Transitioning to the U.S. education system may be challenging for international students unfamiliar with it. Visa bureaucracy, culture shock, time difference, new friends – you will already have a boatload to manage upon landing in the U.S. Understanding the grading system and even taking a look at different university’s grading policies when making your decision is important for you to identify the kind of environment you will flourish in socially and academically. This post will break down the U.S. grading system, explain GPA calculations, and provide insights on how international students can adapt to it.
OVERVIEW OF THE U.S. GRADING SYSTEM
Letter Grades and Percentages
Traditionally, most US universities follow the letter grading system from “A” to “F” with pluses and minuses, with A as the highest and F as a failing grade. Students are awarded a letter grade for each class they complete, and those letter grades are factored into the GPA calculation.
The Grade Point Average (GPA)
The Grade Point Average (GPA) is the most important metric in the U.S. grading system. The GPA is used for scholarship eligibility, joining clubs, applying for grants, and applying to graduate school. The GPA scale typically ranges from 0.0 to 4.0, with 4.0 being a perfect score. Each letter grade is assigned a point value (e.g. A=4; B=3) and averaged to determine GPA. The specifics vary across institutions. For example, some schools may only award full letter grades without pluses or minuses, while others, like Brown, have eliminated the GPA since 1969.
Course Credits
Course credits measure your participation in class and completion of university courses; you need a certain number of credits to graduate. Some students graduate early by opting for heavy credit loads in their semesters. College courses range between one and five credits, though most are three or four. The amount of time you meet each week and the amount of work you’re expected to do outside class determines how many credits a course is worth. A weighted GPA factors in course credits to reflect the rigor of your academic course load.
GRADE VARIABILITY ACROSS UNIVERSITIES AND PROFESSORS
Grading policies vary by institution or even professors, leading to different grade distributions. Top-tier schools usually have stricter grading curves (where an A grade is awarded only when students score above a certain percentage), while others may be more lenient. Professors, too, have varying degrees of expectation; those with higher expectations will make it difficult for students to achieve an A grade.
Grading curves will also vary across departments. STEM subjects, for example, may adhere to more rigid quantitative standards. In contrast, the Humanities subjects give grades based on a more subjective analysis of the students and their work.
Professors are free to determine how much weight is given to different kinds of assignments within a course. Some may prioritize exams over assignments, while others may emphasize participation, projects, or papers. In some classes, exams may account for 60% of the final grade, while others may have no final exam at all and instead prioritize class participation and project work.
HOW TO SUCCEED IN THE U.S. GRADING SYSTEM
US Universities expect students to explore a wide range of classes and disciplines in their first year. You are encouraged to reflect on which courses you enjoyed most and why when deciding on your choice of major and planning out the rest of your academic pathway.
When choosing courses, read the syllabi carefully to understand how grades are assigned. When in doubt, you are encouraged to approach your professors during their office hours or any other academic mentors you may have within the college community.
Between the core curriculum, major requirements, and electives, students are often sufficiently equipped to fulfill their college credit requirements while also challenging themselves through unfamiliar courses. Students are unlikely to get away with attending single-credit courses (the big lecture classes) throughout their college career.
CONCLUSION
Ultimately, you and your efforts in university are more than just a number. When considering your choice of college, look into different universities’ grading policies. Brown University is famous for its no-GPA approach, and Antioch University uses a narrative evaluation in place of letter grades. Look into their academic ethos: does it align with your own idea of what an education should be? If yes, then chances are that this is an environment you will thrive in!
