Freshman Midyear Marks Show New Trend Toward Mediocrity

Midyear results of all men taking Freshman courses show a decidedly conservative trend this year. With fewer A and B marks and also fewer D and E grades, the Class of 1943 seems to be majoring in the conservative C.

To increase the scope of the survey over last year's, many smaller subjects have been included for the first time in the tabulations, a factor which should result in greater accuracy in the findings. However, in spite of this broader coverage, the number of students enrolled in all classes treated numbers 6,048 this year as compared with a previous 6,080. This seeming discrepancy is explained by the fact that 1943 numbers only 911 new Freshmen as compared with 1942's 958.

A drop in honor marks is evident this year, in spite of an increase over 1939's satisfactory marks of A, B, or C. This is accounted for by a rise in the number of C's from 41.9 per cent to 44.3 per cent. D's and E's fell off .5 per cent from last year.

Comparative numbers in the rank lists show that of this year's Freshman group 170 or 18.7 per cent are on the Dean's List with rankings in Groups I, II, or III. Last year 194 or 20.3 per cent of the present Sophomore class attained a similar distinction. This number rose to 26.5 per cent in June of 1939, indicating that during the second semester Yardling honor marks should increase.

Only four new Freshmen find themselves in Group I this year. Group II has '35, Group III, 131. Coincident with the rise of marks of C this year, Groups IV, V, and VI show an increase, rising to 59.5 per cent from last year's 58.1 per cent. Incomplete or unsatisfactory grades number 21.8 per cent, .2 per cent higher than at midyears, 1939.