College of Wooster Parent's view after freshman year

[ucbalumnus]

@Andygp

Grades are largely absolute threshold with very little curving. 93+ A, 90-93 A-, 85-90 B+ etc. I feel absolute threshold is a wrong way to go. It takes away from professors power of keeping difficult exams, home-works etc. On the flip side students have to keep studying for exam rather than learning more outside curriculum out of interest. One mess up makes it difficult to cover up later. Relative grading and tougher exams is a much fairer way in my opinion. Not sure if this is standard way for undergraduate classes everywhere.

Relative (competitive or curved) grading is mainly usable in large classes, since small classes could end up with strong or weak students who would be graded unfairly with competitive grading.

However, absolute grading can be done with thresholds that are different from typical US high school thresholds of 90% = A, 80% = B, etc. to allow for more difficult tests and the like.

@Andygp

They should run their placement tests better with clean syllabus disclosure and some sample tests posted online. Current way is causing a lot of under placing of well prepared students.

Colleges probably prefer a bias toward underplacement because (a) fewer students will flunk out, and (b) lower level courses are less expensive to offer than additional more advanced courses that students may be able to take if they started with higher placement.

@Andygp

Medical treatment seemed quite expensive even after insurance. @400$ for three stitches and removal which involved two visits after insurance.

That is a general aspect of the US, not specific to college or a specific college. Of course, people used to much lower cost medical care outside the US may be in for a shock.