Haas Curve 2011

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
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<p>The following is effective Fall 2011:
*
Distribution Requirements for Core Courses
Core courses in the undergraduate program must adhere to the following distribution as closely as possible given the number of students enrolled in the class: 10% A+/A; 15% A-; 20% B+; 25% B; 15% B-; 10% C+; 5% C or below. This curve implements a mean GPA of approximately 3.12.</p>

<p>Any incoming Haasonians feel cheated? I originally chose Haas so I can upkeep a high GPA. Damn I should've just majored in stats or comp sci.</p>

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<p>Nah I’m fine with that. I’m pretty confident I can be in the top 10%. I already finished reading all three required textbooks for my fall courses.</p>

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<p>EECS (and math,stats, physics?) have an average GPA of 2.7 so I think 3.12 is still very generous.</p>

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</p>

<p>That may be the [stated</a> policy from the 1970s and 1980s](<a href=“http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Policies/ugrad.grading.shtml]stated”>http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Policies/ugrad.grading.shtml), but it does not reflect [actual</a> 1999 grades](<a href=“http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~hilfingr/report/index.html]actual”>Grade Distributions for EECS and LSCS Students). And there has been general [grade</a> inflation](<a href=“http://www.gradeinflation.com%5Dgrade”>http://www.gradeinflation.com) since 1999.</p>

5

<p>Look at the average gpa upon graduation by department stats . . . </p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/uc-transfers/900945-average-gpa-graduating-students-major.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/uc-transfers/900945-average-gpa-graduating-students-major.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Math: 2.70 - 2.80</p>

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<p>[University</a> of California: StatFinder](<a href=“http://statfinder.ucop.edu%5DUniversity”>http://statfinder.ucop.edu) can help.</p>

<p>For Berkeley, average GPAs at graduation for freshmen entering 2003 were:</p>

<p>3.03 for Unknown (?)
3.18 for Natural Resources And Conservation
3.28 for Computer And Information Sciences, Engineering
3.29 for Mathematics, Statistics, Physical Sciences
3.31 for Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies, Psychology, Social Sciences
3.36 for Foreign Languages, Lit, And Linguistics
3.37 for Biological And Biomedical Sciences
3.41 for History, Communication, Journalism, Related Pgms
3.42 for Business, Management, Marketing, Architecture And Related Services
3.44 for Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
3.44 for Philosophy And Religious Studies, Visual And Performing Arts
3.48 for English Language And Literature/Letters</p>

<p>3.36 for all</p>

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<p>On the bright side, this is just for the Core classes. I believe the “curve” is a bit higher for the non-core classes. It still sucks though. I thought they implemented this a few years back?</p>

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<p>@ucbalumnus: My instructor for EE40 just gave us the link to the EECS department you’re citing so I’m pretty sure it’s somewhat accurate still. He adjusted our curve to follow those guidelines.</p>

<p>Can’t really say much about the research Hilfinger did. But I’m pretty sure EECS still has a nasty curve. Two of my own instructors have admitted that it sucked.</p>

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<p>@HelloAll: It was “implemented” as in recommended for instructors to follow the curve but not every instructor did. But now it is reinforced and made law.</p>

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<p>Looks like a standard curve to me…</p>

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<p>curves don’t matter when you’re in first place. </p>

<p>or in last.</p>

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<p>Re: EE 40</p>

<p>An EE 40 class in fall 2003 had a pretty high grade distribution:</p>

<p>[UC</a> Berkeley EECS40 Home Page](<a href=“http://inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~ee40/fa03/]UC”>UC Berkeley EECS40 Home Page)</p>

<p>

</p>

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<p>i finished my textbooks, did all the practice midterms/finals from past semesters, and took all my professors out to lunch. you guys have no chance</p>

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<p>Oh it’s on.</p>

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<p>Is this valid across the board? Including upper-divs and the 19X series?</p>

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<p>^ no, only applies to the core curriculum</p>

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<p>Since we’ve had 2 semesters to see the new curve/mean GPA in action, I’d be interesting in hearing Haas Juniors and Seniors and how it has manifested itself in the classroom environment. </p>

<p>Did all professors follow the average? </p>

<p>Did it seem unfair? </p>

<p>Did it promote competitiveness, backstabbing, and difficulty in becoming friends with classmates? </p>

<p>Did it hurt your GPA?</p>

<p>Anything else?</p>

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<p>is the grading curve at berkeley same for all departments and classes or are they different for each class?</p>

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<p>They abolished the curve. Too many students/professor protested.</p>

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<p>but they kept the imposed mean gpa.</p>

<p>which just makes things random now b/c a prof can hit the mean however they want</p>

<p>50% A’s, 25% B+'s, 25% C+'s </p>

<p>10% A’s, 90% B+'s </p>

<p>etc.</p>

<p>which is just okay, but was the main problem the imposed curve was trying to solve in the first place</p>