Chapter XXVIII: The Fucking Cusp [Updated]

I have a B+ in Physics...missed the A- cut by 3 points out of 500. I didn't study for the final because I was so sure I'd make it. Thank you, Professor Baker, for teaching me humility (as well as thermodynamics).

Also, despite scoring 10-15% higher than the median on every exam, I'm ending up with a B+ in Architectural History as well. Missed the A- by 3 points out of 400.

And finally, assuming no curve is miraculously applied at the last minute (a fair assumption to make, in this case), my final grade in Calculus will be 68.5%, also known as D+. This score distribution is here. I was able to deduce that I am bar 38 based mainly on my homework score, which is abysmally low (I only turned in one assignment).

AAAAAHHH!!!!! WHY CAN'T I JUST BE SMARTER BY ONE FUCKING PERCENT?! Or stupider, by the same amount. When I calculated my GPA just now, I missed a parantheses and it came out to 173.539...That would have made the Dean's List for sure.

[Update] Pursuant to an empassioned email I sent to my Calculus professor, he decided to give me a C-. I wouldn't say I finessed my way into a grade boost, since I clearly deserved it, but it was close call. Horray for well composed emails! The email (I am especially proud of my use of paragraph seperations):

Professor Jimenez,
My name is Jerry Fan, ID# 7997, and I was enrolled in afternoon section of MATH 182. I noticed that the final grade distributions had been posted on the class website but not individual grades.

I was able to deduce which bar on the final grade distribution represents me based on my midterm scores. It appears that my Final Exam score is 107/130, and that my raw average for the course is 69%.

I was wondering if you could confirm these figures, or clarify them if they are wrong.

Furthermore, I would like to know if there is anything I can do to show my understanding of the material and demonstrate that I deserve to pass this class.

I think the significant improvement between my midterm scores (F and D, respectively) and my Final Exam score (B) shows that although I did not grasp the concepts at first, I was able to by the end of the quarter, since the Final was cumulative.

Also, whereas I was simply unprepared for the first midterm, I actually did fairly well on the second one, except for the two problems on Arc Length and Surface Area, for which I simply blanked out and scored 1's. Were it not for these two problems, I would have earned at least a C on the second midterm. I made sure to study these two sections much more carefully before the Final.

Finally, I realize I would not be in this situation had I just completed more homework assignments, and I have no excuse for that, besides simply not having time to as result of taking 20 units this quarter.

Thus, although my course average is 69%, I don't believe that a D would accurately reflect my attainment of the learning objectives outlined in the syllabus.

Please let me know what I can do at this point.

Thank you,
Jerry Fan
jcfan@calpoly.edu

In other news:
"There's a great story to be told about atoms and the void: how atoms evolved out of fire and bent space and grew into Homer, Chartres cathedral and 'Blonde on Blonde.' How those same atoms came to learn that the earth, sun, life, intelligence and the whole universe will eventually die." - The New York Times

Image of the Day: Levels-Adjusted Scan Of India Ink Blown With A Straw Across Nonabsorptive Paper