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Calculating & Recognizing Academic Performance

The School of Medicine grade point averages (GPA's) are computed for only three purposes: nomination of students for election to Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, categorization of students when writing the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) for residency, and determination of commencement honors. GPA's are not made public or reported to residency programs. The GPA is calculated on the following scale: H=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=1.0; F=0.0. The third year is given a somewhat higher weighting than the first two years in the final calculation. The basic weighting formula is (Year 1&2 x 0.87) + (Year 3 x 1.13)/2 = GPA. Grades from courses taken during the senior year are not counted numerically in the GPA calculation. The criteria for determination of students who are to graduate with honors are made by the Medical School Executive Committee.

Transfer students with an exemplary performance in their third year clerkships may be considered for induction into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society in the senior year and/or awarding of Latin Honors (i.e., summa cum laude, magna cum laude, cum laude) at graduation. However, because of the inherent difficulty in comparing the content, rigor and grading of coursework taken at another institution with that taken at our institution, these students will be at a disadvantage in the deliberations. Every effort will be made to accurately judge the relative academic merits of transfer students in this process.

Last Revision: August 12, 2008

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