Grades
The German grading system is quite simple. The scale is 1.0 through 5.0, 1.0 being the highest. So something like a 1.3 is better than a 1.7. Simple enough.
The American system, as you know, is A through F, that's five letters. Five letters you think would convert easily over to five numbers right? 1.0 would be an A+, 1.5 would be an A, and 1.7 would be A-. Not so much.
According to the University of Mannheim, the breakdown is as follows:
1.0 - 1.5 A
1.6 - 2.0 B
2.1 - 2.5 C
2.6 - 3.5 D
3.5 - 4.0 E (this is still considered passing)
4.0 - 5.0 F (this is failing)
This makes no sense. Especially since in Germany anything in the 1.0 - 1.9 range is basically considered unattainable perfection. Which means at best you get 2.0 - 2.9, which can be a B or a C. Getting a 2.5 is considered really well done, but this is a C. That's not so well done by American standards. Getting 2.7 is still considered good, that's "retake the class" level in America based on their conversion. Basically, they give a really narrow margin for success.
For example. My friend Megan is walking away with basically an 85% in a German class, she's getting a 2.3. Her last test said "GUT!" on it. But she'll be getting a C.
I was of course exceptionally worried. Not to talk myself up, but my GPA has nowhere to go except down. Getting a C would suck major ass. I already figured if it happened I'd just annoy the registrar's and international office until they changed it to just make me go away.
Thankfully, Mannheim doesn't get to issue my transcript with converted grades to Pacific. My program gets my grades first, and then they convert them. So I emailed my program to see what kind of conversion I would get, and if I was going to have a problem on my hands. Here's what I actually get:
1.0 - 1.6 A
1.7 - 1.9 A- (2.0 could also be considered)
2.0 - 2.2 B+
2.3 - 2.6 B
2.7 - 2.9 B-
3.0 - 3.2 C+
OMG! They did it logically! Woo! This was a big relief off of my shoulders. The only thing I am still worried about is that I have one class that is 100% term paper, which I could end up getting a C on just because I have no idea what they are expecting or how they grade. I still might try and argue it.
Yeah, dropping an entire grade point by having a semester of B's would completely suck, but it is a lot more acceptable then potentially having C's on my transcript. Here's hoping.
The American system, as you know, is A through F, that's five letters. Five letters you think would convert easily over to five numbers right? 1.0 would be an A+, 1.5 would be an A, and 1.7 would be A-. Not so much.
According to the University of Mannheim, the breakdown is as follows:
1.0 - 1.5 A
1.6 - 2.0 B
2.1 - 2.5 C
2.6 - 3.5 D
3.5 - 4.0 E (this is still considered passing)
4.0 - 5.0 F (this is failing)
This makes no sense. Especially since in Germany anything in the 1.0 - 1.9 range is basically considered unattainable perfection. Which means at best you get 2.0 - 2.9, which can be a B or a C. Getting a 2.5 is considered really well done, but this is a C. That's not so well done by American standards. Getting 2.7 is still considered good, that's "retake the class" level in America based on their conversion. Basically, they give a really narrow margin for success.
For example. My friend Megan is walking away with basically an 85% in a German class, she's getting a 2.3. Her last test said "GUT!" on it. But she'll be getting a C.
I was of course exceptionally worried. Not to talk myself up, but my GPA has nowhere to go except down. Getting a C would suck major ass. I already figured if it happened I'd just annoy the registrar's and international office until they changed it to just make me go away.
Thankfully, Mannheim doesn't get to issue my transcript with converted grades to Pacific. My program gets my grades first, and then they convert them. So I emailed my program to see what kind of conversion I would get, and if I was going to have a problem on my hands. Here's what I actually get:
1.0 - 1.6 A
1.7 - 1.9 A- (2.0 could also be considered)
2.0 - 2.2 B+
2.3 - 2.6 B
2.7 - 2.9 B-
3.0 - 3.2 C+
OMG! They did it logically! Woo! This was a big relief off of my shoulders. The only thing I am still worried about is that I have one class that is 100% term paper, which I could end up getting a C on just because I have no idea what they are expecting or how they grade. I still might try and argue it.
Yeah, dropping an entire grade point by having a semester of B's would completely suck, but it is a lot more acceptable then potentially having C's on my transcript. Here's hoping.