GRADES IN HIGH SCHOOL

GRADES IN COLLEGE

* Grades are given for most assigned work.

* Grades may not be provided for all assigned work.

* Consistently good homework grades may raise your overall grade when test grades are low.

* Grades on tests and major papers usually provide most of the course grade.

* Extra credit projects are often available to help you raise your grade.

* Extra credit projects cannot, generally speaking, be used to raise a grade in a college course.

* Initial test grades, especially when they are low, may not have an adverse effect on your final grade.

* Watch out for your first tests. These are usually "wake-up calls" to let you know what is expected--but they also may account for a substantial part of your course grade. You may be shocked when you get your grades.

* You may graduate as long as you have passed all required courses with a grade of D or higher.

* You may graduate only if your average in classes meets the departmental standard--typically a 2.0 or C.

* Guiding principle: "Effort counts." Courses are usually structured to reward a "good-faith effort."

* Guiding principle: "Results count." Though "good-faith effort" is important in regard to the professor's willingness to help you achieve good results, it will not substitute for results in the grading process.