Top College News Subscribe to the Newsletter

Baruch’s math grades don’t add up

International Marketing

Published: Monday, February 8, 2010

Updated: Monday, February 8, 2010 01:02

Some students may distrust systems that have been, supposedly, created for their benefit. Maybe they are right to do so. Students at Baruch may not realize that they are not in control of their futures quite as much as they thought.


Some believe the math department intentionally created a final that very few students can pass. Over 200 students failed the math final last semester; that's over 200 students who need to pay more money to retake the class and hope to pass the exam. That's an incredibly high number to ignore. We all know how much effort goes into a math class. It really is heartbreaking to prepare for a final, only to realize that everything you studied only helped marginally. For those who rely on scholarships, a big "F" on their transcript could cut their funding. I'm not saying that this is some grand conspiracy aimed at math students, but it still seems suspicious.


Don't take this as an invitation to revolt against the school; that would be irrational. My professor for this term has addressed this problem. In class, he said that there has been a lot of talk about the math department's final. He also said that, whether or not any one professor is to blame, the students were not prepared for this exam. He made it his goal to ensure that no student in any of his classes fails the upcoming final. That's a very noble statement; this professor has been teaching for over 30 years and owes nothing to the students, yet he still tries.

Hopefully, more professors can learn from him instead of just viewing their job as just a job. Perhaps we do need to try harder. Perhaps the math department is not entirely to blame. Maybe we do need to be better, smarter, faster, more aware of our surroundings, and better able to handle obstacles that seem unfair. We are Baruch students and that alone comes with high expectations.
 

Recommended: Articles that may interest you

10 comments

So relieved I passed Math 2207
Wed May 22 2013 14:55
I have taken the class three times. The first time, I was befuddled when I took the exam. The second time, I thought I would do well, but I failed it by two questions. I just took it yesterday, and I passed. The regulations on passing this class really are unfair. Plus there is not enough time to solve all the questions. (This semester there was though...I guess the third time IS really the charm!)
All three semesters I was in the SACC office ALL the time. The people who work there are great and they helped me out tremendously! Without the SACC employees and my great professor, I would've never understood calculus. Keep up the great work you guys!
Timo
Thu Apr 18 2013 12:38
If it weren't for that rule, I wouldn't have failed that course three times.
Anonymous
Thu Jul 5 2012 22:33
This final rule is such BS. I got C's on all my tests in precalc and then failed the final by one question, so I failed the course. I thought staying, but I transferred to Hunter after my freshmen year at Baruch. I got a B+ in precalc at Hunter and I told my professor about this rule, and she was shaking her head. For calculus, I took the same exact guy I took for precalc at Baruch (He teaches at both Baruch and Hunter), and I got a B. It's funny how I passed calculus with a B, WITH THE SAME PROFESSOR I FAILED FOR PRECALC! This garbage rule is the source for all of Baruch's problems. And I agree with the above posters, SACC is useless and the sample finals are nowhere near the real final. They always throw some BS, sucker questions that are meant to trick you.
Anonymous
Thu Jul 5 2012 22:32
This final rule is such BS. I got C's on all my tests in precalc and then failed the final by one question, so I failed the course. I thought staying, but I transferred to Hunter after my freshmen year at Baruch. I got a B+ in precalc at Hunter and I told my professor about this rule, and she was shaking her head. For calculus, I took the same exact guy I took for precalc at Baruch (He teaches at both Baruch and Hunter), and I got a B. It's funny how I passed calculus with a B, WITH THE SAME PROFESSOR I FAILED FOR PRECALC! This crap rule is the source for all of Baruch's problems. And I agree with the above posters, SACC is useless and the sample finals are nowhere near the real final. They always throw some BS, sucker questions that are meant to trick you.
Anonymous
Thu May 10 2012 10:13
Warren Gordon Should be fired period
Anonymous
Tue Jan 3 2012 17:29
Hahha...yeah I took this stupid class and failed. It's terrible!!!! Unfortunately, Baruch will never change their policy and the final is money-making. Sets you up to fail so you could take the class over...Sucks!!!! This is extreme unfairness...I think am going to transfer and take this class at another college. This class makes no sense. I did seek help from the SACC center but the tutor was so mean I never returned...Good Luck to anyone who has to take this class...Math 2207
"Hopeful" International Marketing Major
Fri Oct 28 2011 11:49
I am currently taking Pre-Calculus for the 3rd time... THIS IS MY THIRD TIME! I wanted to fulfill this class as an E-Permit at CSI as they told me it was much harder at baruch than any other cuny due to the department final and I WAS REJECTED! I hate baruch so much due to this.. they made me go through college algebra (waste of time) and now pre calc (pointless and useless class). The final is impossible and it is designed for people to fail PERIOD. I bought myself the book calculus for dummies I am doing every homework that there is and I am praying I pass this damnclass.

I have been to the SACC center numerous times to see what can I do and they are no help at all. DONT TRY DOING THE SAMPLE FINALS EITHER. I knew how to do every single problem in those tests STEP BY STEP and when I got the final I was blindsided by a derivative question that had about 5 steps to complete. The sample finals are only 1 step problems so just by that you are fried on the final.

This class is whats keeping me from graduating and it makes me have horrible college experience and the thought of getting A's throughout the class last semester and failing the final by 2 questions makes me want to hate every coordinator in the math department

In every other cuny I know, professors grade the final and if you have been passing throughout the semester and end up failing the final by a few points YOU STILL PASS THE CLASS atleast with a D.

I have never heard of getting A,A,A On all three exams and you get a 47 on the final and you fail the class. That is not fair to anyone and I am hoping that this stupid rule gets taken away!.

I had calculator questions on the first part of the exam which honestly makes me angry that we cannot use a calculator. ITS A MATH CLASS we pay 200 bucks for a calculator we use only on 10 questions THATS JUST UNJUST!

Anonymous
Fri Jul 15 2011 21:37
I am incredible upset, bevause it wasn't until I took the exam did I realize that A, the department is unreasonable, and B, the professor can't prepare you enough for the course. It's insane actually. I studied. I did homework. I was hovering around an A- in the class. I brough an expensive text book with mostly wrong answers that didn't do into details. It's unfair. I want to do well. No one wants to fail. Why would Baruch create an exam that unless you have taken 2 years of Calc in high school, you can't pass. I haven't gotten my results back, but I am praying for a C that is gonna drop my nice looking GPA. Good bye great internships!
Anonymous
Wed May 25 2011 06:11
It is impossible to complete in the time allotted! Especially without a calculator. We're not asking for easier, we're asking for reasonable. Either more time, or less problems. Perhaps the finals needs to be tested by a non-mathematician before it is released.
Nostalgic Baruch Alumni
Wed Feb 10 2010 23:17
Math is one of those subjects that you can't cram for. I remember my journey through the infamous MATH 2207, Applied Calculus with Matrix Applications. There is no way to understand the material unless you practice it, do every homework, and try to attend most lectures to clear up any remaining doubts. In addition you have to remember that calculus is a subject that builds on earlier topics covered in class. The problem with most of us Baruch Students is our hectic schedules. Many work 1 or 2 jobs and also have to deal with a full academic workloads. There simply isn't the time to pay as much attention as one needs to every class.

What is the solution? Focus on practicing the sample Calculus final that is available at the SACC center. You also have to consider the differences in instructors. Professors vary in difficulty. Students will always want to take those rated as "easy." Unfortunately, this doesn't work out well when the final measurement of your performance is taken by a standardized departmental final. Lastly, if all the aforementioned advice fail, seek tutoring if more help is needed.

-A Nostalgic Baruch Alumni.





log out