How to know if I satisfy an equivalent 3.8 US GPA? I graduated with a bachelor of math advanced (honor) with first class honor from an Australian university with a WAM (weighted average mark) of 93. My university does not have any GPA system.

I am applying for a graduate program in math in US and somewhere in their application, they say:


  If you have a GPA less than 3.8, then do not apply.


I do not know if I fall below 3.8 or not. All my grades are HD (High Distinction) per the Australian system. My lowest mark is 88 (out of 100) for a course in real analysis. Other grades vary between 90 and 99. In the Australian system, if you get a mark between 85 and 100, then you get HD grade for the subject.
The difficulty of achieving a 3.8 GPA varies widely in the United States, both from university to university, and even from program to program within a single university.

This means that the 3.8 GPA standard is not an absolute measurement of academic excellence.  Instead, it is a measure of your academic dedication relative to your peers within your program at your university.

In many American universities, an A is the highest possible grade, and is worth 4.0 towards the GPA.  An A- is often worth 3.7, a B+ 3.3, and a B 3.0.  (Some American universities ignore plusses and minuses for purposes of GPA calculations.)

A generation or two ago, it was common for a 3.8 GPA to only be achieved by a small fraction of students (much less than 20 percent).  In the past generation, there has been considerable grade inflation.  I have heard of highly regarded programs where As and A-es are common, and grades lower than A- are unusual.

Is your quantified average grade higher than 80 percent of your classmates?  If so, this program might deign to consider your application.