Can one missed homework sink a grade?

<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>I have some obsessive tendencies, and have been obsessing over not having a homework assignment in biology all day today. I had forgotten to take my planner with me to class on Friday and thought I remembered to do all of it this weekend...now I'm super worried and keep freaking out "Harvard doesn't accept people who forget their homework". Ugh....the rational part of my brain knows this probably won't matter but I can't stop worrying over it! Can one missed homework sink my grade???? My time management's fine, as I did a lot of bio work this weekend just the work due on Thursday because I didn't realize there was any work due before the assignment due on Thursday...so I guess the question I'm trying to ask is, "Can one missed homework sink a grade?"</p>

<p>Thanks everyone, sorry if this is the wrong place for this post, I just <em>really</em> need some reassurance :)</p>

<p>It depends on the teacher. So, go talk to the teacher.</p>

<p>You’re better off asking your biology teacher. Most teachers are pretty merciful when it comes to one or two missed assignments, but if it was a major assignment and counts as a significant part of your grade, then of course you will be downgraded. Whether this affects your semester grade, I really don’t know. Sorry I can’t be more helpful.</p>

<p>FWIW, my daughter has had several missed/late assignments throughout high school (even good students are human!) including and still has a 4.0. </p>

<p>And I know you didn’t ask this, but if you’re really that obsessive, you may not be very happy if you end up at Harvard as an undergrad. Why not apply to a small LAC for your bachelor’s degree, then to Harvard for grad school? That’s what most of the self-aware, high-strung kids I know plan to do, and it’s what our school’s excellent college counselor recommends for the Type A or obsessive kids.</p>

<p>Find out from the teacher (if she hasn’t already told you) how your grade is determined. Most teachers give each assignment a value, and all the values added together determine your grade. If the homework is 10 points, and the total points for the marking period add up to 1000, then you’ve lost 1%. If the total is 500, you’ve lost 2%. A single missed assignment isn’t likely to sink your grade, but it must be put into context with everything else. If There are a total of 1000 points, and you end up with 892 points (a B+), those 10 extra points would push you up to 902 and an A-. If you’re worried, talk to the teacher. There’s a reason homework is usually worth less than a test or quiz.</p>

<p>I would suggest finding a study buddy in each of your classes, so on the off chance you forget your planner again, you can call those people to double check what the assignments are.</p>

<p>i’d imagine harvard has plenty of other criteria by which to reject applicants…</p>

<p>Hmmmm… it’s not “Harvard doesn’t accept people who forget their homework”. </p>

<p>Nor “Can one missed homework sink my grade?”</p>

<p>But Harvard has a hard time accepting people who can’t ascertain situations objectively. Really try to relax.</p>

<p>This is ridiculous.</p>

<p>No, one missed homework is not going to prevent you from attending Harvard. Worrying that it would, though, might.</p>