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Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

VIEWPOINT: Rethink Participation Grades

VIEWPOINT: Rethink Participation Grades

By Aria Zhu October 18, 2024

I am a self-proclaimed yapper. Give me any topic, and I could probably ramble on about it for hours — at least in front of my friends and family. As for the professor and teaching assistant (TA) who...

TESTING TRUISMS: Is Productive Procrastination an Oxymoron?

TESTING TRUISMS: Is Productive Procrastination an Oxymoron?

By Vera Mastrorilli February 26, 2018

Location: Lauinger Library at 3 a.m. You squint at your computer screen and punch out a few more words on the keyboard. You lost your ability to write coherently a long time ago; now you’re just trying...

BOBROSKE: Redefining Failure At Home and Abroad

BOBROSKE: Redefining Failure At Home and Abroad

By Alexander Bobroske November 13, 2015

I waltzed into the academic office, sifted through the stack of China-Africa relations papers and confidentially picked up my own before checking my grade. 52 percent. Once upon a time I was high school...

Pick Out The Good In All The Bad

Pick Out The Good In All The Bad

By Cyrena Touros August 7, 2015

“Florida State University College of Arts and Sciences has conferred upon Kiara Leanne Touros the degree of Bachelor of Science Biological Sciences with all rights, honors and privileges blah,...

Mastering the Freshman Year Humblebrag

Mastering the Freshman Year Humblebrag

By D.J. Angelini and D.J. Angelini August 5, 2015

Congratulations to all first years on getting this far in your journey to the Hilltop! Trust me, I know it hasn't been an easy road. Tackling the various questions of your incoming summer is always painful....

Beyond the Type A Personality

By Cyrena Touros January 26, 2015

I think I've had such a hard time adjusting to Georgetown because I used to be “that” girl: wrapped up in doing everything, trying to be the best, getting perfect grades, running around chasing after...

JANET ZHU

A Point for Grading Clarity

By The Editorial Board March 21, 2014

Nothing is more frustrating to a motivated student than teetering on the cusp of a higher grade. As some students claim, it’s almost more painful to earn a 89.5 percent than to earn a 85 percent. Especially...

An Appropriate Audit

By The Editorial Board February 14, 2014

On the first day of class it is common for teachers to tell students that participation will account for a large portion of their grade. Because this assessment is often based on a teacher’s subjective...

A Learning Curve for TAs

By Ashley Miller November 2, 2013

For many upperclassmen, serving as a teaching assistant provides a fresh perspective on the classroom. Unlike graduate students, who are often required to be a TA as part of their research or fellowship,...

Average Cum Laude

By The Editorial Board November 15, 2012

While grades should not overshadow the more meaningful goals of higher education, few would question their significance as a reflection of student effort and achievement. Grades are like currency, and...

GU Allows for Grade Appeals

By Guthrie Angeles October 2, 2012

For students who are unsatisfied with their final grades, Georgetown offers a more productive alternative to writing an angry post on RateMyProfessors.com. The university’s grade appeal system allows...

Straighten Out the MSB Curve

By Eric Isdaner September 27, 2012

If the McDonough School of Business’ aim is to educate students to be among the most competitive in the nation and more attractive to potential employers, its grading policy does a poor job of furthering...

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