Average GPA for History Grad students at Ivy?

[worriedWarts]

Hey guys. Long time lurker, first time poster here. I just got back to school after about 3 years of working.

 

My first semester seems like a dud - getting straight A-'s at Harvard in an MA program. I wanted to know if anyone know the usual grades that grad students received for grad schools in the humanities (history especially) at Ivies. Also, how are the grades viewed (A = Passing/A- = Watch out, you're in trouble/B+ = can't afford too many of these/B=You're failing?) from these institutions?

 

[Snglo-Aaxon]

Why don't you ask the department?

[worriedWarts]

Hi. Thank you for the reply. I will ask the department, however I also want to ask the general opinion here since I want to have more sample points to validate the results.

[Guest |||]

I doubt someone is going to know the average.

 

 

Your best shot will be to see if the department uses a curve - and if it does, that tells you the average mark.

[worriedWarts]

Hmm, I guess I asked the question in a vague way... I guess I want to know how an A, A-, and a B+ in history is perceived in graduate school. Do the ivies expect their history graduate students to get all A's? Or, in other words, are A-'s viewed as a failing grade?

[Guest |||]

It will depend on how and if they curve, and each ivy is likely to be somewhat unique in that regard.

[fuzzylogician]

Likely anything about a B is good, but if it's an A- then it's a sign that some things could be improved. What exactly that is, you should ask the professor. As others have noted, there is no general right answer that fits all ivies, all history programs, or all programs in Harvard. These things simply don't generalize. You need to ask people in your program - students and/or a professor.

[Usmivka]

It is grad school. If it is passing, does it really matter?

[fuzzylogician]

It is grad school. If it is passing, does it really matter?

 

It might -- first, if it's a message about the OP's performance, it'd be good to know what it says. Second, sometimes for funding reasons you need to maintain a certain average. But yes, generally speaking, it doesn't matter much.

[ereissoup]

It is grad school. If it is passing, does it really matter?

 

If it's a Masters, won't it matter when you apply for a PhD?

[worriedWarts]

Yup, and that is why I want to know the perceptions of A-s for a history major at Harvard, especially in terms of applying for the PhD. Do they view A-'s as subpar? Per the posters above, I'll ask my department as well, I just want to know what you guys think.

 

Thanks!

[PsychGirl1]

You should talk to people (advisers, fellow students, etc.) who have been through the PhD process in your field and have advice on how to perceive your grades. For example, my mentor as well as other students in my lab have talked to me about how much work I should be putting in my classes versus other activities, and how much my GPA matters (not very much). I would assume that if you're in a normal History MA program at Harvard (e.g. not the extension school), it won't make any difference if you get an A versus A- for your PhD applications. However, there may be other elements that PhD programs will look at that you should be spending your time on.

[juilletmercredi]

I would say a 3.7 GPA (which is what A-'s are) should be completely fine when applying for PhD programs.  Generally speaking a 3.5+ from an MA program is necessary.

[worriedWarts]

Thanks PsyGirl, I am indeed in the regular MA program at Harvard. I'll ask my advisor on how well A-'s are perceived to be. From what I initially heard, since Harvard and other top tier universities get the creme of the crop, they would prefer MA GPAs that are at least 3.8+. Also, at Harvard, A-'s are 3.67, not 3.7.

[Seeking]

WorriedWarts,

 

Don't worry. A- is not likely to adversely affect your funding.

 

And your Harvard degree is going to take care of the rest, as long as you maintain an A- or A. You can take this degree to where many others can't go, despite your A-s.

 

The greater danger is that precisely because of this "immunity of Ivy degrees," I have seen quite a few Ivy graduates who are quite mediocre in their understanding of their subjects - and Harvard graduates are no exception to this. You should not fall into this trap.

 

Concentrate more on your research and gain a good understanding of your subject, so that when you go out into the world, people don't say "what kind of trash Harvard produces that keeps on circulating around." That's the real danger of an Ivy degree, especially from Harvard.

 

The amount of trash I've seen coming out of the Ivies, especially from Harvard, is not funny.  

Edited December 29, 2013 by Seeking