Regarding 'Proposal to curb grade inflation' (April 8):
Since starting as an analyst at a bulge-bracket investment bank, I've become involved in the undergraduate recruiting process for summer interns and full-time hires. Having sat in on various recruiting sessions, I can tell you that (1) one of the first items looked at on a candidate's resume is his or her GPA and (2) rarely is any consideration given as to the grading policies, lenient or rigorous, at that given candidate's school.
In its proposed policy reform, the University does not seem to have weighed the possibility that its students will suddenly find themselves at a handicap to undergraduates from other schools in the competition for summer internship and postgraduate opportunities.
Regardless of the excellence of the Princeton education, recruiting and admissions are often conducted, out of necessity, at a superficial level. It is the University's obligation to its students to acknowledge such realities of the real world in shaping its grading policy.
I'm sorry, but I'd wager that the average Princeton student is rightfully and rationally more concerned with being best positioned to fulfill his longterm career ambitions than knowing whether his politics papers is marginally better than that of the kid sitting next to him in precept. Alex Rosenfeld '03
University's going about its plans all wrong
Regarding 'Proposal to curb grade inflation' (April 8):
The proposed grading initiative, if adopted, would discourage students from exploring new fields. It would motivate students to stay within narrow academic comfort zones, exacerbating misunderstanding between different fieldsand contributing to a potentially explosive cultural divide.
If the administration has its heart set on implementing the majors and grading initiatives, I propose a simple twist: Compose the class of 2009 (and all years after that) of a fixed percentage, say 50 percent, of high school students with extremely low, sub-3.0 GPAs. Admit these students on the binding condition that they will major in specific academic departments, evenly distributed among the majors.
The administration will be happy that it has improved academic life. The departments will be happy with statistically normalized grade distributions. Most importantly, the current undergraduates will be happy: We can continue to take challenging courses without our college transcripts consisting of 'C's. Ursula Pavlish '05
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The CPUC must not gut its Judicial Committee
Bill HewittEnding the Judicial Committee’s jurisdiction over initial complaints would embolden abuses of power, allowing the administration to evade accountability for University rule violations without the pressure of student and faculty authority.
Ending the Judicial Committee’s jurisdiction over initial complaints would embolden abuses of power, allowing the administration to evade accountability for University rule violations without the pressure of student and faculty authority.
Princeton, let’s adopt a digital prox
Jorge ReyesTo prevent pointless replacement and lockout charges, maximize convenience, and create better access to meals and facilities, Princeton should follow the precedent set by some of its peers and adopt a digital prox system.
To prevent pointless replacement and lockout charges, maximize convenience, and create better access to meals and facilities, Princeton should follow the precedent set by some of its peers and adopt a digital prox system.
What is a Princeton degree really for?
Joel IbabaoSo what, in the end, is a Princeton degree really for? I take a more moderate view: Students should prioritize earning potential — unless they feel irresistibly called to something else.
So what, in the end, is a Princeton degree really for? I take a more moderate view: Students should prioritize earning potential — unless they feel irresistibly called to something else.