UCB grading system
- Thread starter jomama
- Start date
Every teacher I've ever had at UCB has been 100% accessible when I've e-mailed privately and asked which skills I need to improve. All personal notes have been highly specific and delivered with a nice mix of honesty and ego-preserving kindness. A grading system, if it does exist, probably serves to make things easier for instructors during auditions, and isn't really our business to know about.
I think you do "see" your grades/notes, in the feedback you get from teachers at each level - I'm new to UCB, but one of the things that I love is that for an improv school with a bajillion students, I have always felt that my teachers give focused, personalized feedback, and I'm sure that is partly due to a grading/notes system.
And yeah, my Robot Dick Cheney with a Boner scene is in the permanent record, which will probably ruin my chances of going to Harvard.
And yeah, my Robot Dick Cheney with a Boner scene is in the permanent record, which will probably ruin my chances of going to Harvard.
Hey Jodi,
Here's the answer, excerpts from UCB's Course Catalog:
EVALUATION:
Students are evaluated on a pass/fail basis. Students do not receive formal grades. Promotion to the next level is contingent on the following criteria: attendance, seeing shows, and a demonstration of course concepts through application in performance or writing.
Later on...
FAILURES:
Instructors are expected to fail any student that they feel demonstrates a severe lack of understanding of basic course concepts. In order for a student to receive a failing grade, the student's abilities should be on a remedial level such that they would be hindering the progress of their peers if promoted. In these instances, decisions made by the instructor are final. The Training Center Manager will notify students of failure via e-mail.
You can download the entire Course Catalog as a PDF or read it in online. It's still pretty new, but I'm sure it'll be common knowledge to students soon enough.
- Achilles O(*_*)O
Here's the answer, excerpts from UCB's Course Catalog:
EVALUATION:
Students are evaluated on a pass/fail basis. Students do not receive formal grades. Promotion to the next level is contingent on the following criteria: attendance, seeing shows, and a demonstration of course concepts through application in performance or writing.
Later on...
FAILURES:
Instructors are expected to fail any student that they feel demonstrates a severe lack of understanding of basic course concepts. In order for a student to receive a failing grade, the student's abilities should be on a remedial level such that they would be hindering the progress of their peers if promoted. In these instances, decisions made by the instructor are final. The Training Center Manager will notify students of failure via e-mail.
You can download the entire Course Catalog as a PDF or read it in online. It's still pretty new, but I'm sure it'll be common knowledge to students soon enough.
- Achilles O(*_*)O
FYI- I'm not bashing anything with UCB!! Of all the improv/sketch schools out there, they have become extremely organized and reputable.
I like learning about the process. It's up to them if they disclose this info or not.
I kinda agree with this. I (of course) get notes. I think they're very point on and extremely useful. I am not new to the system at all. I am curious to it's purpose.....and yes...the burning question......does it come into account for harold auditions? I'm sure the grading helps the teachers know whether or not they want people to continue to higher levels and stuff.
But since people do put a lot of time and money into this program, shouldn't they get their grade?
You can get notes after notes, but that doesn't tell you what "level" the teacher thinks you are at.
I like learning about the process. It's up to them if they disclose this info or not.
I kinda agree with this. I (of course) get notes. I think they're very point on and extremely useful. I am not new to the system at all. I am curious to it's purpose.....and yes...the burning question......does it come into account for harold auditions? I'm sure the grading helps the teachers know whether or not they want people to continue to higher levels and stuff.
But since people do put a lot of time and money into this program, shouldn't they get their grade?
You can get notes after notes, but that doesn't tell you what "level" the teacher thinks you are at.
My two cents (that mean nothing since UCB does a pretty fine job at what they do and all that):
Actual grades would be problematic. Different teachers view thinks different ways. Improv is pretty subjective. COMEDY is pretty subjective. What would it mean to get an A versus a B? Or a 92% versus a 76%? Or 4 Del Close skulls versus 3 Del Close skulls?
Pass versus fail is clear. And specific notes makes more sense. (But what do I know. I went to Hampshire College where we had to write self-evaluations for every class.)
I do believe (although not from personal experience) they have started doing this. From my second hand knowledge the "you need to work on this before you progress" notes have been clear and understandable and helpful.
Actual grades would be problematic. Different teachers view thinks different ways. Improv is pretty subjective. COMEDY is pretty subjective. What would it mean to get an A versus a B? Or a 92% versus a 76%? Or 4 Del Close skulls versus 3 Del Close skulls?
Pass versus fail is clear. And specific notes makes more sense. (But what do I know. I went to Hampshire College where we had to write self-evaluations for every class.)
I do believe (although not from personal experience) they have started doing this. From my second hand knowledge the "you need to work on this before you progress" notes have been clear and understandable and helpful.
This is interesting. Yeah, is it pass/fail, or does everyone get a grade - and possible notes - that are kept on file after a class? And if every student does receive a grade and possible notes of evaluation, are these grades accessible to students? The teachers are always accessible, that's one of the cool things about any improv theater in NYC - UCB included. But, to me, it's not a question of teachers making him or herself accessible. Of course they are. It's a question of the administration making any formal evaluation of a student’s performance in class accessible. There's a difference. It would be odd not to make any formal evaluations (beyond just Pass/Fail) accessible to a student – that is “odd” from an educational point of view.
i hope the grades are like they were at my college; it was a 98 point scale (because why not?) and an A was only from 92 to 98; so even if you had a 90 average, you were still only a B student! B+ was if you had a 91-92. what?! way to be stubbornly traditional, hamilton. eat a bag of dicks, plz.
there was the craziest formula to convert your average to the 4 point scale too. oh man. college, right? what a time.
there was the craziest formula to convert your average to the 4 point scale too. oh man. college, right? what a time.
I think if there are grades (I'm pretty positive we are A/B/C/D/F graded), we should be able to see them or request to see them.
I also agree that comedy is subjective BUT it really is more of a grading level when it comes to 1) who to let in which classes 2) who should be on a harold team
Notes of an overview of how we progressed/degressed (i know that's not a word, but whatever) throughout the class would be amazing.
Moxie did something similar to this and it help A LOT. I got to really see what things I need to hone in on.
I also agree that comedy is subjective BUT it really is more of a grading level when it comes to 1) who to let in which classes 2) who should be on a harold team
Notes of an overview of how we progressed/degressed (i know that's not a word, but whatever) throughout the class would be amazing.
Moxie did something similar to this and it help A LOT. I got to really see what things I need to hone in on.