All this talk about minus grades is much ado about nothing.
We tried to convince ourselves that this is some evil administrative policy set to screw up our grade point averages and financial aid, and our only course of action would be to revolt or walk out on our classes. We would look like BAMFs - street cred attained.
Turns out, we can't really justify getting all riled up for something that ultimately doesn't change how or why we do our work. Minus grades really aren't the end of the world.
In one study, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's average GPA only dropped from 3.11 to 3.05 the year the school implemented minus grades. That's only six hundredths of a point. Three years later the average had bumped back up to 3.08.
Sorry to say it, but we aren't about to lose any sleep about such a small difference.
If UF's minus grade trend follows that of Nebraska, most of our GPAs are going to sink a bit within the next year. For those of you who will be graduating within the next three or four semesters, that means you probably won't be around to see UF's collective GPA rebound. Sucks to be you, nerds.
Crying about it isn't going to do anything, though, so don't. Minus grades aren't the cause of the Apocalypse. If anything, they should serve as motivation for you to actually get up and go to your first and second period classes, rather than hanging out on your pillow top with your snooze button.
Besides, your grades will always reflect the amount of work you actually did. It's corny, we know, but it's also true.
So suck it up and skip '80s night in favor of Club West. Rick Springfield and The Outfield aren't going anywhere.
