About Haverford College in Pennsylvania
Haverford College is a liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1833 by members of the Society of Friends (Quakers), and today maintains a strong commitment to ethical principles and community engagement.
- Ranked #16 in National Liberal Arts Colleges by U.S. News & World Report
- Enrollment: approximately 1,300 undergraduate students
- Faculty to Student Ratio: 1:8
- 85% of classes have fewer than 20 students
- Areas of study include over 30 majors, along with elective courses, internships, and independent research opportunities
- Unique educational opportunities include the Bi-Co Tri-College Consortium with Bryn Mawr College and Swarthmore College, and study abroad programs in over 50 countries
Grading and GPA System at Haverford College
Haverford College employs a traditional grading system, with letter grades ranging from A to F. Each course is also assigned a number of credits, depending on the course workload and the number of hours per week devoted to class time and assignments. At the end of each term, students receive a grade report indicating their final letter grade for each course.
- Pass/Fail option: Students may choose to take up to two classes on a Pass/Fail basis, meaning that they will receive a "P" grade if they pass the class, but the grade will not factor into their GPA.
- GPA Calculation: Each grade is assigned a numerical value for the purpose of calculating a student's grade point average (GPA). An "A" is worth 4 points, a "B" is worth 3 points, and so on, with an "F" worth 0 points.
- Retaking courses: Students may retake courses they have failed in order to improve their GPA. The new grade will replace the previous grade in the GPA calculation.
Conclusion
Haverford College offers a rigorous liberal arts education with a strong emphasis on ethical values and community engagement. Its small class sizes and faculty-to-student ratio allow for individual attention and personalized learning experiences. With a traditional grading system and GPA calculation, students are held to high academic standards, and are able to retake courses and utilize the Pass/Fail option in order to improve their academic performance.