BU Grading System

Hello everyone! Is anyone familiar with Boston University's grading system? I've heard it's a bit different from other schools and I'd like to know what to expect should I decide to apply there. Thanks in advance!

Hello, good to see you doing thorough research about your college choices. In fact, you're right. Boston University does have a unique grading system that distinguishes it from many other universities.

At BU, rather than the traditional A to F grading scales, they use a numerical system from 0.0 to 4.0. While this may not seem significantly different, the twist is that they assign these grades in increments of 0.1 rather than the usual 0.3 or 0.33. So for example, instead of an A-, A, or A+ grade, you can get anywhere from a 3.7 to a 4.0, in increments of 0.1. For more specificity, a 3.0 would equate to a B, a 2.3 would equate to about a C+, and a1.0 would equate to a D.

An extra benefit of this system is that it can lead to a more accurate reflection of your academic work, since there's a broader scale to capture subtle differences in performance.

This can also work the other way, however. The system might seem harsher for students who are accustomed to receiving straight A's, because an A- at Boston University is a 3.7, not the 3.67 it is at most schools. This could potentially affect your GPA if you're aiming for valedictorian or summa cum laude.

I hope this gives you a clearer understanding of what to expect from Boston University's grading system. Don't hesitate to ask if you have more questions!