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Bush, George W.

Yale Transcripts Reveal Similar Academic Records for Presidential Candidates John Kerry and George W. Bush

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Senator John Kerry, the Democratic candidate in the 2004 presidential campaign, had a cumulative grade average of 76 at Yale University, similar to that of his rival, President George W. Bush, who had a cumulative grade average of 77. Both candidates had relatively low grades in their freshman year, with Kerry receiving four D's and Bush receiving one D in astronomy. However, both candidates' grades improved significantly in subsequent years, with Kerry achieving an 81 average as a senior and Bush achieving an 88 in several courses.

Key Takeaways:

  • Senator John Kerry had a cumulative grade average of 76 at Yale University, according to The Boston Globe.
  • President George W. Bush had a cumulative grade average of 77 at Yale University, according to The New Yorker magazine.
  • Both Kerry and Bush had relatively low grades in their freshman year, with Kerry receiving four D's and Bush receiving one D in astronomy.
  • Kerry had a highest grade of 89 in political science as a senior, while Bush had a highest grade of 88 in three courses: anthropology, history, and philosophy.
  • Under Yale's grading system at the time, grades from 90-100 equaled an A, 80-89 a B, 70-79 a C, and 60-69 a D.
  • Kerry's transcript showed that he had one D in his sophomore year, while Bush's transcript showed that he had one D in four years.
  • Kerry's father reportedly believed that D stood for distinction, with Kerry saying he had previously acknowledged focusing more on learning to fly than studying.

Statistics:

  • Kerry's cumulative grade average at Yale: 76 (The Boston Globe)
  • Bush's cumulative grade average at Yale: 77 (The New Yorker magazine)
  • Kerry's grades as a freshman: four D's (61, 63, 68, 69) and one D in his sophomore year (The Boston Globe)
  • Bush's grade in astronomy as a freshman: 69 (The New Yorker magazine)
  • Kerry's highest grade as a senior: 89 in political science (The Boston Globe)
  • Bush's highest grade: 88 in anthropology, history, and philosophy (The New Yorker magazine)

Sources:

  • The Boston Globe
  • The New Yorker magazine
  • Yale University (Source for grading system information)

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