Why Antioch? | Assessments vs. Grades

What, no grades?

That's right, at Antioch University Seattle, you'll discover a focus on knowledge and learning rather than letter grades.

Using narrative assessments rather than grades is just one example of Antioch's reflective practices. Faculty members take the time to reflect on your learning and provide you a meaningful assessment of your academic progress.

Antioch was among the first universities to offer narrative assessments, another illustration of how the university encourages student-centered, personalized learning. The narrative approach gives you far better understanding of your strengths as a learner and those areas that might need improvement.

Here's a glimpse from an assessment to show how this personal evaluation is more meaningful than a letter grade:

"J. undertook these assignments with creativity and flair.... J's performance throughout the course was excellent. I have no specific suggestions for improving her performance in future courses, as she is already a gifted and thoughtful student. Keep up the great work!"

You may be thinking, "How well do narrative assessments transfer to other colleges and universities?" Many Antioch students go on to other institutions and their transcripts have always been accepted.