McGill GPA Conversion Sheet - Pakistan

[Doppel91]

Hello,
I need assistance with the GPA Conversion Sheet. I am applying from Pakistan where British Education System is followed, same as that of in India. Is there anyone who has filled the same sheet?

Here is the link to it,
http://www.mcgill.ca/mecheng/grad/doc/gpa-conversion

Pakistani Conversion Criteria
http://www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/sites/mcgill.ca.gradapplicants/files/PAKISTAN.pdf

On the guide it suggests that "If the degree certificate provides an overall classification (e.g. Distinction, Lower Second Division, etc.), convert this single overall standing in lieu of individual grades".
If I convert my overall percentage (i.e. 77.39%, First Division ) into letter grade a/c to TYPICAL GRADING SCALE provided by McGill, it comes out to be "A" and when I put it on the conversion sheet(excel file) in the same manner as that of in example provided here (for Pakistan system),
http://www.mcgill.ca/mecheng/sites/mcgill.ca.mecheng/files/pakistan_example.pdf

the CGPA turns out to be 4.0. Can anybody please suggest me if I'm doing it the right way? Help will be much appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[samroc]

I am no expert but I think you have the conversion right according to the McGill conversion rules.

 

[scottdickson86]

Hey Doppel91!

What program are you applying into?

When I sent my application for Fall 2014 last December, I also tried to convert my grades using the grade conversion sheet. However, I found the process to be a little too tedious and complicated. I ended up just doing my own math.

I did read at McGill website (section on faculty's guide to grade conversion - can't find the link anymore) that converting grades is more art than science. They don't need to know your exact GPA. Think of it this way: If your GPA is 0.389xxx better than another student's (assuming both of you are above the minimum required), you still have to prove that you can and will do better in the program. This means that your entire application package have to be strong. I can only speak based on my own experience but when I contacted my POI and told him my GPA, the first thing that he did was visit my school's website, checked our local grading system, and read the section on minimum requirements for grad school admission in MY university. When he found out that my GPA is above the minimum required locally, that's it. He didn't have to convert my grades to McGill's grading system. The rest of our conversations revolved around my intentions for going to grad school, my target area of research, and my work in the last five years. My grades were never brought up again. Moreover, my TOEFL or GRE scores never became part of our email exchanges or during my Skype interview.

Last year, someone from this forum who's now attending McGill (Architecture) also told me that "grades aren't that big of a factor as you may think." This was good advise because I had to make sure that my student application form contained details other than my grades. Of course, if your grades are near prefect then that's one thing less to worry about.

Hope this helps! Good luck!


-Scott