<p>In order to receive a final grade of a B in gen. chemistry this semester, I needed to get a 77 on my final exam. I studied and studied...and got a 73 (class average on the final was a 61), which dropped my final grade down to a B-.</p>
<p>My chemistry professor is very weary about giving points back on exams, but I AM SO CLOSE to that B. It's killing me knowing that just 4 points is affecting my final grade so much.</p>
<p>I am going to meet with him next week, and am wondering if anyone has some great tips on how to get those 4 measly points from him. Please don't tell me to 'just accept it and get over it' because I know you all would be just as fired up as I am about getting that B lol.</p>
<p>College is not like high school. You get points on exams because you answered the problems correctly, not because you would reeeeally like the professor to give you a higher grade. I’d love to give you advice, but unless your test was somehow graded wrong, there is just no way you’ll be able to argue your way to a higher grade.</p>
<p>You would all seriously let it go that you got a 73 and just walk away with the B-? Come on now, people.</p>
<p>@hops_scout - A B is worth 3.0 on the GPA scale, while a B- is worth a 2.67.</p>
<p>Plus, this B- would affect my gpa so that I wouldn’t gets Dean’s List. Four points are keeping me from an acceptable GPA. Someone out there must have a suggestion…perhaps someone who is pre-law has a tip for me.</p>
<p>Unless you have a legit case as to why you should get those points (something marked wrong that was right), you need to accept it and get over it. </p>
<p>And yes, I would be, but that stage or being “fired up” for a grade is only useful in the studying stage, not after you took the exam.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the only way I can see my exam is to get it from him (he keeps all of the exams), so I would have to go over it with him next to me, looking for something that was possibly ‘graded too harshly/incorrectly’.</p>
<p>And don’t think that I didn’t study for this exam…I knew I needed that 77 for my B. It is because I studied sooo hard and still fell just shy that is driving me to fight for those 4 points.</p>
<p>LOL are you serious? The laws of energy and matter aren’t going to change because you want a B. Either the answer is right or wrong; you get points based on your answers, not on how much you want something or even how hard you worked. I’m just curious, why would you expect your professor to give you a B? What have you done that he’s going to change the entire grading scale for you? </p>
<p>One of my professors said, “I never change the grading scale because no matter what, there’s always that kid who’s 1 point away from the grade they want.” Every other kid in the class would also want 4 points then. In my Gen Chem class, the curve was done so 50% of students got C+ or lower, a B- is good.
Hahah well, most of my pre-law friends are busy taking easy classes to avoid this situation. :p</p>
<p>Bahhh. Alright, well, I am still going to give it shot. I’ve never been one to let go of something just because ‘it is what it is’. I have nothing to lose, so might as well.</p>
<p>@pickstrawberry - You have a point there about there always being a kid who is just 1 point away from the grade they want. That kid is me almost always it seems lol. Last semester, I was 0.002 away from the Dean’s List cut-off GPA (top 20% students get on DL). And right now, I am at at a 82.4% in Chemistry with that 73, and need those four points to hit a 82.5% to get rounded up to an 83% for a B. Just 0.1%. SO CLOSE.</p>
<p>I find the value of “haggling” questionable but these techniques usually work for me:
-Don’t come off as overbearing, as though you are correct. Accept the teacher’s authority first.
-Focus on specific questions. Explain that you know why the right answer is correct, but then point out something that could be interpreted in different ways, is unclear, etc.
-If possible, bring your notes with you and reference them in explaining how you reasonably misunderstood a question. Maybe reference lectures.
-Point out something else on the test that implicitly suggests a different answer on another question, perhaps.
-Use “I” statements: “I was confused because…” “Oh, well I thought that it might be this…” saying “you” is accusatory and counterproductive.
If these don’t work, nothing will.</p>
<p>suck it up. i was .3% away from a B+; i needed a 78% or higher,but i got a 77.5, ended up with a B, i dont think ur professor will give u the extra bump. sorry bro!</p>
<p>@kaekae - Thanks! I definitely do not plan on spewing irrational comments or making psychotic accusations. I want to be calm, but stern, strong, and confident. Hopefully he will be willing to have a thoughtful conversation with me.</p>
<p>I am also premed, so I can’t imagine there being a B- on my transcript, knowing that I was just 0.1% away from a B. I’m simply too close to sit back and let it go.</p>
<p>“Explain that you know why the right answer is correct, but then point out something that could be interpreted in different ways, is unclear, etc.”</p>
<p>Your determination is nice, but your prof shouldn’t be changing your grade–especially if it’s a curved class. It’d be very wrong if a professor altered the curve because your were persistent. </p>
<p>Next semester, get your motivation going at the beginning of the semester–not the end. This B- won’t end your pre-med goals; consistently getting BC’s will.</p>
<p>“I have nothing to lose, so might as well.”</p>
<p>Actually, you do have something to lose: your professor’s respect. I have heard so many professors gripe about students coming into their office hours at the end of the semester trying to get a better grade because they want one and not because they earned one. It’s one thing is there is a legitimate grading error, or if you come in during the course of a semester after a test to go over it with the professor, perhaps even with the ulterior motive that they might slip you some credit for the initiative. At this point, you have nobody to blame for your position but yourself, and your chosen course of action shows no grace or dignity. Have a scrap of self-respect and let it go.</p>
<p>^True. As a pre-med, you’re going to need recs. You can’t have everyone thinking you’re a slime that cares more about grades than learning, even if your dignity means nothing.</p>
<p>Well, you SOL. It’s your fault. You should have studied hard to get a 77. Check to see if there’s any grading errors, but if there aren’t, then too bad. I know it sucks, but that’s how life is.</p>