Hey all! So, the University of Pittsburgh is one of the schools I'm interested in applying to. But, I'm having trouble understanding their GPA scale. How is it different from the common 4.0 scale we use at my school? Any help would be appreciated.
Hey there! The University of Pittsburgh, like many universities, uses a slightly modified 4.0 GPA scale. The primary difference from a typical 4.0 scale is their inclusion of an A+ grade, which carries a value of 4.3. This can push a student's GPA slightly above a 4.0 if they consistently earn A+ grades.
Let's look at Pitt's scale for more context:
- A+: 4.3
- A: 4.0
- A-: 3.7
- B+: 3.3
- B: 3.0
- B-: 2.7
- C+: 2.3
- C: 2.0
- C-: 1.7
- D+: 1.3
- D: 1.0
- F: 0.0
It's also worth noting that, in the context of college admissions, the University of Pittsburgh (like most colleges) will recalculate your GPA according to their own scale. They'll focus primarily on your core academic subjects (English, math, science, social studies, and foreign language) and often exclude things like gym, arts, and other non-academic courses.
With this in mind, you might want to recalculate your own GPA to get a sense of how it would look on Pitt's scale. You can use this formula: (Grade Value Credits Earned) / Total Credits Attempted.
Just remember, the GPA is one aspect of your application. The University of Pittsburgh would also consider course rigor, extracurricular engagement, recommendations, and essays in their review process. Good luck with your application!
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