Hey there! So you’re trying to wrap your head around UNBC’s grading system and academic guidelines? Yeah, I remember staring at my first syllabus like it was written in ancient hieroglyphics. Let me break down the stuff that actually matters.
THE GRADING SCALE (AKA THE 4.33 MYSTERY)
Okay, so UNBC decided to be special and use a 4.33 scale instead of the standard 4.0. I spent way too long trying to figure out why until I realized… it doesn’t really matter why. What matters is knowing how it works:
90–100% = A+ (4.33)
85–89.9% = A (4.00)
80–84.9% = A- (3.67)
77–79.9% = B+ (3.33)
73–76.9% = B (3.00)
70–72.9% = B- (2.67)
67–69.9% = C+ (2.33)
63–66.9% = C (2.00)
60–62.9% = C- (1.67)
57–59.9% = D+ (1.33)
53–56.9% = D (1.00)
50–52.9% = D- (0.67)
Below 50% = F (ouch)
Most courses need 50% to pass, but heads up some courses require a higher grade if you want to take the next course in the sequence. Like, you might need a C (63%) in a prerequisite to move on to the next level (I hate you, Intermediary Metabolism). Always check your program requirements, getting that D might mean you passed, but you’ll be retaking it anyway if you need it for your major.
THE OTHER GRADES
Here’s where UNBC gets interesting. You might see:
P (Pass) – You passed but it doesn’t affect your GPA
W (Withdrawn) – You noped out of the course (no GPA impact)
AEG (Aegrotat) – Fancy Latin for “you had a valid reason to miss the final”
These are your GPA’s neutral friends, they won’t help, but they won’t hurt either. A strategic W is sometimes better than tanking your average (trust me on this one).
DATES THAT’LL MAKE OR BREAK YOUR SEMESTER
Mark these in your calendar, set seventeen alarms, tattoo them on your arm – whatever it takes:
For September 2025:
Add/Drop deadline: September 18 – Last day to bail without consequences or grab that course you’ve been eyeing
Withdrawal deadline: October 24 – Your final escape hatch (you’ll get a W but keep your GPA intact)
Speaking of calendars… have you checked out the new calendar system on the Over the Edge website? It’s actually pretty sick that someone had the genius idea to aggregate basically everything happening in Prince George. Like, you can find club events, random community stuff. Plus there’s a whole repository of campus clubs if you’re trying to find your people.
GPA: THE NUMBER THAT HAUNTS US ALL
You need a 2.0 CGPA (Cumulative GPA) to stay in good standing. Drop below that and you’re on academic probation, which is about as fun as it sounds. Also, fun fact: you can’t graduate while on probation, so… keep that 2.0+.
Calculating your GPA on the 4.33 scale feels weird at first, but it’s just multiplication and division (I know, I know, we came to university to avoid math). Each course grade gets multiplied by its credit hours, add them all up, divide by total credit hours, and boom – there’s your GPA.
REAL TALK
Look, everyone struggles with this stuff at some point. I’ve definitely had moments where I’m frantically googling “can I still pass if I got 47% on the midterm” at ungodly hours (spoiler: usually yes, but it requires doing actual math and possibly a minor miracle on the final).
The academic advisors are genuinely helpful humans who’ve seen it all – from “I accidentally dropped all my courses” to “I forgot I was registered in a class until finals week” (both real stories I’ve heard). They’re located in the Student Services building, and no, they won’t judge you for asking “obvious” questions.
Also, one or two W’s on your transcript isn’t the end of the world. I know someone who withdrew from organic chem twice and still got into med school (though maybe don’t make it a habit).
THE BOTTOM LINE
UNBC’s grading system is quirky, but you’ll figure it out. Keep track of those key dates, aim for above a 2.0, and remember that everyone else is just as confused as you are – we’re just better at pretending we know what’s going on.
And hey, when in doubt, that 4.33 scale means you can technically get above a 4.0 GPA, which sounds way more impressive than it actually is. Silver linings, right?
