GPA Trouble: A Class out of "200" points

[Paulz]

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I just completed my first semester of college and one of my scores is confusing me. Try to follow me here:

- For the class you could accumulate 200 points, through tests, assingments, homework, participation, ect.
- I got 178.5
- However, the professor voided 5 of the points, so the class total is out of 195 instead
- Logically, I divide 178.5/195 = .9153
- The professor is telling me that I have a B/3.0

I am not sure if the professor used a different scale or what, but I have been e-mailing them trying to find out what is going on here.

Can anyone here help me out, shed some light? Comments, suggestions, and feedback please.

I got a 4.0 in two of my other main classes, and I'll probably have at THE VERY least 3.5 in my other three. I sat through all this classes boring lectures when half the rest of the students failed to show up, I don't know why I am being told I have a 3.0.

 

[RuseMD]

Logically what you're saying is correct but in grading there is a subjective portion which looks at the ability of the student to master the material. it could be that he scaled the students to a certain average? I mean, appeal the grade if you don't feel you deserve it.

 

[Textuality]

Meh, he might curve down if the whole class did "too" well. I've had that happen to me in a class before where I had 94% of the points, but still ended up with a B because the averages were so high.

 

[kool aid kid]

What do you mean he voided 5 of the points? I'm assuming this is where your problem stems from because you simply took off 5 points from the possible amount earned. Maybe the 5 points that he voided were 5 of the points you earned? In which case you would have 173.5/195, which would be a B depending on your scale. Just make sure you are polite when inquiring about any grades.

 

[Paulz]

No, the professor didn't even add anything for the 5 points. We didn't have any material for it. We only had 195 points worth of material.

It's really pissing me off, I had f'ing 4.0 in every other class and this dumb ass 3.0 brings my GPA down to a 3.78.

 

[novastorm]

The infamous curve down, it sucks and its a fact of life. I've had worse curve downs in my day in the order of tens of a percent. A better example is a class I got a 96 in yet only received an A-...thats fun as well. And a 3.78 means that you will never get into medical school.

 

[Jpc984]

Maybe the A was set at 94 instead of 90. I have seen this before.

 

[Runner585]

High school grading scales do not necessarily apply in college.

 

[RuseMD]

You know, I understand your anger but you also must understand that this is a drop int he bucket and a 3.78 with good ECs makes you seem well-rounded. Just my perspective though.

 

[novastorm]

Yeah you start to worry when your BCMP is around a 3.0 and you have 80 credits of science under your belt. Thats a reason to post angry things on the board 🙂 This would be a very worrisome situation to be in.

 

[ThisIsYourLife]

that happened to me once.. i emailed the prof and then met with her.. she said it was her mistake and i got the grade. 🙂 never hurts.

 

[Bre]

Yeah email your teacher, he could have made a mistake. Did he say in the syllabus what the grading scale was? Some teachers base it completely off the class average and standard deviation so a 91% could be anything.

 

[speeter]

Maybe the A was set at 94 instead of 90. I have seen this before.

Is having "seen this before" sarcasm? Every college class I've ever had has been graded with a 94.5 being the lowest A.

 

[Jolie South]

Is having "seen this before" sarcasm? Every college class I've ever had has been graded with a 94.5 being the lowest A.

this isn't the case everywhere. my school was straight A, B, C, D with the cutoffs being 90,80,70,60. there was never a curve down, only a curve up (if it was necessary).

 

[Paulz]

I found out why I got a 3.0. Apparantley, the professor didn't go by % and made up a random number scale and picked more random numbers to determine the GPA(195-200 = 4.0, 190-194 = 3.7) or some scale like that. It is what is is.

This is a horrible way to evaluate anybody's sucess or understanding of the class. Seeing how I got 25/25 on three exams, a 43/50 on a term paper, and successfully completed all homework and assignments on top. If they would have gone by % I would have had a 91% at least a 3.3 probably even a 3.7. I have never heard of a random number system like this before.😡

 

[dontwakeme]

I've never had a class that "curves down." The professor is obviously making the tests too easy if that is indeed what is happening. Now that I think of it, I've never had a math or science that has never had a substantial curve "up" e.g. 64% = A-.

 

[Bacchus]

I found out why I got a 3.0. Apparantley, the professor didn't go by % and made up a random number scale and picked more random numbers to determine the GPA(195-200 = 4.0, 190-194 = 3.7) or some scale like that. It is what is is.

This is a horrible way to evaluate anybody's sucess or understanding of the class. Seeing how I got 25/25 on three exams, a 43/50 on a term paper, and successfully completed all homework and assignments on top. If they would have gone by % I would have had a 91% at least a 3.3 probably even a 3.7. I have never heard of a random number system like this before.😡

You need to chill the *bleep* out. I got a bad grade this semester that dropped my overall semester GPA by .4 or so and I'm not flipping out as much as you. If you're that pissed, there is a grievance policy at every university. Use it. What do you honestly want us to do for you? Other people have had this professor and more than likely think the professor is fair. Grading is up to the professor, not the department head, dean, or provost of the university. If it is that unjust, file the grievance. Getting a B for a final grade may serve as a humbling experience, but it isn't the end of the world.

 

[0Complications]

Maybe the A was set at 94 instead of 90. I have seen this before.

Yeah, my organic lab required 93 or 94% to be counted as an "A" (my school doesn't do a plus minus).

So, you should check the syllabus for the grading scale. It is also possible that you were given a "B" by mistake. I had a 98% coded as an 89%, because the professor goofed. After checking with her she fixed it right away.

 

[Jolie South]

I've never had a class that "curves down." The professor is obviously making the tests too easy if that is indeed what is happening. Now that I think of it, I've never had a math or science that has never had a substantial curve "up" e.g. 64% = A-.

In second semester organic chemistry, 50% = A.

 

[Davjc2009]

Hell, I've had a class where 98% is an A. a 91% was a B-. Talk about pressure.

 

[MattD]

My gen chem 2 professor didn't even have a preset scale. At the end of the semester he just listed the class scores in order and looked for natural breaks, putting a grade drop at each significant jump in scores. Made the class entirely competitive.

My neuroscience class in MS (our grades are listed in quartiles, P1, P2, P3, P4, F) had an insane distribution too. He used an insane scale algorithm which instead of just shifting the curve massively compressed it. To be in the first quartile, you had to have above a 98% in the course! My 90% was P4. It was crazy, and people with some of the lowest test scores got bumped up above people with good scores because of a bogus inflation of attendance extra credit. It was really weird. I'm not bitter though 🙂

 

[BlackSails]

Is having "seen this before" sarcasm? Every college class I've ever had has been graded with a 94.5 being the lowest A.

In most of my classes, an A starts beween 65% and 85%

 

[pakbabydoll]

Maybe he changed the grading scale. Last semester my math class our prof set the grading scale so that if you have anything below 95 you get a B. it went something like
95-100 A
85-94 B
75-84 C

see what I mean? Just email him.

 

[Bacchus]

This is obviously the professor's fault.

 

[Isoprop]

i understand your anger. but please calm down. you are still doing well. B's are not worth the stress. 😎

 

[Compass]

If I went nuts every time I received a B, even unfairly (yes, it has happened to me...) I would be a mummy right now. There's very little, if anything, you can do about it. Withering with hatred will be bad for you and increase your stress level. Stressing about something you can't change is pointless. Other people in your class are probably in the same situation. Disappointment IS a major part of the medical profession. Perfection is something we all dream to attain, but lack thereof requires the appropriate response, as well. Besides, it's a single B. You're not going to be rejected from med school for a single B.