It’s time again for Trivia Tuesday, in which we examine the distinctive elements that separate the leading MBA programs from their peers. This week, we’re taking a peek into the Clear Admit School Guide to the Yale School of Management in order to share with you an excerpt about the program’s grading policies and grade non-disclosure.
“Rather than using numerical or letter grades as a measure of a student’s performance in a course, Yale SOM’s grading system is more closely akin to a pass/fail model. Professors can assign students one of the following four grades: Distinction, Proficient, Pass or Fail. The highest, Distinction, is reserved for unusually high-quality work and is awarded to no more than 10 percent of students taking the course. Meanwhile, Proficient denotes a normal level of achievement in coursework and comfort with the subject matter. Though a grade of Pass is a positive signal at most schools, Yale’s reflects performance that did not meet the level of proficiency, but was not so lacking that it warranted a failing grade. Finally, the grade Fail reflects a level of performance and effort so unsatisfactory that it cannot be counted toward the 72-credit graduation requirement.
“To move into the second year of the SOM program, a student must receive a grade of Proficient in at least 20 units of coursework and credit in at least 28. In the event that a student fails a core course, he or she must retake the class, pass a proficiency exam if one is offered, or reach an agreement for making up the work with the instructor. The student will be dismissed from the program if he or she does not remedy the failing grade in or before the next term in which the course is offered.
[…]
“Grade Non-Disclosure (GND) is a policy that prohibits students from disclosing their grades to recruiters during the interview process, as well as prohibiting potential employers from inquiring about students’ academic performance.
“In connection with its qualitative grading system, which seeks to minimize competition within the student body, Yale SOM maintains a rigid policy of non-disclosure. The school does not calculate official GPAs or class ranks. With the exception of Distinction, which is noted in a student’s transcript by an asterisk next to the course title, grades are not disclosed to employers or any party outside the SOM; students are in turn discouraged from sharing their own grades during the recruiting process. Rather than an external indication of a student’s performance, grades at Yale are viewed as an internal tool for tracking students’ progress and ensuring that each meets the program’s standards and requirements for the degree.”
To read about Yale SOM’s grading practices, be sure to check out the Clear Admit School Guide to Yale. All 21 Clear Admit School Guides are available for immediate purchase and download on the Clear Admit shop.
You could win a Clear Admit Guide! Based on today’s post, we’ll be running a trivia contest on Twitter. Be sure to follow us and play for your chance to win!
Read the full article: Trivia Tuesday: The Yale SOM Grading System