What's worse than having a strict grading range?...

Nurses General Nursing

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Having a lenient one.

I may be griping, but I've always had a problem with the local community college's grading system. In the ADN program I attend, this is where we have to take our co-reqs.

The reason why I do not like this, is that they have such a large range for alphabetical grades that do not show the students abilities more on point.

They have 5 grades.

A- 90+

B- 80-89

C- 70-79

D- 60-69

F- x

Although learning is not about getting the best grades, but rather about comprehension of the material and ablility to apply that material, being grouped into a grading system that is not followed by the majority of other institutions, proves to be a disadvantage and unfair to the students that attend.

When colleges will look at my transcipts, they will see a "B" in classes, but not a "B+"; despite that fact that I obtained a high 80 grade. This could affect my prospects for BSN and graduate admissions, which is disheartening.

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Sorry, I just needed to get this off my chest.

A community college I attended prior only allowed for +'s (and whole letter grades). They didn't grade for -'s because a lot of college's don't accept -'s in transfer credit.

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Ours was the same and I loved it when I was in the low Bs but hated it when I was in the high Bs, lol.

Specializes in Public Health, DEI.

Back in my day, grading was straight letter grades and there was the ten point span for each. We never even thought about it, I don't think. My son's school uses the plus and minus system, but I'll be danged if I can tell you what standards are used to determine their use. It is up to each teacher and some of them seem to me to be quite loosey goosey (this is a high school, though, not a college). It seems to me that no matter how strict or lenient the system is, it would be nice if consistent criteria were used so everyone knew what to expect and what a certain grade actually reflects.

I'm still a pre-nursing student, but I've attended 4 different schools. One used pluses and minuses (only up to A), two did not use them at all, and my current school it is up to the teacher's discretion. My transcript for last semester actually shows an A+ in my psych class, but it is still only worth 4.0. As a straight A student since returning to do prereqs, I HATE pluses and minuses. Why should I have to earn a 93 to keep my GPA where it is? Then again, my 92.9 A- now could be a B once NS starts, so maybe it's good to get used to it. If you do the math though, any grading system is overall neutral only if they either only offer whole letter grades or they offer an A+ worth 4.33. Otherwise, with the first gradation being down, it hurts some students and is overall neutral to the rest. Just my 2 cents.

Specializes in Lie detection.

i know that grades are important and it is rather nice to keep them up but... in the grand scheme of life after college, no one cares what your gpa was. it's the degree that counts. don't sweat it students, just focus on passing, that's what matters the most.

Well when you're trying to enter into a competitive BSN or graduate program, GPA's do count (as well as other credentials).

Specializes in ED.
i know that grades are important and it is rather nice to keep them up but... in the grand scheme of life after college, no one cares what your gpa was. it's the degree that counts. don't sweat it students, just focus on passing, that's what matters the most.

i have to kind of disagree with this, because i have found out that there is some competition for internships/rn positions where i am (midwest). i just interviewed for an internship program, and there were 500 applicants for 100 jobs. they only interviewed 200. since i have no nursing experience except school, my grades and prior degree are the only way i got an interview. and getting an internship such as this is a big step in the door for many new rn's getting jobs next year. and like the other poster said, many masters programs require a high gpa. i think that hospitals can be a lot more choosy than we all sometimes like to think. there are a lot of rn's graduating out there and they are going to go with people with the experience, grades, and those who have contacts that can help them out. it isn't as easy as just passing and getting a job, at least where i live.

Do employer's ask for grade's?

Do employer's ask for grade's?

For a staff nurse position, no, but sometimes hosptials will look at grades of nursing students who are applying for internships.

i know that grades are important and it is rather nice to keep them up but... in the grand scheme of life after college, no one cares what your gpa was. it's the degree that counts. don't sweat it students, just focus on passing, that's what matters the most.

i have to disagree. a common theme of advice on these boards is "don't burn your bridges". very sound advice, i am sure most would agree. well, the "just pass" mindset is just another way of burning bridges. just as a nurse might think he or she would never want to work for a previous employer, but...you never know - the same can apply to a career. students who have not yet experienced nursing might think that they will be happy forever as a bedside nurses, but...you never know. what if nursing isn't what they thought/hoped it would be? what if they want to pursue advanced practice/education/ upper managment? what if they want to leave nursing althogether and pursue another degree? these options and opportunities can become limited with a bunch of mediocre grades on a transcript. one never knows what "life after college" might bring. grades can still be very important even after you have the degree in your hand.

Specializes in medsurg, clinic, nursing home.

We have to have 80 or above in our LPN program. that means 80 not 79.9 in every single class, lab and clinical. Fail one and you're out. ABCDF really doesn't matter much but I try to do well, to up my chances of getting in the bridge program later on.

Specializes in Lie detection.
i have to disagree. a common theme of advice on these boards is "don't burn your bridges". very sound advice, i am sure most would agree. well, the "just pass" mindset is just another way of burning bridges. just as a nurse might think he or she would never want to work for a previous employer, but...you never know - the same can apply to a career. students who have not yet experienced nursing might think that they will be happy forever as a bedside nurses, but...you never know. what if nursing isn't what they thought/hoped it would be? what if they want to pursue advanced practice/education/ upper managment? what if they want to leave nursing althogether and pursue another degree? these options and opportunities can become limited with a bunch of mediocre grades on a transcript. one never knows what "life after college" might bring. grades can still be very important even after you have the degree in your hand.

i guess i didn't elaborate enough. yes, grades are important, but not to the point of driving yourself nuts over the difference between a 3.62 or 3.55. just work hard and do your best. they are important to get you into the next level of education. in my experience, i have never, ever had an employer ask me for my gpa. never. that was my point. btw, i have a great gpa and would love it if they did ask!!!

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