<p>CADREAMIN, I am a teacher (24th year), and my issue with NMSC using grades is that it is definitely comparing apples and oranges. Not only do they use the 4.0 scale, disregarding the more difficult classes such as AP and dual credit, but the way grades are determined from one teacher’s class to another can be vastly different. My son was given a major grade zero because he did not have the final draft of his paper printed out on the day it was due at the beginning of class. Go to the library and print it? NO. Give points for the multiple rough drafts? NO. Result? 79 average. 3 1/2 years later, NMF rejection. Cost: $100,000 in scholarship money. Little excessive, don’t you think? Contrast that with another student who is equally lazy/irresponsible/whatever you think/ in another teacher’s class who is like me; I would give them the chance to print the paper, give full credit. If a student needs less than a point to go to the next grade and they have given me effort, I give them the grade. I know what it does to a GPA to get a 79. OK, rant over.</p>