Many of the prof’s openly state that getting an A in their course is rare. Maybe I need to work the grapevine more for some intel to stay clear of these prof’s…
Good morning - S is a CSOM sophomore - CSOM initiated a grade deflation effort in their core classes only beginning with this semester - that means classes like intro Finance, Marketing, Financial Accounting, etc. (the mandatory intro classes for CSOM) are reducing the # of As.
Meanwhile, CSOM was proactive & approached all top recruiting firms to explain what they are doing… and the firms all understand the change. The Dean of CSOM discussed these changes during Parents Weekend at the end of September.
My take is that my S and his roommates put in the work for As - they are highly motivated young adults - and they really enjoy their professors and the course work.
It is definately difficult to get a 4.0 at BC. I’m a sophomore chemistry major and my advisor told me it is more difficult to get an A here than Harvard (no this isn’t a cold fact but he has taught at Harvard and reflected on his past experience). There are very few classes here that are a “breeze” but it’s not a bad thing. You learn to work hard and by working hard you learn more than you would by sliding by. People will respect a good GPA from Boston College because they know it’s a tough thing to achieve. If you put in the effort professors also know this and will reward hard work and effort. Overall BC is tough but rewarding and don’t let it discourage you. Everyone that’s here is extremely intelligent and deserves to be here.
The net effect maybe a reduction in the number of A’s, but it is my understanding that is not really the goal, which is fairness among profs teaching the same course. What CSOM found was that professors all had different curves, so depending on who you took for say, Accounting 1, could mean a B curve or an A- curve for the same material. Thus, it was the luck of the draw whether you had a generous or less generous grader. That just seems unfair and inappropriate.
For comparison, in A&S, Gen Chem and Bio 1, all have the same course curve, B-, so there is equity regardless of which Professor you may get.
So yeah, the net effect maybe that the’easy’ A’s in CSOM might be going away, but doesn’t it make sense?
That is true on a relative basis, as Harvard generally grades on a B+ curve, with nearly 50% A’s in Gen Chem, in contrast to ~25% at BC, but I would question whether it is true without the qualifier.
Definitely start doing your research. There are plenty of profs that grade on a A- curve, particularly in upper division classes. You just gotta find 'em.
It is harder to get an A almost anywhere than it is at Harvard. I know this personally from the 1990s and through my relatives who graduated recently or are there now. Although, strangely, it is exceedingly rare to get a 4.0 at Harvard.
While someone noted the apparent deflation, its important to keep in mind that CSOM has higher GPAs than the other school because of inflation–thats why their deans list is set at a higher grade floor.
@transferapp1997 really? My daughter is in CSOM (senior, double concentration in Finance and Accounting) and she feels the GPA’s are higher and easier to get a higher GPA in MCAS (unless you pick one of the harder majors discussed earlier on this thread). She’s doing fine but feels the Econ majors, at least, in MCAS have higher GPA’s and not the same amount of rigor. But then again, my daughter chose a rigorous curriculum.
CSOM has high GPA’s than the other schools? Sorry, not sure where that info is coming from but that’s not what we all say or see here on campus.