GPA - USMA

[luv2swim]

In defense of rewards for an A+:

I do not see it as sneaky or an inflation of grades to recognize and reward the best of the best. It is simply putting a higher target out there for cadets to shoot at. It aids in the pursuit of excellence to have difficult goals above and beyond. Doesn't WP give special passes or priveledges such as access to a car early for exceptional scores on the APFT? I'm sure there are many examples in the Army and at WP where the person who is really at the top gets special recognition and reward of some type. That is what an A+ is...I am confident they are not given out very often and quite difficult to achieve.

 

[hawk]

Many, many schools have moved to a +/- approach with some solid statistical evidence that it's better for the students over the long run.

Everyone focuses on the A+ aspect, but far more likely is the A-, B-, etc. Or the near miss A that ends up with a B+ rather than a B.

With two son's at schools who utilize this approach I've come to understand and appreciate it. Though I still grumble at the DS's C+ in boxing that was .01 away from a B. But he was not alone with that grade, so it appears DPE is just tough, no grade inflation in Boxing or Mil Movement!.

 

[America's Finest]

Thanks for the reply with reference. The kid must be a stud playing on the football team and holding a GPA like that.

Assuming he takes 7 classes a semester he would need to get at least 2 A+ and the rest A's every semester since entering USMA.

I do have to say that nonsense about getting over a 4.0 in college is a joke and in my mind this a sneaky way for West Point to try and elevate their candidates for national scholarships (Rhodes, Marshall, Fullbright...) by artificially inflating GPA's.

I was under the impression it was made so you wouldn't have as many ties in the class rank system. It works the same way with military and physical grades. That way, a student with a 90% in a course (or physical/military grades) is not tied with one who gets >97% in their courses on the OML.

And as stated above, it doesn't just "boost" your GPA since most of the time it ends up hurting cadets individually by giving you a 3.67 for having a 92% in a class. The average CQPA (all 3 pillars) for the Class of 2010 was a 2.81 (don't remember any of the other numbers).

 

[hawk]

I don't know why it's done. I wasn't in the business of earning A+'s.

One thing is pretty clear based on current cadet experience.... while you are measured on GPA, the army (USMA) does not factor in GPA impact when assigning you classes.

Maintain A+ average in the first part of the semester and they will move you to a higher level class mid-semester. Happened to DS in 2 classes this semester, and his GPA has suffered a bit.

Point being: USMA appears to be more concerned with getting you the best training you can than it is with graduating cadets with high GPA's.

I don't know if all classes are stacked that way, but for some plebe type core classes they are definitely stacked based on ability.

Same for validating classes, it does not make for an easier schedule or improved GPA, if anything it's harder. DS is in a cow level class based on validation some classes and it is significantly harder than his plebe classes.

Likewise in boxing.... the guy who won the match got an 80 or 81. The guy who lost the match got a 78 or 79. To DS's knowledge, no A's, no D's. Just B- and C+ grades. DS exited boxing with a 79.5, C+.

can't prove it does not exist, but based on plebe experience this year there is no sign of grade inflation at USMA.