The R-Score:  Frequently Asked Questions

Standards at Marianopolis are tougher.  If I go to another college then it will be easier to get better marks there.  Won't my R-score be higher?

No, because if it's easier to get better marks elsewhere then it is easier for everyone else to get better marks as well. All else being equal, you won't be any further ahead in terms of R-score.

That's the way it works in theory. In reality, there is clear evidence from data provided by the Ministry of Education that, when comparing students entering CEGEP with the same high school grades, Marianopolis students, on average, get better CEGEP grades.

If I go elsewhere, there won't be as many good students, and so I'll stand out.  Won't my R-score be higher?

No, because the weaker Group Strength Index elsewhere will bring your R-score down.  Also, if you are an above average student then the wider distribution of grades (i.e., the higher standard deviation) will also bring your R-score down.

I need a high R-score to get into my chosen university program.  If I go to another college, won't I have a better chance?

No. Marianopolis boasts the highest average R-score in the province. Why? Because the "Group Strength Index" at Marianopolis is the highest in the province.

  • Marianopolis graduates get into the most highly competitive programs (pre-Medicine, pre-Dentistry, Architecture, Law) at universities in overwhelming numbers.
  • 91% of Marianopolis graduates get into the university of their first choice.
  • 88% of Marianopolis graduates get into the university program of their first choice.
  • 82% of Marianopolis graduates get into both the university and program of their first choice.
Aren't all of these successes due to the fact that Marianopolis gets all the best students in the first place?

No. Marianopolis does not get all the best students. The success of its students in admission to university programs is due to the fact that Marianopolis students get the best R-scores!

Look at the 2005 college graduates who had entered CEGEP with a high school grade of 85 or better:

  • Marianopolis had 446 such students in the Science and Social Science programs, combined.
  • Other Montreal area English CEGEPs had a total of 808 such students in the Science and Social Science programs, combined.

In 2005, Marianopolis placed

24 students into the pre-Med program at McGill, while all the other Montreal area English CEGEPs, combined, placed 16
— no other college had more than 5 students admitted.

In 2006, the numbers were 27 from Marianopolis vs. 20 from the other English CEGEPs combined.

What is our point?

Marianopolis had far fewer of the best students and yet Marianopolis placed a far larger number of students into pre-Medicine at McGill, one of the most highly competitive university programs in Quebec.

What makes the R-scores at Marianopolis so high?

It's because of the "Group Strength" component in the R-score formula.

Marianopolis students have an advantage because their classes (groups) are comprised of many very strong students, who impact positively upon the “Group Strength” for all students.

Other CEGEPs also have very strong students, but they are mixed with many weaker ones, who affect their "Group Strength" component and consequently that factor brings down their R-scores.