flapjack wrote:
I don't think I like the policy either. I think that this policy would hurt people switching from, for example, a non-Finance career to a Finance career. How can they demonstrate an aptitute for Finance if they cannot even show their grades in Finance courses to their interviewers?
What's the logic behind this rule - were students too competitive under the grade disclosure policy?
And I'm all for GND. Undergraduate competition where I went to school was fierce - and it was not a pleasant environment. People were known to steal books from the library just to get an edge. My roomate once didn't wake me up for a midterm we both had because, as he explained, "if I missed it hte curve would be lower and his grade higher".
I'm not saying it would be like that in the MBA program, but with everything else going on - recruiting, clubs, discovering your dreams, socializing, building networks, etc - I can appreciate that whether or not you get a B or an A should not be a major concern. I mean really, think about it, do you honestly think GPA is a good differentiator? Do people with a 3.5 really do better at work than those who ended up with a 3.0? I've never seen evidence to support it.
Moreover, the American school system is one of short term memory. It rewards rote memorization and penalizes depth and understanding. Exams are, at least at the undergraduate level, primarily a question of how well you can remember specific material - formulas for instance, or maybe dates in a history course - they are rarely exams that test your understanding an ability to intelligently apply concepts. They meerly test your ability to read, memorize and retain knowledge ona short term basis.
Hardly a great way to prepare for a career in finance no? And as for proving yourself - you can do so by learning the material. Interviews are not going to be behavioral, they will ask pointed questions. Case studies on gas stations for MC. Valuation models for banking, or defending stock pitches for IM. Etc. Etc.
So I personally support GND. It diminishes the incentive for backstabbing, increases and rewards teamwork and collaborative spirit (after all, if the point is to LEARN and not to get an A) and gives you the flexibility to pursue recruiting and your interests and truly develop as a person.
Usually its the younger mbas who are all for grade disclosure. Course, they have 0 to 2 years work experience and don't know their ass from their head - the only thing they can truly point to is academics.