Want a higher GPA? Go to a private university.

[agzg]

This is just a statistical weakness - basically, you would need students that got the exact same range of scores on the SAT, from the exact same socioeconomic background, half at a private school, half at a public school, taking the exact same courses, taught exactly the same way, and only graded differently.

Studies are nice and can offer some insight, but there are too many variables and not enough constants for anything like this to be a definitive answer as to whether or not private schools inflate grades more than public schools.

I would also like to see data on how many students "work their way" through college at both private and public universities, contrasted with with number of students that did it back in the fifties. Logically, it would seem that if a student did not have a job during school, their grades would be higher, because they had one less commitment pulling them away from others.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by agzg

I would also like to see data on how many students "work their way" through college at both private and public universities, contrasted with with number of students that did it back in the fifties. Logically, it would seem that if a student did not have a job during school, their grades would be higher, because they had one less commitment pulling them away from others.

On the other hand, I think it could just as logically seem that students who have to work their way through school could be more motivated because they feel more personally invested -- it's their own hard-earned money on the line, not mom and dad's. Kind of a corrollary to your thought that kids at private schools may feel pressured to get a good GPA to go with the expensive education.

[SydneyK]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Did you read the article? That's exactly what they said.

uh...
Now I've read the article. Sorry 'bout that. Carry on.

Originally Posted by MysticCat

On the other hand, I think it could just as logically seem that students who have to work their way through school could be more motivated because they feel more personally invested -- it's their own hard-earned money on the line, not mom and dad's. Kind of a corrollary to your thought that kids at private schools may feel pressured to get a good GPA to go with the expensive education.

Good point. Also, students who work their way through college generally cannot do both without having good time management skills. And I'd say, generally speaking, good time-managers have a higher GPA than poor time-managers.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by SydneyK

uh...
Now I've read the article. Sorry 'bout that. Carry on.


Good point. Also, students who work their way through college generally cannot do both without having good time management skills. And I'd say, generally speaking, good time-managers have a higher GPA than poor time-managers.

That's alright...plus science and math have concrete answers whereas for a lot of humanities courses, the grading is more subjective which can allow for more grade padding.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

...plus science and math have concrete answers whereas for a lot of humanities courses, the grading is more subjective which can allow for more grade padding.

Common misconception.

I don't care what this thread is about, but want to say that private universities rock.

[bluejay]

I would agree that GPAs at most private schools would be higher on average for a variety of reasons... However, my Hopkins classmates would be chuckling all the way to the library after they read this article.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I don't care what this thread is about, but want to say that private universities rock.

What what! I love my private university edjumacations.

The most selective private universities tend to have students who are at the top of their game. If you have a class of perfectionist overachievers, unless you grade on a curve, there is going to be a higher percentage of kids who are going to get As and Bs because that's the quality of work they're putting out. Also, most of the kids going to selective private universities worked their asses off to get there. Taking four college classes, none of which meet every day, is a walk in the park compared to taking 7-8 AP/IB/advanced/college level courses/whatever on top of sports and extracurriculars, most of which meet every day too. That's what happened to me. I was like, I don't have to be at the high school from 7 AM to 6 PM, with homework afterwards and on the weekends? Score! It was very easy, then, to focus on those four classes and do well in them, and still take advantage of the smorgasbord of awesome my college provided.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

On the other hand, I think it could just as logically seem that students who have to work their way through school could be more motivated because they feel more personally invested -- it's their own hard-earned money on the line, not mom and dad's. Kind of a corrollary to your thought that kids at private schools may feel pressured to get a good GPA to go with the expensive education.

Good point. Maybe that was just my bitter coming out about having to work full-time during grad school and thinking I could do so much better if I had more time... hehe.

[1stSoon2BePhD]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

students who have to work their way through school could be more motivated because they feel more personally invested -- it's their own hard-earned money on the line, not mom and dad's.

I know that this is true from personal experience.

Also, I am feeling the lack of inflation in science grades right about now and I don't like it ooooonnnneee bit! (I'm in grad school for my PhD in biochem)

I went to a public college and the young woman from my college who received the highest honor bestowed upon a student in the State University of New York system was a journalism major. I remember how much my fellow science major friends and I hated on her perfect gpa because we felt our gpa's could have been inflated had we chosen a different major... I'm shocked to know that we were RIGHT! (and not just hating on her)

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by 1stSoon2BePhD

Also, I am feeling the lack of inflation in science grades right about now and I don't like it ooooonnnneee bit!

Or, there's another explanation for why you're receiving the grades you're receiving.

Also, across disciplines there's more grading leniency in graduate programs when departments get beyond the "gatekeeper" stage and focus on mentoring relationships, student retention and time to degree. The doctoral professor who was a hardass in your 1st and 2nd years won't necessarily be so once you've gotten to the "soon 2 be" years.

[1stSoon2BePhD]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Also, across disciplines there's more grading leniency in graduate programs when departments get beyond the "gatekeeper" stage and focus on mentoring relationships, student retention and time to degree. The doctoral professor who was a hardass in your 1st and 2nd years won't necessarily be so once you've gotten to the "soon 2 be" years.

The hardest part is that some are trying to weed out weak links while others are more nurturing. So my first semester, I had two nurturing professors who "only want to see students doing well" and now I have a hardass.

And not surprisingly, I am learning MUCH more from the hardass because I have to study harder!