<p>does RPI have grade inflation like other private universities do?</p>
<p>no they don't...the grading is ridiculous :/</p>
<p>please elaborate</p>
<p>in chem, each multiple choice is worth 5 points...in physics I here, in a multi part question, if the answer is wrong in part a, and you need that answer for part b and c, everything is wrong. it doesn't matter that you had the right equation, you get no credit for part b and c and only partial for part a.</p>
<p>in french, you need a 96+ to get an A (90-95.9 is an A-), in intro to management you need a 96+ to get an A and getting over a 96 on any project or paper in that class, is pretty near impossible :/</p>
<p>I hope that explains it better</p>
<p>That's not necessarily true in all classes. It must depend on the particular class or professor. For my daughter's Chem, Calc and Physics classes- they have all given partial credit for for answers- provided those answers are explained well enough and the work is shown.</p>
<p>I do agree with how ridiculously hard the grading is though. It is to the point that the curves are such in some classes that she can hardly tell what her grade is until late in the semester by just the numbers. For instance, yesterday she got a physics test back and the class average was a 60 (essentially failing). Her class had the highest average for that professor. She was sharing some grades with me in the first semester where a 40 or 50 something could turn out to be a "B". I now just ask her "Is that good?" when she gives me a grade and it isn't obvious because if its low you never know- it could be the best in the class.</p>
<p>Also seems that a huge percentage of the class ends up turning their tests back in for "regrading" or "grade challenges". I think thats because so many different people end up doing the grading that it seems to vary alot.</p>
<p>My son has had the same experience at RPI with grading as kgrmom's daughter. He had a chemistry class last term where the class average on every exam was around 30%. My son would basically judge his own performance as it measured against the rest of the class because a curve was going to be applied. As long as he scored above the class average he was on solid ground. I remember he got a 44% on one exam and that was equivalent to a B+. Mind you, some professors will make it clear when no curve is to be used but my son has seen curves used in many of his toughest classes so far and he is now a junior. He has also done some grade challenges in different courses if he felt he had had too many points knocked off for a particular exam answer. (Exams are often graded by the TA's).</p>
<p>for the intro courses, the grades are not set against the average score of the classes, the chem I teacher specifically said that...also in physics the department is notorious for trying to make the average around a 60 everytime, so that the average final grade for people in the class is 60.</p>
<p>corrections are extremely rare at rpi, the one in chem was an exception (i know cause i'm in that class)</p>
<p>This is probably a very naive question, but why are tests given where the average of the class will be a 40-60? Is it because the material isn't taught well enough, or it's random applications you've never seen before?</p>
<p>Wouldn't they want students to do well? I don't really understand</p>
<p>JoshuaGuit, that was a question I asked also when I first started to hear about these very low class averages on exams. In my mind, there might be an issue with how well the professor was teaching the material if many RPI students, who we know are very bright, consistently score low on exams. In discussing these situations over time with my son, my sense of it is that the exams are often structured to include questions that are "outside the box" in that they present problems/situations that were not specifically taught in class or in the text but ask the student to solve them by applying concepts they have learned in that class or previous ones. It seems to me that the field of engineering calls on this sort of thinking to solve problems not seen before when they are out in the field. An engineer has to draw on their training and logic to formulate a solution (and often work with others to come up with a solution). Just my thoughts here. (My son waived out of Chem I and Chem II with AP credit so I don't know how the grading practices were for that series. He did take Physics I & Physics II and did pretty well on each exam so I don't know if curves were used there. I think he's run into the curves in higher level classes. )</p>
<p>There is the opposite of a grade inflation problem here.</p>
<p>As a technical school, RPI is notorious for harsh (some may call it realistic) grading. Many professors prescribe to and actively try and maintain a statistical balance, and actually tell you this in the beginning of the semester.</p>
<p>In one of the classes I have taken so far average grades on tests have been failing. In a particular junior-level course I've heard horror stories of average grades being below 50.</p>
<p>Take it as you will. It really is true that if you work hard, you'll get an A...or at least a B. Every professor finds some way to deal with everyone failing tests, through additional homework assignments or dramatic curves, if it is the case. Your grade will materialize out of nothingness into something you may not expect.</p>
<p>freshman, comp systems engineering</p>
<p>^ agreed :cool:</p>
<p>One potential reason to make courses harder is so that only the students who understand the material extremely thoroughly reach the ceiling. That way, it's easier to figure out exactly which set of students are at the head of the class, etc.</p>
1 Like
<p>In some classes my daughter is successful with corrections, in others- no. It depends. I have some thoughts on why the grading is the way it is as well. I guess we all have to speculate in order to deal with it somehow. One rumor, at least for freshman year, is it is a way for some professors to see who is really dedicated to the class. But- if that kind of grading continues then... I don't know. My D is in Cell Bio this semester and her prof came right out and told the class to not expect more than 30's on their first couple of tests- the reason- because the material doesn't really "come together" (understanding) until later in the semester therefore he doesn't expect to see better grades until then. </p>
<p>It is pretty tough on the psyche until choke it down a time or two. I'm happy for those of you that can still pull out the 90's or better in these classes but I don't think very many of the students can. It's not because they aren't intellegent or don't study either. Do most colleges grade like this?</p>
<p>I agree with cesium55 in that the grading curves seek to show which students not only understand the material but have mastered it to the point that they are able to solve even the toughest problems presented to them. My sense is that RPI sees its primary job as teaching these students to BE engineers (scientists etc) out in the Real World. A tough grading system will shake the students up at first but they will gradually learn how to stretch their minds and creatively problem solve rather than rely on rote memorization to get high grades. It should be pointed out that a student "only" needs a 3.0 average to make the Dean's List at RPI. Many other colleges require a 3.5 or so. To me, this speaks of RPI's acknowledgement that it is difficult to attain a high GPA there. </p>
<p>When my son was working through that organic chemistry class last term (exam averages around 30%), I don't think he could have worked any harder in a course. The one semester course was so work and time intensive that RPI has decided to spread the material over a two semester sequence in the future. And my son had three other tough courses to deal with at the same time. With the application of a statistical curve at the end of the course, he ended up doing OK in the class. He does feel like he learned a lot in it (my main concern really). But he also learned a lot about perserverence and time management in getting through that term. (kgrmom, my son also is currently taking that Cell Bio class as an elective this term and can relate to your daughter's experience in it- he says is learning a lot and the professor is excellent!) </p>
<p>As parents its a bit hard for us to hear these grading "horror stories" at first given our sons and daughters were all strong students in high school. I take my lead from how my son reacts to all of this- totally different world where he expects to be challenged, work very hard and must measure himself against the performance of other very smart students.</p>
<p>Hi Jdasmom:)</p>
<p>What are the odds of that- having kids in the same class? My D loves that class and she too says the professor is is excellent. Your son would know immediately who she is as she is only one in a Navy uniform on Thursdays ;) - if they are in a group together on Thursdays. </p>
<p>If she had a nickel for every horror story she has heard about Organic Chem...oh my. She is a freshman and is still deciding between ChemE and BioMed. Both of which everyone in ROTC has told her will be difficult to maintain while she is in the unit. We will see.</p>
<p>Hi kgrmom,</p>
<p>I sent you a PM about Cell Bio etc.</p>
<p>Low test averages don't necessarily mean that the students don't work hard/aren't smart enough or anything like that. At some colleges, tests are made to be very hard to let students see tough problems and attempt to solve them. This means that they aren't expected to solve all of them, so it is expected that even the best student may not score very high out of 100.</p>
<p>I don't know the specific situations at RPI, but I know someone at Cornell, and in many of their classes, no one scores above an 80-90, and the average may be 30-50. This by no means says that they aren't smart. (just an example at another 'prestigious' school where I know this occurs.)</p>
<p>The grading scale at colleges is different than in high school, where a 60 is always considered failing and a 90 is good. That is why colleges curve, so the number grade can be associated with a letter grade. So a 60 doesn't necessarily mean a failing grade, but a D most certainly does.</p>
<p>thanks everyone! i was able to learn how rpi is in terms of academics and grading. :)</p>
<p>THis is actually really scarey to hear lol. im a high school senior and will most likely be attending RPI this fall. I plan on attempting to transfer to cornell for the '10 fall year and i need to get a good gpa from RPI. do other schools understand that RPI has a tough grading policy or is it just as tough as other schools? i really want to go to cornell (RPi was my second choice) so will having a relatively low GPA effect my transfer chances?</p>
<p>yankeeplayer24- of course your GPA will affect your transfer chances. My friends at Cornell commented on the hard grading, which seems to be the same here at RPI. However, if you can do well at RPI, then it will be the same at Cornell. Don’t slack off and do your best.</p>