USA Degree GPA to UK Conversion?

[TearsOfLenin]

I am an undergraduate studying at a USA university planning to apply to UK medical schools for 2011 entry. What are the GPA conversions on a scale out of 4.0 to UK honours degrees, viz.

What is the conversion of USA GPA out of 4.0 to a:

First class honours degree
Upper second class honours degree
Lower second class honours degree
etc.?

I have insofar been unable to find an answer to this for months. Any help greatly appreciated.

Thank you

[giella]

When I was in America, B+/A- was a 2:1 and anything above that was a first. I never got the hang of GPA because I never found out what mine was.
However, most medical schools tend to ask for a minimum of 3.3
3.6 or above is probably what you should aim for. They don't really tend to convert them as such. It doesn't really convert very well. Have a look at a few admissions sites and see what it says.

[flarestar]

They don`t convert because they don`t see them as equivalent. I`m not sure why you want to convert them anyways, most uni`s will tell you what GPA they want.

[TearsOfLenin]

When I ask various universities, "what GPA should an undergraduate applicant from a USA university have when applying" and they do not give me a GPA. They continue replying, "at least an upper second class honours". This is not helpful and I have gotten the same reply to, "What is the GPA equivalent of a 2:1?" with "At least a 2:1". This is also not helpful and they rarely give me GPA requirements.

[FLmedicine20]

I just graduated from a state school w/ a 3.415 out 4 GPA. I'm also applying to med school in the UK. Southampton never told me their requirements other than I do qualify for their GEP. Some schools require a 3.7 (ie Manchester), others are 3.25 (Warwick GEP) - it really depends on the school. Also, some schools only allow you to apply to their 5 yr. programs if you have a U.S. degree (ie UEA). So ask them, or check out their websites. You will be safe if you get a 3.5 or higher - just apply to schools you know your GPA is high enough! Good luck, let me know if you have questions.

[TearsOfLenin]

My list for UCAS for 2011 entry will be:

1) Liverpool
2) Bute St. Andrews
3) Nottingham
4) Warwick GEP

Do you think this list is good based on the GPA? I only know the GPA requirement for Warwick. The others I have not a clue.

[flarestar]

So after doing some research:

Okay so for Liverpool I'm assuming you're applying for the 5 year program since international students can't apply for the 4 year so you need a GPA of 3.5

For St Andrews they said: University graduate applicants must have obtained at least a GPA of 3.5 and should also send recommendations from two professors who have taught or supervised them. All Medical students must start at first year level and so will not be given any credit for courses taken elsewhere.

For Nottingham they want a 3.0 average plus the GAMSAT but I heard this off a US student a couple of years ago so the minimum may have been raised since then.

Warwick you already said you knew

[TearsOfLenin]

Thank you flarestar. Would you know of any other UK schools who have a minimum GPA requirement in the range 3.0-3.3?

[FLmedicine20]

Look at Warwick, Bristol, UEA, & HYMS (I'm not sure of soton - they just said I qualified w/ my GPA of 3.415...so ask them as well)

[TearsOfLenin]

Did you find it useful to apply to Southampton both in 5 year A100 and A104 GEP? Are the places reserved for the international quota reasonable for both? HYMS I believe, told me that their minimum was 3.6. I am not sure if it is worthwhile to apply to a programme that only has a quota of 7 international places, for example, as competition would be extremely competitive.