There's a reason why upperclassmen hate incoming freshmen so much - freshmen don't receive grades on their transcripts first semester. So while freshmen are busily trying out all the new things in college, upperclassmen will be camping out in the library once the semester rolls in.
The covered grade system, introduced in 1970, aims to provide incoming freshmen enough breathing room for their transition period. The school encourages freshmen to make use of the semester to explore different aspects of college life in order to fully adapt to their next four years of life here at Hopkins.
Contrary to popular saying, the first semester of freshman year is not exactly a "pass/fail" semester. Professors will still evaluate every freshmen's performance on the letter grade system. However, once the grades are submitted to the Registrar's Office, all grades C- or above will be converted to an S (Satisfactory) and all grades below C- to a U (Unsatisfactory). Grades will not be released to students or parents, but they could normally be obtained from the Office of Academic Advising upon request by the student.
Nonetheless for those of you who plan to party hard every night, you might still want to consider hitting the library before finals. Although grades will not be released officially in any circumstances, they will be kept for Hopkins' internal use in order to keep track of students' progress. This means that if your G.P.A. goes below 2.0 first semester, you will still be placed on academic probation.
That being said, the covered grade semester is the perfect time for you to try out different majors. Whether you came in with a major in mind or you're absolutely clueless, covered grades will lessen the pressure as you take classes outside your comfort zone. You might end up studying something you've never thought of before.
For those of you who are perfectionists, covered grades may seem a little too hard to believe. But with covered grades, you can also find yourself with more time to participate in different clubs and activities. Although at first glance the library may seem to be the hotspot in the Hopkins college life, student groups offer a wide range of activities to enrich your college experience. Take advantage of the low-stress semester and participate in activities like kayaking, volunteering or debating. Trust me, your college experience will be much more fruitful than simply trying to hone a 4.0 G.P.A.
While you may intend to toss academics completely to the back of your mind, freshman first semester is a great time for you to develop good study habits.
College life may seem colorful and exciting, but when it comes down to academics, you really need to find the best way that suits you. Rather than panicking when real grades come in the second semester (which is always a harsh reality), this will be your chance to learn how to study effectively and efficiently in college.
Even the best of us have fallen victim to the myth of the covered grade. Don't let it be your fate as well.
