Non Target GPA vs Target GPA?

What's the GPA equivalent of a low ranked school vs a high ranked one? For example, how would you compare a Penn State, ASU, or OSU student to a US News top 30 school student? Like would a 4.0 at Penn State be equivalent to a 3.5 at Vandy? This is also assuming the applicant is finance or econ major. I'm thinking about this from the perspective as a recruiter or an analyst deciding whose resume to push.

I've been curious about this because I transferred from a non target to a top 30. Although not the exact schools that I gave as examples, I've noticed that where I transferred to is much more difficult. At the non target, I barely studied, did most of my homework during class, and got a 3.8. At a better school now and have had to put in much more time to actually study. Even then, I'll probably end my first semester here with a 3.5. Everyone talks about grade inflation at top schools but I'm not really seeing it. Or maybe I'm just dumb.

24 Comments
 

Really? I feel like after 3.8 and especially after 3.9 there are diminishing returns. I’ve heard the difference between a 3.9 and 4.0 is negligible. If you compare it to something like the SAT for college admissions, anything after something like a 1540 is finishing returns. I’ve heard there really is no difference between a mid 1500s and a 1600.

 

Transferred from a nontarget to a target. I would be far more impressed with a 4.0 from my nontarget than I would at my target. Grade inflation here is rampant and I legit do next to nothing have a 3.8. Professors are super forgiving and willing to work with you on things here. At my nontarget they did not give two shits about their students and wouldn’t hesitate to fuck you over for a minor screwup.

 

It's weird how much of a factor your school is in getting a high GPA. I think banks know this to some degree; a 3.7 from UChicago will not be treated the same as a 3.7 from Brown

 

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