So if grades don't matter...

[Sparda29]

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The problem I have with my schools grading is that, although the didactic years are graded on a letter scale, the rotations are simply pass-fail, which sucks balls. I was expecting to use the two years of rotations to boost up my GPA.

 

[CUninja]

I think the best answer to your question is:




First of all grades obviously matter. If you have a 1.0 you will get kicked out of your program. If you want to apply for a residence you will not get in with a 2.0. They need some criteria to weed out the applicants and while I am sure they miss a few gems with 2.0's, they generally don't.

That being said, grades have no correlation to your performance as a pharmacist. It does not matter what you got in pharmacy school if you don't know your stuff when you are out there in the real world.

If you want to get a 4.0 because you get a scholarship or because it gives your personal satisfaction, then go for it. Just don't think it will make you a better pharmacist.

This post, while it is a viewpoint slightly different from my own, is well written and explains to me the poster's thoughts without villifying anyone. Thanks for the opportunity to have a real discussion. My question to you is: If you could singlehandedly change the current system we use to choose people for residencies, etc, what changes would you make, if any?

I'm well aware that the current system is here to stay, but having the discussion, in my mind, can at least allow us to think about improvements that could be made, instead of holding the view that the people who the current system does not work for aren't worth the trouble. (I'm not implying that you hold this view, though.)

 

[evilolive]

The problem I have with my schools grading is that, although the didactic years are graded on a letter scale, the rotations are simply pass-fail, which sucks balls. I was expecting to use the two years of rotations to boost up my GPA.

That's actually really weird in how they'd choose that design because how is anyone supposed to differentiate themselves from one another other than letters of recommendation? Our rotations are graded, so I guess we get some sort of benchmark as to what's expected from an "A" performance.

 

[Sparda29]

That's actually really weird in how they'd choose that design because how is anyone supposed to differentiate themselves from one another other than letters of recommendation? Our rotations are graded, so I guess we get some sort of benchmark as to what's expected from an "A" performance.

Yeah, I mean I guess they think that some preceptors might grade harder than others and whatnot. Like one preceptor might just give me an A just for showing up and lounging around, while others would require a lot of hard work in return for an A.