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So about 3 weeks ago was the first midterm for my econ exam. I knew I'd done well after leaving the test, but I was still surprised when we got them back that I'd high scored it - I got 100%. I think that the last time I high scored any college exam was when I was a smart ass high school student taking math and comp sci classes at the University of Wisconsin, and even then I think I got a score in the high 90's. The last time I scored 100 on a midterm exam was probably high school. Once I got to Harvey Mudd the days of being the smartest kid in the class were suddenly (and I thought irrevocably) gone. Only one person noticed my score before I tucked my exam away.
However, it seems to have filtered around the class that I'm the one who got 100. Eep. I try to deflect the question when other students ask me about it. I don't know how to respond when they ask how long I studied, or whether I read the book because the answers are "not very long" and "maybe once or twice." Most of the class is really struggling with the material, and when I'm queried I usually try to pass my good grades off on external things. "It's the only class I'm taking", "I can relate what we're studying to my job", and "I like algebra." Today I said to one of the girls who was asking me about it: "if it makes you feel any better, I didn't do all that well in macroeconomics when I took it as an undergrad." This not only did not make said student feel better, it made the person next to her start freaking out because she's taking macro next semester. Augh. So then I had to backtrack and tell them that the chemistry and engineering classes I was taking that semester were a much higher priority for me, even though my poor showing probably had as much to do with being curved against other Mudders. I stumble for the right wording when I try to tell them what my college experience was like. How do I explain to them just how rigorous a school I went to for my undergrad without coming across as condescending?
At least none of them know where I live.
However, it seems to have filtered around the class that I'm the one who got 100. Eep. I try to deflect the question when other students ask me about it. I don't know how to respond when they ask how long I studied, or whether I read the book because the answers are "not very long" and "maybe once or twice." Most of the class is really struggling with the material, and when I'm queried I usually try to pass my good grades off on external things. "It's the only class I'm taking", "I can relate what we're studying to my job", and "I like algebra." Today I said to one of the girls who was asking me about it: "if it makes you feel any better, I didn't do all that well in macroeconomics when I took it as an undergrad." This not only did not make said student feel better, it made the person next to her start freaking out because she's taking macro next semester. Augh. So then I had to backtrack and tell them that the chemistry and engineering classes I was taking that semester were a much higher priority for me, even though my poor showing probably had as much to do with being curved against other Mudders. I stumble for the right wording when I try to tell them what my college experience was like. How do I explain to them just how rigorous a school I went to for my undergrad without coming across as condescending?
At least none of them know where I live.
