Anyone think the 4.33 A+ is a bit silly for the LSDAS GPA? Forum

[ajmanyjah]

A tad unfair, no? I mean, our undergrad union actually voted down an A+ addition at our school because we felt it not only cheapened the schools reputation but also its academic rigor...

Isn't it a terrible comparison when a non existent grade at my school boosts people beyond my GPA...

Anyone else think so?

[d34d9823]

Given that I was a minimal work A- student and not an A+ striver, nah.

[270910]

This comes up literally every month, often more often. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but it's worth pointing out that even schools which give out A+ grades do so exceedingly rarely. It's generally a discretionary mark reserved for unique circumstances. Less than one per class, probably substantially less than one per class. It's not like those schools routinely have graduates with 4.2 GPAs.

Obviously it's an advantage to those who secured them, but the playingfield isn't as unlevel as those from schools w/o the boost often assume.

[Hannibal]

Not having an A+ would be a huge disservice to the students if you also have an A-.

[rundoxierun]

A tad unfair, no? I mean, our undergrad union actually voted down an A+ addition at our school because we felt it not only cheapened the schools reputation but also its academic rigor...

Isn't it a terrible comparison when a non existent grade at my school boosts people beyond my GPA...

Anyone else think so?

Considering this post is coming from the same person who seriously implied that a psych major with 5 "neurobio" classes was actually very difficult.. I recommend you just not even worry about this.

[EzraStiles]

So despite the fact that schools like Harvard and Michigan hand out A+s, you felt it would cheapen your school's reputation? Sure, it's unfair to some. But, due to grade inflation, some schools feel it necessary to sift out the 'good' students by giving some an even higher ranking, which, at least in my experience, is supposed to be awarded to work on par with an excellent grad student in the department. Is it unfair that some schools can't use this, sure; but in your case, the school actually voted down A+'s, so if you want to bitch, you should bitch to the idiots who rejected it on faulty logical grounds.

[Eric475]

My UG has A+s they just go in as 4.0's though, just like regular As. I think it works out.

Edit: Anytime someone uses the words "academic rigor" i think of Uchi

[Knock]

Not having an A+ would be a huge disservice to the students if you also have an A-.

Tons of schools have an A- without an A+. My school does, and it definitely sucks. I think the fairest way to level this playing field, would be just to simply count A+'s as 4.0. Keep the A+ on your transcript, schools can still see that you got them, but they don't give you a leg up on everyone.

[ajmanyjah]

A tad unfair, no? I mean, our undergrad union actually voted down an A+ addition at our school because we felt it not only cheapened the schools reputation but also its academic rigor...

Isn't it a terrible comparison when a non existent grade at my school boosts people beyond my GPA...

Anyone else think so?

Considering this post is coming from the same person who seriously implied that a psych major with 5 "neurobio" classes was actually very difficult.. I recommend you just not even worry about this.

Yea, it's not like neurobio at the MNI is at all prestigious or difficult. Penfield was a hack in your world I suppose.

[EzraStiles]

My UG has A+s they just go in as 4.0's though, just like regular As. I think it works out.

Edit: Anytime someone uses the words "academic rigor" i think of Uchi

The A+s are recalculated as 4.33 by LSDAS though. I don't know of any school that has A+s weighed as such on undergraduate transcripts.

[270910]

I don't know of any school that has A+s weighed as such on undergraduate transcripts.

Several do.

[rundoxierun]

Im just gonna summarize the way this argument is going to go...

1) Some person whines about A+'s as if people are getting into T14 solely on the back of their numerous A+s
2) Multiple people tell this person to shut up because it is stupid to even ask about
3a) Someone points out that the inequity between different majors is likely far more pointed than A+s can even account for
3b) Someone argues that the inequity between different schools is likely far more pointed than A+s can even account for
4) Thread devolves into an argument about difficulty of schools/majors.

[ajmanyjah]

So despite the fact that schools like Harvard and Michigan hand out A+s, you felt it would cheapen your school's reputation? Sure, it's unfair to some. But, due to grade inflation, some schools feel it necessary to sift out the 'good' students by giving some an even higher ranking, which, at least in my experience, is supposed to be awarded to work on par with an excellent grad student in the department. Is it unfair that some schools can't use this, sure; but in your case, the school actually voted down A+'s, so if you want to bitch, you should bitch to the idiots who rejected it on faulty logical grounds.

The fact that you think that Harvard has a good reputation (and grade inflation is mentioned) academically tells me all you needed to know. I took identical courses in both schools (mine and Harvard's) and I got a better grade at Harvard when all I did was doodle and hit on girls.

And it is funny that you think that faulty logical grounds means "unlike reputation whoring schools"...Al Gore graduated from Harvard and did not get into Vanderbilt's Seminary School...more faulty logic?

[Na_Swatch]

Rice University counts A+'s as 4.3s in their transcripts. The top of their class all have like 4.2+ GPAs

[rundoxierun]

The fact that you think that Harvard has a good reputation (and grade inflation is mentioned) academically tells me all you needed to know. I took identical courses in both schools (mine and Harvard's) and I got a better grade at Harvard when all I did was doodle and hit on girls.

And it is funny that you think that faulty logical grounds means "unlike reputation whoring schools"...Al Gore graduated from Harvard and did not get into Vanderbilt's Seminary School...more faulty logic?

Oh, good its one of these trolls.. "My school is harder than Harvard!!".. "Psych major at my school is the hardest thing in the world".. "Al Gore was rejected from Vanderbilt's Seminary School??"(Wait I couldve sworn Gore went to and left Vandy Law)

[KMaine]

Simple answer is yes, but it seems TLS wants to say it is insignificant. May be true, but it is still unfair. Just because other things are more unfair does not mean that it would not be an easy fix for LSDAS to make it worth a 4.0, evening the playing field for all of us who would have had some A+'s on our transcripts if our schools gave them.

[094320]

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[lawprospect12]

So When You Apply to Law School A+s are 4.3? Is that all law schools (not certain on what LSDAS) is or just some? Sorry could someone explain this, I'm not familiar with this thread but it caught my interest.

For the record, I go to a school that counts A+s as 4.0 but it shows up on your transcript as A+

[d34d9823]

The fact that you think that Harvard has a good reputation (and grade inflation is mentioned) academically tells me all you needed to know. I took identical courses in both schools (mine and Harvard's) and I got a better grade at Harvard when all I did was doodle and hit on girls.

And it is funny that you think that faulty logical grounds means "unlike reputation whoring schools"...Al Gore graduated from Harvard and did not get into Vanderbilt's Seminary School...more faulty logic?

Harvard's so TTT.

[Knock]

Meh. It's silly, but whatever. There are many things that are for more unfair about how LSDAS counts GPA than that. I, for one, find it far more irritating that summer courses one took in high school at the ripe ol' age of 15 are supposed to matter for law school admissions.

Same. That doesn't really make sense :S. I would be above median at my target school(s) for GPA if a summer study abroad class I took when I was 15 and was more worried about my sophomore year of high school than law school weren't weighing me down .

[rundoxierun]

Simple answer is yes, but it seems TLS wants to say it is insignificant. May be true, but it is still unfair. Just because other things are more unfair does not mean that it would not be an easy fix for LSDAS to make it worth a 4.0, evening the playing field for all of us who would have had some A+'s on our transcripts if our schools gave them.

Then after that how about they send a squad of researchers to every school and correct grades for students who wouldve had a .33 higher letter grade if they did something as simple as took a different professor for the same course, attended a different school, or took the class before the department changed the syllabus to make the class more difficult.

[d34d9823]

Meh. It's silly, but whatever. There are many things that are for more unfair about how LSDAS counts GPA than that. I, for one, find it far more irritating that summer courses one took in high school at the ripe ol' age of 15 are supposed to matter for law school admissions.

Same. That doesn't really make sense :S. I would be above median at my target school(s) for GPA if a summer study abroad class I took when I was 15 and was more worried about my sophomore year of high school than law school weren't weighing me down .

Heh, I have all As on my HS stuff and it's the stuff I took IN college that is sinking my apps.

[Knock]

So when you apply to law school A+s are 4.3? Is that all law schools (not certain on what LSDAS) is or just some? Sorry could someone explain this, I'm not familiar with this thread but it caught my interest.

For the record, I go to a school that counts A+s as 4.0 but it shows up on your transcript as A+

LSAC will calculate your A+'s as 4.33 and for the purposes of law school admissions, your LSDAS GPA is all that matters. Basically, you lucked out. Calculate your GPA here: http://www.lawschoolpredictor.com/wp-co ... ulator.htm

[Knock]

Simple answer is yes, but it seems TLS wants to say it is insignificant. May be true, but it is still unfair. Just because other things are more unfair does not mean that it would not be an easy fix for LSDAS to make it worth a 4.0, evening the playing field for all of us who would have had some A+'s on our transcripts if our schools gave them.

Then after that how about they send a squad of researchers to every school and correct grades for students who wouldve had a .33 higher letter grade if they did something as simple as took a different professor for the same course, attended a different school, or took the class before the department changed the syllabus to make the class more difficult.

Except it's like that at every school...the problem is the unlevel playing field, some people have the opportunity for A+'s while others are maxed out at A's. Every school has what you mentioned, but not every school has A+'s.

[094320]

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