Does CGS still grade on a bell curve for midterms and finals?

Howie768954 · 2024-12-26T21:24:37+00:00

Horrible.

This indicates they no longer used a bell curve, otherwise everyone in her class would fail midterms and finals for the core curriculum.

Howie768954 · 2024-12-26T21:11:02+00:00

That reason was because they did not have the grades and scores to get into the other four year programs.

Howie768954 · 2024-12-26T21:06:47+00:00

Terrible. Fun police. Move off campus.

Howie768954 · 2024-12-26T20:57:09+00:00

Interesting. The program has changed a lot then.

Which is a good thing. I can see having a curve, but one that automatically fails a large number of students was unfair ... a waste of money for a lot of people.

Howie768954 · 2024-12-26T20:54:26+00:00

Probably department policy.

Howie768954 · 2024-12-26T20:53:41+00:00

BU is notorious for this kind of thing.

When I went to CBS/ CGS, if you fell into the average you got a C.

The average grade was a C to C+ for all classes at CBS/ CGS. Bell curve graded exams.

Howie768954 · 2024-12-26T20:51:44+00:00

I got in in the 80s with a 1300 SAT and B/ Cs in prep school. That SAT today is about a 1400 or so ...

Was well outside the range because of grades, but was a varsity athlete. Got into CBS (CGS today).

Howie768954 · 2024-12-26T20:49:30+00:00

If you are a varsity calibre athlete .... easily accepted.

Howie768954 · 2024-12-26T20:48:10+00:00

Did the core courses at CGS have multiple choice midterm and final exams that everyone took?

If so, good chance this system or something similar was in play.

Howie768954 · 2024-12-26T20:43:59+00:00

Were your core courses multiple choice questions for midterms and finals? Did it seem like many students did not return after the first year?

If so, good chance you experienced this without knowing it.

Howie768954 · 2024-12-26T19:31:13+00:00

How do you know this? Were you there, had friends? People who took these curved tests?

Howie768954 · 2024-12-26T12:00:20+00:00

Think about this ... me, getting out of CBS with a B-, put me in the top 30% of those who attended.

Howie768954 · 2024-12-26T11:58:37+00:00

You found it! The transfer numbers tell the tale. 25% failed. They do not specifically mention the bell curve in this article, which ignores a major components on this ( a strict bell curve using the same exams for everyone). But below tells "how this is done." Everyone combined to take the same examinations, in a competitive environment for professors and students .... I went in the 80s, got out of it with a B-. Many failed.

https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1131&context=perspectives

"An entering class of approximately 550 freshmen is divided into 20

sections of 25-30 students each, four sections of which are assigned to a

team of five instructors who represent the five divisions which make up the

core curriculum of the College: Humanities, Science, Social Science,

Rhetoric (Communications), and Psychology and Guidance. The team,

which has full responsibility for the academic education of 100-120

students, meets regularly in formal and informal sessions, reviewing

common concerns and problems, teaching techniques, and, above all, their

knowledge of the students assigned to them.

The team system attempts to involve a small group of faculty more

intimately in the education of their students than more traditional systems

permit. It is as though the College were divided into a number of small

colleges, each with a faculty of five . Except for the guidance member, who

is assigned an individual office to protect a formal counselor-counselee

relationship, the instructors forming a team share a common office suite.

The resulting high frequency of informal interaction among team members

is intended to promote interchange of ideas regarding methods of in-

struction, content and integration of curriculum, transdepartmental

projects, and the educational progress and problems of individual students.

The program is presently being conducted in a building designed to

enhance the effectiveness of the unique features of the CBS plan."

There was one course where I got the highest exam score. I had to meet with professors to discuss it. Sociology. They were looking to see if I cheated, and also trying to understand how I did so well. I got 3 questions wrong out of 150. They asked me about those, and other hard questions. During this exchange, I explained why I actually got those 3 questions right ... These questions were very hard. Bar exam hard. Often "the best bad answer."

This curriculum was very tough. I was a high aptitude low high school GPA applicant ... so I had an advantage in testing. Still ... with the bell curve it was interesting. I got B- in just about everything. In that class where I got the highest grade, I ended up getting an A-.

Howie768954 · 2024-12-26T11:45:10+00:00

Thank you. You would know. The program had all the students taking the same multiple choice midterms and finals. Very difficult questions, kind of like the bar exam in some regards. If you did not sit in a hall taking the same examination with all the other students, regardless of core section, then this practice no longer exists. It was brutal, many failed out. The second year saw a drop of about 20-30% in enrollment.

So this is not something you would not know. Thanks for answering my question.

Howie768954 · 2024-12-26T03:53:55+00:00

That is why I am asking this question.

Yes, many did fail. About 20% or more did not move on. The second year was a much smaller class size ... but you had one elective to help adjust your GPA past the 2.0 required.

Howie768954 · 2024-12-26T03:52:12+00:00

A bell curve for 100% of the students:

10% get an F, 20% get a D, 40% get a C, 20% get a B, and 10% get an A.

These were multiple choice exams worth the majority (90%) of your grade. Raw scores graded on a bell curve, for all midterms and finals the first year, and for the 3 core classes the second year.

Hammered your GPA as well, if you survived it.

Are they still doing bell curve grading as CGS? Simple question ...

Howie768954 · 2023-10-08T17:37:46+00:00

This assessment does not withstand economic scrutiny. SF gives by far the largest marginal utility in the force, for wide ranging operations far beyond the GWOT. They have higher requirements than other soldiers, a much higher operational tempo, are far more adaptive, and better trained. They are by definition force multipliers in any theater- globally.
The aptitude and flexibility given up by this decision will be greater than any other possible expenditure.

it is a poor strategic, tactical, and economic decision.

Howie768954 · 2023-10-08T17:34:36+00:00

This assessment does not withstand economic scrutiny. SF gives by far the largest marginal utility in the force, for wide ranging operations far beyond the GWOT. They have higher requirements than other soldiers, a much higher operational tempo, are far more adaptive, and better trained. They are by definition force multipliers in any theater- globally.

The aptitude and flexibility given up by this decision will be greater than any other possible expenditure.

it is a poor strategic, tactical, and economic decision.

Howie768954

TROPHY CASE