[944] Final grades

[Gautam Iyer]

Hi All,

Your final is graded and the overall performance was very good. Your
grades will be available on S3 shortly, and your score on the final will
be available on canvas.

I usually like to make the final harder than the midterm, so that there
is some spread in the score distribution. Accordingly, I adjust the
grading scale to be more lenient. The approximate grading scale on the
final is:

    30/40: Approximately bottom end of A-
    25/40: Approximately bottom end of B-
    20/40: Approximately bottom end of C-
    15/40: Approximately bottom end of D (passing)

I computed your final grades using the weights described on the class
website, after normalizing your exam/homework scores. I drop the
homework score with the lowest *average*, and not the one with the
lowest score. Please ignore any statistics / averages you see on Canvas,
as I do not use them.

Few statistics about the grade distribution:

    * 8 students got a perfect 40/40 on the final. Between 20 and 25 of
      you got the last question, which is very good!

    * 48 students got an A (includes A+, and A-'s)

    * 33 students got a B (includes B+, B- ).

    * 16 students got a C, and 2 students got lower than a C.
    
Everyone who got lower than a B- will have a chance to increase their
grade (up to a maximum of B- ) by taking the makeup final / second
chance exam. I will contact these students via email later tonight.

VIEWING YOUR FINALS:

Pittsburgh students: They will be with David in his office. He will
announce viewing hours when he returns from Spring break. NY students,
it will be in Diffy's office. You may view them in the respective
office, or scan them on your phone. However, following MSCF policy, if
you take them out of the office you may not request regrading of any
problems.

REGRADING POLICY:

If you believe a particular question has been graded incorrectly, then
you must do so in writing by email, or by leaving a post-it note on the
front of the exam indicating which question you want re-graded. Please
do NOT include any explanation or message. Your grade will be solely
based on our interpretation of what is written on the exam, and not on
any explanation you provide outside the exam.

We will cover up the original grade, and independently regrade the
requested question. The new grade will replace your old grade, EVEN IF
IT IS LOWER. I strongly recommend you read and understand the solutions
posted online before requesting a regrade, because your grade could
become lower.

Overall, I hope you enjoyed this Mini as much as I enjoyed interacting
with you, and I wish you success in your future careers. Of course, this
isn't entirely a selfless wish -- since one of you will almost certainly
be working for a back that manages my retirement someday... :)

Best,

Gautam

-- 
I needed a password eight characters long so I picked Snow White and the
Seven Dwarves.