Go Back  British Expats > Living & Moving Abroad > USA
Reload this Page >

summa cum laude

summa cum laude

Old Sep 10th 2008, 5:36 pm
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Garden State
Posts: 280
Shahlax is a glorious beacon of lightShahlax is a glorious beacon of lightShahlax is a glorious beacon of lightShahlax is a glorious beacon of lightShahlax is a glorious beacon of lightShahlax is a glorious beacon of lightShahlax is a glorious beacon of lightShahlax is a glorious beacon of lightShahlax is a glorious beacon of lightShahlax is a glorious beacon of lightShahlax is a glorious beacon of light
Default summa cum laude

Hi, anyone put summa cum laude or magna cum laude on their resume as an equivalent to first, 2:1 etc? Is there a direct translation? Just wondering as I doubt US employers really know what a first is! I had to explain to my current boss what it means as UK does not have GPA's and he asked me if it is equivalent to summa cum laude and i said, yes, kind of.
Shahlax is offline  
Old Sep 10th 2008, 7:02 pm
  #2  
BE Forum Addict
 
Dan725's Avatar
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 3,338
Dan725 has a reputation beyond reputeDan725 has a reputation beyond reputeDan725 has a reputation beyond reputeDan725 has a reputation beyond reputeDan725 has a reputation beyond reputeDan725 has a reputation beyond reputeDan725 has a reputation beyond reputeDan725 has a reputation beyond reputeDan725 has a reputation beyond reputeDan725 has a reputation beyond reputeDan725 has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: summa cum laude

Hmm. Sounds like something you'd read on a porn site, if you ask me....
Dan725 is offline  
Old Sep 10th 2008, 7:04 pm
  #3  
Ray
 
Ray's Avatar
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Ray has a reputation beyond reputeRay has a reputation beyond reputeRay has a reputation beyond reputeRay has a reputation beyond reputeRay has a reputation beyond reputeRay has a reputation beyond reputeRay has a reputation beyond reputeRay has a reputation beyond reputeRay has a reputation beyond reputeRay has a reputation beyond reputeRay has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: summa cum laude

There are typically three types of Latin honors. In order of increasing level of honor, they are:

cum laude, "with honor"; direct translation: "with praise"
magna cum laude, "with great honor"; direct translation: "with great praise"
summa cum laude, "with supreme honor"; direct translation: "with supreme praise"


Tell them it means you were so good ..the Queen bestowed it on you ..
Ray is offline  
Old Sep 10th 2008, 8:33 pm
  #4  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 14,577
anotherlimey has a reputation beyond reputeanotherlimey has a reputation beyond reputeanotherlimey has a reputation beyond reputeanotherlimey has a reputation beyond reputeanotherlimey has a reputation beyond reputeanotherlimey has a reputation beyond reputeanotherlimey has a reputation beyond reputeanotherlimey has a reputation beyond reputeanotherlimey has a reputation beyond reputeanotherlimey has a reputation beyond reputeanotherlimey has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: summa cum laude

Originally Posted by Ray
There are typically three types of Latin honors. In order of increasing level of honor, they are:

cum laude, "with honor"; direct translation: "with praise"
magna cum laude, "with great honor"; direct translation: "with great praise"
summa cum laude, "with supreme honor"; direct translation: "with supreme praise"


Tell them it means you were so good ..the Queen bestowed it on you ..
Someone copy and pasted from wikipedia!

In short, because the system varies from uni to uni the honors classification is irrelevant, unless it's from a top uni.
anotherlimey is offline  
Old Sep 10th 2008, 8:45 pm
  #5  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Duncan Roberts's Avatar
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Avon Lake, OH
Posts: 5,270
Duncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: summa cum laude

Just tell them it's an honors degree and leave it at that. If pressed, make it up! I would say cum laude = 3rd, magna cum laude = 2.1 and 2.2 and
summa cum laude = 1st. However, I think the US system is just based on your GPA flat and doesn't cap any of the categories whereas the UK version has certain levels capped so each year only a certain number of students can get into each category. At least that's how it worked at my uni.
Duncan Roberts is offline  
Old Sep 10th 2008, 8:48 pm
  #6  
Riding on silver wings
 
ugacrew's Avatar
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,543
ugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: summa cum laude

Originally Posted by Duncan Roberts
Just tell them it's an honors degree and leave it at that. If pressed, make it up! I would say cum laude = 3rd, magna cum laude = 2.1 and 2.2 and
summa cum laude = 1st. However, I think the US system is just based on your GPA flat and doesn't cap any of the categories whereas the UK version has certain levels capped so each year only a certain number of students can get into each category. At least that's how it worked at my uni.
We have these honors bestowed to those with a certain GPA when they graduate from college. I'm afraid your employer is out of the loop. Feel free to use them as they make you stand out.
ugacrew is offline  
Old Sep 10th 2008, 11:29 pm
  #7  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Duncan Roberts's Avatar
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Avon Lake, OH
Posts: 5,270
Duncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: summa cum laude

Originally Posted by ugacrew
We have these honors bestowed to those with a certain GPA when they graduate from college.
That's what I thought, you get a certain GPA you get a certain honor. It's not the way honors degree titles are given in the UK, or at least not at the uni I went to. It was something like the top 1% get a 1st, 2-5% get 2.1, 6-8% get 2.2 and the rest completing the requirements for an honors degree get a 3rd. The grade goals changed each year depending on how well people did so it's impossible to match up with a static system.
Duncan Roberts is offline  
Old Sep 11th 2008, 12:21 am
  #8  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Kaffy Mintcake's Avatar
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 8,497
Kaffy Mintcake has a reputation beyond reputeKaffy Mintcake has a reputation beyond reputeKaffy Mintcake has a reputation beyond reputeKaffy Mintcake has a reputation beyond reputeKaffy Mintcake has a reputation beyond reputeKaffy Mintcake has a reputation beyond reputeKaffy Mintcake has a reputation beyond reputeKaffy Mintcake has a reputation beyond reputeKaffy Mintcake has a reputation beyond reputeKaffy Mintcake has a reputation beyond reputeKaffy Mintcake has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: summa cum laude

Originally Posted by Duncan Roberts
That's what I thought, you get a certain GPA you get a certain honor. It's not the way honors degree titles are given in the UK, or at least not at the uni I went to. It was something like the top 1% get a 1st, 2-5% get 2.1, 6-8% get 2.2 and the rest completing the requirements for an honors degree get a 3rd. The grade goals changed each year depending on how well people did so it's impossible to match up with a static system.
GPA 3.5-3.69/4.0 = cum laude
GPA 3.7-3.99/4.0 = magna cum laude
GPA 4.0/4.0 = summa cum laude

Sounds like it varies a smidge based on the school - but that should be a good estimate.
Kaffy Mintcake is offline  
Old Sep 11th 2008, 12:39 am
  #9  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Bluegrass Lass's Avatar
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: My Old KY Home!
Posts: 6,498
Bluegrass Lass has a reputation beyond reputeBluegrass Lass has a reputation beyond reputeBluegrass Lass has a reputation beyond reputeBluegrass Lass has a reputation beyond reputeBluegrass Lass has a reputation beyond reputeBluegrass Lass has a reputation beyond reputeBluegrass Lass has a reputation beyond reputeBluegrass Lass has a reputation beyond reputeBluegrass Lass has a reputation beyond reputeBluegrass Lass has a reputation beyond reputeBluegrass Lass has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: summa cum laude

Originally Posted by Shahlax
Hi, anyone put summa cum laude or magna cum laude on their resume as an equivalent to first, 2:1 etc? Is there a direct translation? Just wondering as I doubt US employers really know what a first is! I had to explain to my current boss what it means as UK does not have GPA's and he asked me if it is equivalent to summa cum laude and i said, yes, kind of.
Here's a simplified way to calculate GPA:

Multiply the number of credit hours for the class by the grade that you received for the class.
So, let's assume your class was 3 credit hours, a grade would have the following points:
'A' = 4 points
'B' = 3 points
'C' = 2 points
'D' = 1 point
'F' = 0 points

So if you received an A for your 3 hour class, you multiply 4x3 = 12 points, if you got a B, multiply 3x3 = 9pts, a C would be 2x3=6pts, etc. Then add up all the points you received for all classes, and then add up the total credit hours you took to complete your degree.

Your GPA is then calculated by dividing your total grade points by the total credit hours. So if your total grade points were 400 and your total credit hours were 100, then your GPA would be 400/100 = 4.0

Don't know if this helps at all given that the grading scale in the UK is typically tougher in the UK. When I studied over there, and transferred my grades back to my US uni, my university considered a B an A, and a C a B.
Bluegrass Lass is offline  
Old Sep 11th 2008, 12:41 am
  #10  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Kaffy Mintcake's Avatar
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 8,497
Kaffy Mintcake has a reputation beyond reputeKaffy Mintcake has a reputation beyond reputeKaffy Mintcake has a reputation beyond reputeKaffy Mintcake has a reputation beyond reputeKaffy Mintcake has a reputation beyond reputeKaffy Mintcake has a reputation beyond reputeKaffy Mintcake has a reputation beyond reputeKaffy Mintcake has a reputation beyond reputeKaffy Mintcake has a reputation beyond reputeKaffy Mintcake has a reputation beyond reputeKaffy Mintcake has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: summa cum laude

Or if you're really lucky, pluses and minuses count too.

For grad school it was this:
A = 4 points
A- = 3.66 points
B+ = 3.33 points
B = 3 points

etc.

A bit of a pain really.
Kaffy Mintcake is offline  
Old Sep 11th 2008, 1:01 am
  #11  
Boomshacalaca!!
 
Tarkak9's Avatar
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: South of the North Pole.......Colorado
Posts: 5,066
Tarkak9 has a reputation beyond reputeTarkak9 has a reputation beyond reputeTarkak9 has a reputation beyond reputeTarkak9 has a reputation beyond reputeTarkak9 has a reputation beyond reputeTarkak9 has a reputation beyond reputeTarkak9 has a reputation beyond reputeTarkak9 has a reputation beyond reputeTarkak9 has a reputation beyond reputeTarkak9 has a reputation beyond reputeTarkak9 has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: summa cum laude

Originally Posted by Dan725
Hmm. Sounds like something you'd read on a porn site, if you ask me....
Magna Kama Sutra Laude?

Shaft!! Dammmmnnnn Right.
Tarkak9 is offline  
Old Sep 11th 2008, 1:08 am
  #12  
Boomshacalaca!!
 
Tarkak9's Avatar
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: South of the North Pole.......Colorado
Posts: 5,066
Tarkak9 has a reputation beyond reputeTarkak9 has a reputation beyond reputeTarkak9 has a reputation beyond reputeTarkak9 has a reputation beyond reputeTarkak9 has a reputation beyond reputeTarkak9 has a reputation beyond reputeTarkak9 has a reputation beyond reputeTarkak9 has a reputation beyond reputeTarkak9 has a reputation beyond reputeTarkak9 has a reputation beyond reputeTarkak9 has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: summa cum laude

Originally Posted by Shahlax
Hi, anyone put summa cum laude or magna cum laude on their resume as an equivalent to first, 2:1 etc? Is there a direct translation? Just wondering as I doubt US employers really know what a first is! I had to explain to my current boss what it means as UK does not have GPA's and he asked me if it is equivalent to summa cum laude and i said, yes, kind of.
If they ask at the interview what a 1st is - just tell them "it basically means that I'm a very clever person who graduated at the top of their class and if you don't hire me, your competitors will and they'll reap the rewards from my hard devoted work and creativity.." But, if its for starbucks then "yes. I will be able to handle the coffee just fine."
Tarkak9 is offline  
Old Sep 11th 2008, 2:56 am
  #13  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Duncan Roberts's Avatar
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Avon Lake, OH
Posts: 5,270
Duncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: summa cum laude

Originally Posted by sunflwrgrl13
Here's a simplified way to calculate GPA:
Having spent a good few months on GPA calculations at work which had already had months of work simplifying them, there is no simplified GPA calculation.
Duncan Roberts is offline  
Old Sep 11th 2008, 5:50 am
  #14  
Powder Maggot
 
AdobePinon's Avatar
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Nuevo Mexico
Posts: 4,452
AdobePinon has a reputation beyond reputeAdobePinon has a reputation beyond reputeAdobePinon has a reputation beyond reputeAdobePinon has a reputation beyond reputeAdobePinon has a reputation beyond reputeAdobePinon has a reputation beyond reputeAdobePinon has a reputation beyond reputeAdobePinon has a reputation beyond reputeAdobePinon has a reputation beyond reputeAdobePinon has a reputation beyond reputeAdobePinon has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: summa cum laude

The trouble with using terms like these is that some of the more, ahem, attentive, employers may see it as falsifying your record. I wouldn't use them unless you have one of those silly 'certified' translations.

My last two jobs have required me to back up my CV with original certificates.
AdobePinon is offline  
Old Sep 11th 2008, 5:52 am
  #15  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Steerpike's Avatar
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 13,091
Steerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: summa cum laude

I would not put the US terms directly on your resume as if it were a statement of fact, because it would be a false statement and that can be a source of trouble (an acquaintance of mine was hired by Oracle this year; they later found some trivial error on his resume, and terminated him based on a company policy). You could say, perhaps, 'equivalent to...' - if you have room.

However - unless you are a fresh graduate, and don't have any practical experience, I don't think anyone is going to care much about the finer points of your degree; I usually glance quickly at the 'education' part of a resume, but focus more on 'what they did' at their previous employers. When I read a resume, I'm just looking for a 'spark' to make me want to bring the person in for an interview, OR, looking for a 'negative' to reject the resume. If I saw someone fussing over trivial information such as the finer points of their 'score', I'd be tempted to discard the resume assuming they would focus on irrelevant details if hired.
Steerpike is offline  

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.