Grade Goals and Expectations

Different students have different goals for the course, and these goals extend to the grades they hope and/or expect to earn. 

• Some students just want to get by for one reason or another--some students are experiencing pressure to graduate or to complete a certain number of credits, and any transferable grade (C or above) will do; in the case of in-house students even a D might be an acceptable grade, for example if graduation hangs in the balance.
• On the other hand some students, for example pre-med students or students whose fields of study make extensive use of physics (engineering and many science students, for example) want and need to learn as much as possible from the course.

It is important for the instructor to be aware of each student's goals and expectations in order to help each individual achieve his or her goals, without making demands that exceed the student's needs.

• You should therefore let the instructor know what your goals and expectations are.
• Some idea of your educational status--which year of college you are in, your curriculum, your school--can also be very helpful.
• You are not required to submit any of this information--the instructor can deal with you simply on the basis of the work you do.  So if you do not see an advantage to supplying this information that's fine.  You will in any case be graded on the basis of your tests and other work submitted, and the grading criteria will be the same for all students.