Q: What do I do if I am given a grade that I do not agree with?
A: This is a tough situation, and I'll give two answers, one for the case where this is a score for a single assignment or test in a class, and the other for a final course grade.
If it's a single score, e.g. for an assignment or test, your first task is to check the instructors math - these things are usually graded and tallied up well after midnight. Did he or she just make a mistake? Also check the letter grade (if given) against the grading curve listed in the Syllabus. If there is a mistake, email your instructor or see them after class and gently point out what you beleive to be a simple grading error - in most cases, they will be able to quickly confirm this and make a grade correction. If this is not the situation, your next step is to review the questions and your answers - did you actually answer the question asked? Instructors can't grade the answer you meant, they can only grade the answer you actually gave. Did the instructor provide any comments or notes that help explain your grade? If you still don't understand, check your textbook or class notes to see if your answer is reasonable.
If after doing these things you still don't undertand your score, send your instructor an email or see him/her in person in class. Don't demand a correction, ask for an explanation. Nearly always these are misunderstandings, and the reason for your score will be explained. Sometimes you may not like it, but if the score is reasonable, or even just defensable, your best bet is usually to leave it at that. On the other hand, if the score is a judgement call, the instrustor may decide at this point to give you a break. If you're still unhappy with the grading, you have to decide how important this is to you. The next step, if you decide to pursue the matter further, is to make an appointment with the Head of the department the instructor is in to discuss the problem. Be sure to bone up first on the University policy of the grievance process. Make sure you have a copy of the exam or assignment.
If your problem is with the final grade you received for a course, you start by collecting your scores for all exams, asignments, &c, and adding them up to compare to the grading scale given in the course Syllabus. Does it add up? If so, are you concerned because you know someone with a lower total score but a better grade? If, after reviewing the situation, you still think your grade is incorrect, contact the instructor RIGHT AWAY - the longer it takes to sort out the problem, the more work it is to get it resolved. Go over your scores and final grade with the instructor - usually you'll find it's a misunderstanding. Keep in mind that some scores are subjective - class participation grades, for example. If the grade is a mistake, the instructor can fix it with a "Grade Change" form.
If, after meeting with your instructor, you still think your grade is not correct, the next step, if you decide to pursue the matter further, is to make an appointment with the Head of the department the instructor is in to discuss the problem. Be sure to bone up first on the University policy of the grievance process. Make sure you have records of all your scores, and have your argument clearly thought out and ready to explain.
Q: What if I still want to add a class?
A: The deadline for adding classes without instructor permission was August 25th. The last day to add a class even with instructor permission was Sept 1st. In order to add a class now you need to work it out with your advisor (me) and try to get permission from the Dean - not likely. So I'm afraid you're out of luck . . . unless it's a half-semester class that doesn't start until midway through the semester, e.g. BEC 420.
Q: How long do you have to take care of an IN ("Incomplete" grade)?
A: Generally, until the end of the next regular semester in which you are enrolled, or 12 months, whichever comes first. The rules about exceptions to this are complex, and can be found in the University policy of grades.
Q: Is there a maximum amount (number) of transfer credit(s) that a student can have?
A: Great question, which I've wondered about in the past but never looked up & can't find the answer to - I'll contact Academic Programs & see what i can find out.
(Added 9/7/09) I've found the following in the NCSU Policy on Residence for matriculation and Graduation:
To be eligible for a bachelor's degree, a student must be enrolled in a degree program at NC State, must have completed at least 25 percent of credit hours required for graduation through courses offered by NC State, and must have earned at least 30 of the last 45 hours of credit through NC State courses.
Q: What are under FERPA rights?
A: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act governs the privacy of student records. I'm not a lawyer, so I'll send you to the University Legal Affairs information on FERPA, which is surprizing clear and straightforward.
Q: What is the scholarship deadline?
A: There are two aspects of scholarships you need to know about - FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and the CALS online schlarship application. FAFSA info should be entered anually as soon after Jan 1st as possible (you need tax form info). The applications for CALS scholarships must be made annualy by May 1st - this is when the awards committee starts reviewing these applications.
Information about scholarships and links to the FAFSA and CALS scholarships applications can be found on the CALS Online Scholarship Application web page.
PLEASE NOTE that you can't get a scholarship unless you apply, you're not eligable for needs-based scholarships unless you submit the FAFSA information, and BOTH of these have to be resubmitted each year for eligibility.
Q: How many years for a bachelors and what do you have to do to get into graduate school? How long for a Masters?
A: Starting from a standard college-oriented high school education, you should be able to finish a B.S. or B.A. (the Micro degree is a B.S.) in 4 years if you stay on track and take a regular load of classes (15-16 credit hours) per semester. If you have a slew of AP or TR credits, or take lots of summer classes, it may be less. If you need remedial classes, or have to retake classes, have a second major or some minors, don't always take a full load, take semesters off, &c, it may take longer. We'll be doing a Plan of Work that will, in the end, include an ysummer plans and minors or second majors you're thinking about, and this will give you a realistic idea of when you should finish.
Getting into graduate school is not anything like getting into an undergraduate college or university. If this is your goal, you'll want to be talking with your advisor about this periodically during your undergraduate years. The admissions requirements vary a lot from place to place, and is directly competitive, but here are some guidelines:
- Most graduate programs have a minimum undergraduate GPA requirement of 3.0 or higher.
- Most graduate research degree programs (M.S. or Ph.D.) are unlikely to accept a student that doesn't have undergraduate research experience.
- Most graduate progrms require that you take the GRE. Only a few require the subject test. The GRE scores are considered differently in every program.
- Graduate programs require letters of recommendation. These should come from science-oriented folks you've worked with during your undergraduate (or later) time.
A great source of graduate applications can be found on the PhDs.org web site.
Masters programs are very diverse - much more so than are Ph.D. programs. The traditional research-based M.S. program is becoming increasingly hard to find - for example, we used to have a robust M.S. program in Microbiology here at NCSU, but we no longer admit students into this program. Non-thesis Masters degree programs are more common - we have a Masters of Microbiology (MM) program that can be completed in 2 years, and the Masters of Microbial Biotechnology (MMB) program that likewsied is a 2-year program. Most non-thesis masters programs are 2 years, most thesis-based masters programs are 2 - 3 years.
Q: What GPA is required to graduate with Honors?
A: In order to graduate Cum Laude, you need a GPA of 3.25 to 3.499. In order to graduate Magna Cum Laude, you need a GPA of 3.5 to 3.749. In order to graduate Summa Cum Laude, you need a GPA of 3.75 or greater.
More details & related info can be found in the University policy on Academic Honors.
Q: What benefits go along with being in the Honors Program?
A: To quote from the CALS Honors Program web page:
As a CALS Honors student you will:
• Participate in an honors seminar with students from across the college.
• Work with faculty or research scientists on an in-depth research or teaching project.
• Present your work at the Undergraduate Research Symposium or at the Undergraduate Teaching Symposium
• Challenge yourself academically by taking honors level upper division courses.
• Maintain a GPA of at least 3.35
• Graduate with College Honors
Don't confuse the CALS Honors Program with graduating with honors or the University Scholars Program.
Q: How do you get on the Dean's list?
A: I suppose this depends on which of his lists you want to be on.
OK, seriously, the Dean's List is a semester-by-semester honor (it shows up on your transcript) for earning a semester GPA of 3.5 on 12-14 credit hours or 3.25 on 15 or more credit hours taken. If you earn an F or an IN, you are not eligible regardless of GPA. (If you got an IN, the Dean's List standing will be added after the fact if you qualify after the IN grade is resolved.) The details of the Dean's List policy can be found in the University Policy on Academic Honors.
Q: How do I change my major?
A: If you are currently a Microbiology major, the answer is that you cannot change your major, it is not allowed. Ever.
OK, so not really. The process of changing your major is straightforward. Make an appointment with the Undergaduate Coordinator for the program you're interested in - a list of these people and their contact info can be found on the Coordinators of Advising page. This person can answer any questions you might have about their program and what you need to do to be admitted.
If you wish to change TO Microbiology, I'm this person that you need to chat with.
The formal requirements for transferring into (or adding) a new major can be found in the University Policy on Intracampus transfers.
Q: When is the best time to apply for a minor?
A: This depneds on the minor involved, but it is usually best to apply as soon as you are able to do so. Some students wait until they're filling out their graduation paperwork to declare a minor - this is a mistake. Just for example, there is a Micro major right now who's dealing with the fact that he was talking the classes toward a German minor he hadn't declared, and they just radically changed the requirements for this minor. Now he has entirely different requirements, which he has not fulfilled, to deal with.
We'll chat at length about minors later in the semester (Oct 14), but you can look at the requirements for any particular minor on the NC State Minors web page.
Q: Do minors show up on the degree audit?
A: It's not implemented in the Student Information System yet, but should be soon. When it becomes available, it should show up as an option when you ask for a degree audit, just as it does now if you have more than one major.
Q: I'm going to try to minor in Russian. Would it be ideal to save humanties courses until my junior year to study abroad?
A: My advice would be to talk to the folks at International Affairs about this. As a general rule, it's easier for us (meaning me or your future advisor in Microbiology) to argue substituting foreign courses in the sciences, where we're supposed to have some expertise, than in the humanities, where we clearly do not. The courses available to you during a study abroad (which I am a huge fan of) depends dramatically on where your going.
Q: What if I want to major in one college and minor in a different college?
A: This is no problem - and is not any different than having a minor within CALS. All you have to do is declare the minor as directed on the NC State Minors web page, fulfill the stated requirements, and get the appropriate paperwork when you're ready to apply for graduation.
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