Maybe my expectations have changed in light of grades from last semester… at the same time, I think a lot of people in class have really been offering great insights.  I commented on it before, but it definitely seems like we’ve shifted from a fairly normal bell curve to a strong upward skew.  Some people (the solid 2s, possibly) have dropped off the map entirely.  Others (those with 1s or 3s) are ramping up their comments and trying to either become Baker Scholars or dig themselves out of a pit.  It’s an interesting phenomenon, but I’m not sure if it explains why I suddenly feel so dumb. 

Aside from getting me to class on-time, I never thought my learning team was all that helpful… I’m reconsidering that now.  Maybe those extra minutes of formulating high-level opinions on cases was more helpful than I imagined.  Or maybe the cases are just longer and more complex, and I haven’t adjusted my reading time accordingly.  I’m a fairly fast reader, and usually spend < 30 min case… now that cases are twice as long (13-16pgs of solid text with another 13-16pgs of exhibits), maybe I need to devote more time to ferreting out the underlying concepts. 

Ahhh well, grades don’t matter anyway, right?!?  At least we have today off… headed to NYC this weekend, will post some photos when I get back.

First, the backdrop: the grading system at HBS is very “corporate”, using the same sort of system that GE (and my former employer) use to bucket employees.  They award a “1″ to the Top 15%, a “2″ to the Middle 75%, and a “3″ to the bottom 10%.  The idea being that you recognize the top performers, eliminate the worst performers, and keep it such that it doesn’t interrupt or distract the vast middle majority.

Grading at HBS is not designed to be incredibly transparent — although class policies differ slightly, the vast majority keep it at 50% class participation and 50% final exam.  So, how do you optimize your time to maximize your grade?  Do you go for the highly variable (and seemingly random) top quality comments?  Or do you place all of your hope on a single 4 hour final exam at the end of a semester?  It’s not an easy puzzle to figure out — I kind of just gave up and went back to playing Guitar Hero (don’t tell)!

And… surprisingly!… my lack of focus seems to have paid off!  I ended up receiving all 1 s!  I think this is relatively rare, so I’m very excited.  Of course, I can’t actually tell this to anyone.  Mentioning it to my sectionmates would make me seem like an overconfident jerk, and talking about it in an interview would probably be perceived as arrogant.  Ahhh well…

1. Classmates make 2+ comments per class.
2. They take minutes to say something that could be summarized in five words.
3. Oh, and you know it’s going to be bad when they preface it by saying “I think X for three reasons…”
4. It’s also a little amusing that people always seem to preface comments by saying “I completely disagree…” like the fact that they disagree has some inherent content to it.

On the other hand, I find that my behavior isn’t exactly optimal either:

1. I take more controversial and dogmatic positions than I otherwise would… because it draws a passionate response from others, which in turn, makes it a “Category 1″ comment.
2. I also find that I tend to “check out” after making a comment.  I don’t want to be one of those impolite people who monopolizes class time with 2 comments, and the incentives to actively listen drop dramatically when your grade isn’t on the line.
3. I sometimes have problems timing comments, too.  I like to think I’m pretty-forward thinking, but I get excited and offer my (obviously) groundbreaking insight too early in class.  Even though it might be a central principle, the professor brushes over it and doesn’t return to until later.

In spite of all that, I talked to someone the other day whose partner goes to MIT Sloan.  It sounds like they have to hammer out problem set after problem set.  Compared to that, I think I definitely prefer the HBS method…!