How bad is an "ABS"?

[combatwombat]

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In filling out forms for AMCAS, I had to go back through all my undergrad records. In doing so, I found out that the grade of "ABS" I got in

How bad is having a grade of "ABS" on your transcript? The registrar at the school at which I received the grade says it's "equivalent to failing grade", yet it's worth 0.0 credit hours, so I wonder if it will affect my AMCAS gpa... Anyone know?

 

[notdeadyet]

In filling out forms for AMCAS, I had to go back through all my undergrad records. In doing so, I found out that the grade of "ABS" I got in

How bad is having a grade of "ABS" on your transcript? The registrar at the school at which I received the grade says it's "equivalent to failing grade", yet it's worth 0.0 credit hours, so I wonder if it will affect my AMCAS gpa... Anyone know?

Sounds like ABS = F. An F is worth 0.0 credit hours too, since you don't get credit.

For F's (or ABS), your AMCAS transcript shows hours attempted and credit given. You will get 0.0 grade points for however many credits the course was you attempted.

 

[combatwombat]

F%^&ers running the course at harvard extension told me it would be like a withdrawal. Had I known it was just going to be an F I'd have taken the damn final. Who knows, I might have swung a C then. I wish I never set foot in that school :/

 

[apumic]

F%^&ers running the course at harvard extension told me it would be like a withdrawal. Had I known it was just going to be an F I'd have taken the damn final. Who knows, I might have swung a C then. I wish I never set foot in that school :/

Below is a description of the ABS grade from the CUNY-BMCC website:

ABS Grade Absent from final. A makeup exam is permitted. An "ABS" grade reverts to an "F" (FAB) if a change is not made by the following deadlines: Spring and Summer semesters Nov.1 Fall semester March 15

ABS Absent from regularly scheduled midyear and final examination

It looks like it's basically an incomplete (I) or administrative withdrawal (WF) but the fact that you never completed the course would make it equivalent to an "F" or, probably more accurately, a "WF" (withdraw-fail). That really sucks. It's hard to say exactly how AMCAS will handle an ABS grade but by definition the grade makes you like irresponsible. At least an "F" says you tried 'til the end and failed (granted it also says you failed and probably should have gotten out sooner, but...). An ABS grade says you just stopped showing up or doing the work and failed because you stopped trying, which, frankly, leaves an even poorer impression on others than does simply failing. If you sincerely worked your a** off and actually withdrew from the course per school policy, I think you should contact the professor and registrar about the grade. Unfortunately, it looks to me like you simply got tired of this course and either stopped attending or stopped doing the work without following proper protocol.

 

[combatwombat]

It was about 7 years ago, I was a totally different person, totally unmotivated but still thought I could cruise through classes w/o caring like i had in high school.

I always knew I had the ABS, but I never knew it was equivalent to an F. Adding that into my gpa calculator brings my overall gpa down by a whopping 0.068, to just below the 3.0 mark to 2.99. ouch

edit: It's actually 2.999 - that has to round to 3.0 🙂

 

[crazydiamond]

Can you petition the school for a change? or something? If it was supposed to turn to an F after a period of time but still shows up as an ABS, then maybe you can convince them to let you take the final and finish the requirements for the class? Would you be willing to do that? You might be unsuccessful, but it doesn't hurt to try.