<p>Hi, I'm sure this topic has been asked before, and I'm sure some of you are thinking that I am some type of lazy student who just wants a professor to change their grade and I can assure you that I am not, but I was wondering if any of you guys had advice, or experience with this.</p>
<p>This past quarter, I took a computing class, and I literally missed the cut off for an A- by one point! The professor has posted on his website that he doesn't want anyone e-mailing him about grade changes. I plan on going to his office hours, and although I respect the fact that he doesn't want to be heckled by students, I feel that I should at least go in to his office hours and see what I can do. </p>
<p>So if anyone could give some advice on how I should go about doing this, let me know. If you're going to give me the "you should have tried harder" speech, save it for later, because right now there is nothing I can do about that.</p>
<p>Sorry, but you missed the cutoff by a point. You stated that. Unless you would like professors to knock down your grade when you only make the cutoff by a mere point, you shouldn't expect to get an extra point back unless you did something in the syllabus to earn that point. It's because of you that I think when I begin teaching [college classes next year] I will be putting something in my syllabi along the lines of "grade grubbers will lose 1 letter grade (10%) automatically upon requesting unearned grade changes," because, seriously, that's just plain annoying for a professor or instructor to have to put up with.</p>
<p>^^ Let's hear you not be disappointed when it's <em>you</em> getting an F. </p>
<p>I think that your professor might definitely be annoyed if you ask for a grade increase just out of sympathy.</p>
<p>There must definitely be something you've done out of your way (anything) for that class. If it's reasonable enough, use that to get leverage. You're right in checking your exam paper for mistakes. I just took my IB, and I know how painful it was to have missed three 7s by one mark, EACH. Sigh.</p>
<p>Try it, there's nothing else you can do. If you find your prof getting bugged, quickly back off.</p>
<p>Depends. It probably wouldn't <em>hurt</em> to ask, but if you get no for an answer, don't push. Keep it brief and don't fight him on the matter. Grade cutoffs are put there for a reason! You're only going to get a grade change if your teacher is merciful, essentially.</p>
<p>Unless there was an error in grading, if you approach your prof to beg for the additional point, all you'll do is tick off the prof. My perspective comes from having been a college prof for 6 years.</p>
<p>
[quote]
^^ Let's hear you not be disappointed when it's <em>you</em> getting an F.
[/quote]
People who get Bs and As don't get Fs; the issue is usually for a point or two (ie, between an A and an A-, or between a B+ and an A-). When it's an issue of such little difference, it's safe to say it really doesn't matter and that one should just drop the issue altogether.</p>
<p>I have sort of a different situation, same topic though</p>
<p>My bio teacher allows us to submit exam challenges to questions which we though were not the answer she claimed them to be. I did this for 3 out of 4 exams that we took. Does this look bad even though she allows it? The thing is, she makes two answer choices so similar that its nearly impossible on the test.</p>
<p>I'm in a similar boat. After the final exam I'm going to be an upper point something away from a 93 (an A) --- though I currently have a 92.lower something (an A-). What really bothers me though is that I e-mailed the TA about my first exam over an essay that had been marked partially wrong- in which that portion I wrote down verbatim from the prof. However he never e-mailed me back and I found out the next class he never e-mails anyone back... and then I heard and argument with a student fighting for their grade quoting the book and he called the book (which the prof agrees with wholeheartedly) inaccurate in this case... Augh.</p>
<p>I feel I worked hard and deserved my A (I am not the typical CCer). If I had been marked fairly I wouldn't be in this situation!
/endrant</p>
<p>For the future, take every extra credit opportunity and even ask if it is available. Some classes are taught with non-honors and honors students and sometimes the assignments have additional work for honors students. Non-honors students get extra credit though.</p>
<p>If you have an issue with an earlier grade, take care of it as soon as possible. Between department heads, professors and TAs, it can be hard working these things out logistically.</p>
<p>Unless the prof is a newbie, you don't have a chance. We've seen it all and heard every argument imaginable. If the prof already has a stated policy, it's because he/she doesn't want to be bothered. Unless there is an error in the grading (unlikely) and unless it would be enough of a difference on the final to change your whole course grade, don't waste your time. </p>
<p>I know a prof who always says he is happy to regrade an exam/final, but you can be sure that if he responds favorably to the question you asked about, he will find extra points to take off elsewhere, so that you end up with a lower grade than when you went in. Remember that the prof writes the test and determines how it is graded. Most do not assign grades on a whim.</p>
<p>Google "Grade Grubbing Hall of Fame" and then click the first hit and then read the numerous pages of posts, which I believe are all from December 2006. It provides a variety of methods used to seek higher grades and, more enlightening, since all the posts are from professors, it provides what professors think about the situation.</p>