While most of the Wabash students were enjoying their Christmas Breaks with sunny vacations and relaxing at home, 212 students were studying during their break to prepare for the inevitable and ill-regarded Senior Comprehensive Exams.
The Senior Comprehensive Exams, also known more commonly as “Comps,” are the considered to be the ultimate final at Wabash College. Required for graduation, comps are separated into two exams: a written exam, taken the week of January before classes begin and an oral exam which is taken at the end of January or beginning of February.
The section of the exam students most worry about is the oral exam. During this portion of Senior Comps, a student is set in front of a committee of faculty members – one from the major department, one from the minor department, and one member-at-large (a professor who is not affiliated with the student’s major or minor departments). There are a few exceptions, but this is the norm for virtually all seniors.
During this oral exam the student is asked numerous regarding their major and minor, as well as varying in topics that may be related to the student’s view on his liberal arts education, which may lead to a wide range of reflections on their experience at Wabash.
The results for the class of 2008 were on par with previous years’ Comps results. This year, nine-percent (19 men) received Distinction, the highest level of passing on the exam; 37 percent (78 men) received High Pass; 47 percent (99 men) received Pass; and seven-percent (16 men) were given a Fail. Compared to 2007, more men received grades of Distinction (up from eight-percent), Pass grades (up from 39 percent, and Failing grades (up from six-percent). Only High Passes decreased in percentage (down from 47 percent) from last year. These results were similar to results from 2006.
President Patrick White was content with the results from this year’s Senior Comps, especially with the increase in Distinctions over the past two years. Although some students failed their comps, President White knows they will perform better the second time around.
“Distinction, when compared to 2006 and 2007, is slightly higher and High Pass fluctuated a bit in the past three years, and Fail only went up one percent,” Mr. White said. “The first report failures are able to be retaken once, so a student who fails may retake the comp exam again, but if he fails, he is coming back [for another year].”
Dean of the College Gary Phillips was also impressed with this year’s Senior Comps outcome.
“I think we overall had largely positive results,” Dean Phillips said. “We would love to have them all pass with Distinction, but the reality is otherwise. It’s only about seven-percent of men who didn’t succeed, but that is on par with previous years and is not much of a surprise because it fits the bell curve of these results with previous years.”
Dean Phillips said these numbers are fairly similar to previous years, not just the last two, and that there is nothing startling with these results.
“It is not as if the bottom is dropping out,” Dean Phillips said. “There is a consistent amount of effort going into these comps and there may be some holes in a student’s academic schedule or some things might have happened in a student’s life that could have affected his performance. I think if these numbers were doubling, then there would be a cause for worry, but with these numbers, there is nothing to worry about.”
The only thing worth worrying about is making sure one is prepared for Comps. Matt Maher, a Philosophy major, received a High Pass on his Comps and enjoyed the experience.
“Overall, I think comps are a good experience and it forces you to look back and appreciate what Wabash has done because it allows you to incorporate what you did inside and outside of class,” Maher said. “I think Comps are good because they make you take an objective look towards what Wabash has done for you.”
However, Mr. Maher feels that the College should revise some of their current guidelines in the Comps process.
“I think the College ought to be more selective about their boards and be stricter on the discussion portion from the at-large during the orals,” Maher said. “I think the guidelines should be more straightforward seeing how students mostly focus on one area their whole time here.”
Aaron Spolarich, who is a double major in Psychology and English, received two Distinctions for his two Comps and was relieved at the final outcome.
“I will admit that I was nervous to see the comps grades,” Mr. Spolarich said. “Graduation honors are dependent on GPA and comps grades, and one of my goals has always been to graduate summa cum laude. Discovering I received Distinction in both majors was an astonishing feeling. I felt instantly that four years worth of dedication to studies and making sacrifices had been worth it.”
President White described receiving a Distinction as an honor and a way of showing a student’s commitment to his education.
“To get a Distinction is a credit to Wabash men that they take this whole process very seriously because they want to do well,” Mr. White said.
President White also explained that seeing students’ joyous reactions to their Comps grades is a great feeling.
“Just today, a student passed me in the halls and he was just beaming and he normally doesn’t have such a strong expression like that on his face,” President White said. “I asked him how he was doing and he responded, ‘I got a high pass! I’m gonna call my mom!’”
The amount of anxiety that goes along with the Senior Comprehensive Exams is necessary because it stresses the importance of the exams and the impact they will have on a student’s life. Fortunately, once the results of the exams are released most students are relieved to finally know how they performed. On the other hand, some students learn they must retake the exams, but it may be the wake-up call some students need.
“The world is full of distinguished Wabash men who may have not passed their comps the first time and for those students who did not pass their first time, they just need to be more prepared and really talk with their professors,” President White said. “My words of wisdom for them are, ‘Wabash Always Fights!’”