't curve a class, then they might just adjust where the cutoff lies.

 

[Masamune4567]

As far as I know, the conversion system goes like this:

85-100% = A = 4.0
80-85% = A- = 3.7
75-80% = B+ = 3.3
70-75% = B = 3.0
65-70 = B- = 2.7 ..... and so on

This is how McGill does it at least and I'm fairly certain that this is the generally accepted conversion system across Canada, probably with a couple of exceptions. For instance, some schools work on the 4.3 system where anything over 90% is considered an A+ and gets a 4.3. Although this would of course only count for a 4.0 for AMCAS purposes.
An 80% here is indeed still a good grade (3.7) and grades above 90% are very rare.
You DEFINITELY need to challenge your AMCAS GPA because from what I can tell, you should have a 4.0

Hi jmny. If your grade conversion is the case then I should have 4.0 GPA 😛
At UBC a 86% is considered a 3.9 and everything above 90% is considered a 4.0 However if what you say is right then my GPA is better than I thought. My school does not work on the 4.3 system. I think Manitoba does that?

I will definitely call them soon and request a change be made to my GPA

 

[Masamune4567]

Just point out that there may be a mistake. Tell them which course. Tell them you got so and so % and according to UBC and AAMCAS application system this would translate to 3.70 GPA.

I would be surprized if they don't realize that.

If they say no... ask them to explain how your other courses (all higher - WHAT A LOOSER). Only a few % difference deviate so far from this one.

Hi docbill. Are you sure this would translate into a 3.7? When I look at the chart for Canadians there are three rows. Two of them say 100-87 is a 4.0 and the third column says 100-84 is a 4.0 I don't understand why they have 3 rows. I'll definitely call them and ask them to change this mark.
Yeah my dad makes me study pretty mcuh all day and says if I want to be a neurosurgeon like my uncle I have to get a 4.0 🙁