GPA Inflation Question

[wonderland130]

I was looking up some data on GPA inflation

https://www.gradeinflation.com/

I was there since I was in the top 20% of my graduating class @ Purdue chemical engineering yet my gpa was basically a 3.0

According to this website Purdue has basically the Lowest GPA inflation/ highest deflation out of all the major universities. For engineering it seems MIT, Cornell, and Purdue have the most deflation.

Do all the adcoms understand the degree of gpa inflation and deflation between various schools and various majors?

[Graham]

Dear wonderland130,

Thanks for your post!

The short answer to your question is that the schools have a rough idea of the extent to which grade inflation can warp GPAs. Having said that, it would behoove you to take steps to subtly make your point in terms of the degree of difficulty at Purdue - since a 3.0 GPA is a good deal below the average ugrad GPA for admitted students at the top MBA programs. One easy way to do this is to include your Purdue class ranking or percentile in the application, since those benchmarks can help. You might also include a brief optional essay that describes your coursework and underlines the challenging nature of the curriculum: "I recognize that my undergraduate GPA falls below the average for accepted students to your program, and I would like to explain my coursework further..."

Of course, the easiest way for the schools to really test for grade inflation is to use the GMAT as a sort of benchmarking mechanism. For better or for worse, if you show up with a 3.0 GPA and a 670 GMAT, no matter how much you say that your 3.0 from Purdue is like a 3.5 at Duke, it's going to be hard to really anchor your case. Of course, if you waltz in with a 750 GMAT, you might have a more compelling case for Purdue's coursework being challenging, etc.

One final way to prove your academic prowess and support your stance on grades at Purdue would be to spend some time this summer building an alternative transcript - taking 2-3 courses at a local college (subjects like calculus, statistics, accounting and economics are usually good starting points). If you earn a 4.0 in these courses, and couple them with a high GMAT result, you may be able to overcome a 3.0 GPA.

Best of luck,

Graham

[Paxton Helms - Kaplan]

Hello!

I went to a grade inflation school (graduating with honors despite a 3.2!) so I can sympathize with your plight.

I would not worry about your situation. Here's why:

- Admissions Committees see lots of GPAs from lots of schools from all over the world. After reviewing some 3,000 applications they get to know schools and get to know patterns. This is not a problem of which they are unaware!

- It is simply a fact that quant and science courses are graded harder than the liberal arts and even the social sciences. For a veteran application reader, a 3.8 in English might raise a skeptical eyebrow whereas a 3.1 in Chemistry and Biology gets an approving nod. Again, committees are aware of this.

- Class rank (particularly at a good school, and particularly if it is within a major or department where you are comparing apples to apples) is a much better indicator of academic competitiveness than GPA. You have that, you did well, so this is greatly to your advantage.


In general, in situations like yours, I like to advise clients to use the question "Is there anything else that the admissions committee should know?" question as an opportunity to LIGHTLY touch on this. Say something like, "Purdue is a school known for rigorous grading, especially in the sciences. Please note that my GPA placed me in the top 20% of my class, I graduated with honors, and I was a member of the following honor societies. My 3.0 may not be directly comparable to other universities and/or other majors." And leave it at that. No excuses; no whining; no complaining; no false modesty.

The GMAT is, of course, a universal measuring stick but I don't think that that is what you were asking about.

Good luck and please let me know if you have other questions!

Paxton