Northwestern 1L/2L/3L/Grads Taking Questions and Challenges Forum

[Icculus]

Wasn't that curved?

It had to be based on #s, but Prof swore he wouldn't do it, final was a group exam, told our group we did A+ work.

edit: did NOT get an A+ (or an A of any variety for that matter)

You really can't bitch about not getting an A or A- in the a curved class.

It's the prof's fault for having such a stupid final in a curved class, but the prof can't uncurve a curved class. Rule are rules.

Right, which is why it is bs he said he was going to try and uncurve it. It sounded sketchy from the start.

[rinkrat19]

Summer grades don't post by OCI time, right?

[homestyle28]

Wasn't that curved?

It had to be based on #s, but Prof swore he wouldn't do it, final was a group exam, told our group we did A+ work.

edit: did NOT get an A+ (or an A of any variety for that matter)

You really can't bitch about not getting an A or A- in the a curved class.

It's the prof's fault for having such a stupid final in a curved class, but the prof can't uncurve a curved class. Rule are rules.

Right, which is why it is bs he said he was going to try and uncurve it. It sounded sketchy from the start.

He did say he'd quit if they made him curve it, so who's taking bets that he follows through?

[Samara]

Summer grades don't post by OCI time, right?

Correct.

[rinkrat19]

Summer grades don't post by OCI time, right?

Correct.

That blows.

[VulcanVulcanVulcan]

Is this Secreg prof tenured? Might make a difference how this was handled.

[Icculus]

Is this Secreg prof tenured? Might make a difference how this was handled.

No, he's an adjunct.

[D-hops]

Is this Secreg prof tenured? Might make a difference how this was handled.

How would it make a difference? You can't uncurve a class over the mandatory curve limit no matter the professor's status.

[Icculus]

Is this Secreg prof tenured? Might make a difference how this was handled.

How would it make a difference? You can't uncurve a class over the mandatory curve limit no matter the professor's status.

Right. But a tenured prof. probably wouldn't have set the class up in such a way as to basically screw people over.

[bananasplit19]

Sooo...who wants to break down what's going on with this curve/SecReg business to a clueless 0L like he's 5 years old?

[homestyle28]

Is this Secreg prof tenured? Might make a difference how this was handled.

How would it make a difference? You can't uncurve a class over the mandatory curve limit no matter the professor's status.

Right. But a tenured prof. probably wouldn't have set the class up in such a way as to basically screw people over.

The going theory was that he was a potential big donor to the school and the admin wouldn't want to risk making him unhappy...I would have bet that they were going to make the class pass/fail

[Icculus]

Sooo...who wants to break down what's going on with this curve/SecReg business to a clueless 0L like he's 5 years old?

Class had more than 40 people, requiring a forced curve.
Prof broke class into groups and gave a group final figuring he could then argue it was fewer than 40 and thus give everyone a good grade/gentleman's A-.
Admin said no dice, class is curved.

[homestyle28]

Sooo...who wants to break down what's going on with this curve/SecReg business to a clueless 0L like he's 5 years old?

Class had more than 40 people, requiring a forced curve.
Prof broke class into groups and gave a group final figuring he could then argue it was fewer than 40 and thus give everyone a good grade/gentleman's A-.
Admin said no dice, class is curved.

+ prof repeatedly said he wouldn't curve it, even up to the time the final was submitted.

[Icculus]

Sooo...who wants to break down what's going on with this curve/SecReg business to a clueless 0L like he's 5 years old?

Class had more than 40 people, requiring a forced curve.
Prof broke class into groups and gave a group final figuring he could then argue it was fewer than 40 and thus give everyone a good grade/gentleman's A-.
Admin said no dice, class is curved.

+ prof repeatedly said he wouldn't curve it, even up to the time the final was submitted.

That is the part that would infuriate me. Like, I am sure he knew he had to curve it. Like, did he expect some kind or miracle? A group final in a curved class is utter bull shit.

[09042014]

Summer grades don't post by OCI time, right?

Not by OCI, but maybe enough to boost your GPA for late massmailing and callbacks, and for government apps. I got them Sept. 15, 2011.

[Georgia Avenue]

Should add that last spring was his first time teaching the class, so only ~20 people signed up and he handed out A+s like candy, so this semester it was full enrollment, which I don't think he was expecting.

[Icculus]

Should add that last spring was his first time teaching the class, so only ~20 people signed up and he handed out A+s like candy, so this semester it was full enrollment, which I don't think he was expecting.

I know a bunch of people who took it for that exact reason and it resulted in Horwich's class being uncurved (though my guess is H would curve anyway). And then my friends stayed because the prof promised he wouldn't curve it.

[Georgia Avenue]

Should add that last spring was his first time teaching the class, so only ~20 people signed up and he handed out A+s like candy, so this semester it was full enrollment, which I don't think he was expecting.

I know a bunch of people who took it for that exact reason and it resulted in Horwich's class being uncurved (though my guess is H would curve anyway). And then my friends stayed because the prof promised he wouldn't curve it.

To be fair, Horwich is one of the only professors where I would prefer a curve in their class.

[Icculus]

Should add that last spring was his first time teaching the class, so only ~20 people signed up and he handed out A+s like candy, so this semester it was full enrollment, which I don't think he was expecting.

I know a bunch of people who took it for that exact reason and it resulted in Horwich's class being uncurved (though my guess is H would curve anyway). And then my friends stayed because the prof promised he wouldn't curve it.

To be fair, Horwich is one of the only professors that I would prefer a curve in their class.

Agreed. He is tough. HE basically emailed my class and told us we were all idiots after grades came out last semester.

[homestyle28]

Should add that last spring was his first time teaching the class, so only ~20 people signed up and he handed out A+s like candy, so this semester it was full enrollment, which I don't think he was expecting.

I know a bunch of people who took it for that exact reason and it resulted in Horwich's class being uncurved (though my guess is H would curve anyway). And then my friends stayed because the prof promised he wouldn't curve it.

what I really wonder is if everyone in each group got the same grade, in a class that small, he couldn't do 5 A+s right?

[Icculus]

Should add that last spring was his first time teaching the class, so only ~20 people signed up and he handed out A+s like candy, so this semester it was full enrollment, which I don't think he was expecting.

I know a bunch of people who took it for that exact reason and it resulted in Horwich's class being uncurved (though my guess is H would curve anyway). And then my friends stayed because the prof promised he wouldn't curve it.

what I really wonder is if everyone in each group got the same grade, in a class that small, he couldn't do 5 A+s right?

Nope, in a 60 person class you can only give out what, like 2-3?

[Icculus]

Should add that last spring was his first time teaching the class, so only ~20 people signed up and he handed out A+s like candy, so this semester it was full enrollment, which I don't think he was expecting.

I know a bunch of people who took it for that exact reason and it resulted in Horwich's class being uncurved (though my guess is H would curve anyway). And then my friends stayed because the prof promised he wouldn't curve it.

what I really wonder is if everyone in each group got the same grade, in a class that small, he couldn't do 5 A+s right?

I can't believe how angry I am for you and your class. Like, he really screwed the pooch here.

[bananasplit19]

That's a major bummer. Follow-up question: is there a readily visible list that students can see as to whether a class is curved/uncurved (and if it is, whether the variance is big? ie "lots of As and Cs" v. "everyone gets a B+, two super-gunners get As, two unlucky slackers get Cs"), or is it all word of mouth? Regardless, I'm guessing there are flocks of students that fill up these uncurved classes super-quickly?

On a related note, do y'all think one should gun for these uncurved classes regardless of subject, or take a more interesting or relevant class to that student's long-term job preferences?

[Georgia Avenue]

Should add that last spring was his first time teaching the class, so only ~20 people signed up and he handed out A+s like candy, so this semester it was full enrollment, which I don't think he was expecting.

I know a bunch of people who took it for that exact reason and it resulted in Horwich's class being uncurved (though my guess is H would curve anyway). And then my friends stayed because the prof promised he wouldn't curve it.

what I really wonder is if everyone in each group got the same grade, in a class that small, he couldn't do 5 A+s right?

Nope. I can confirm that grades differed within my individual group.

[bjsesq]

Lol. Got a D. D's get degrees, I guess. My shitty year ends in style.