Major Crisis with College Grades

<p>I am suffering from a major crisis right now:</p>

<p>For my English class, I had to write a final paper that's worth about 30% of my grade. I worked really hard on my final paper, and I gave it to a friend to submit to the professor because I left town early. Although I trusted my friend, he didn't submit it to the professor because, last week, the professor emailed me, and told me that he didn't recieve the paper. I emailed him back and attached the paper to his email. I also faxed him a copy of the paper. Obviously, the professor did not recieve it before he submitted grades because he gave me a D for my final grade. I worked so hard in that class. I want to talk to the professor, but I can't reach him over the summer. Also, he's on leave next semester. This is a nightmare. I am so mad at my friend, but I'm even madder at myself. What do you think I should do? Because of this, my GPA went down from a 3.5 last semester to a 2.7 this semester. Do you think the professor will understand?</p>

<p>Talk to the Department Chair and then to the Dean of the College if the Chair wouldn't help.</p>

<p>why didn't you just e-mail the professor the paper in the first place, before it was due???</p>

<p>Because I didn't think that something like this would happen.</p>

<p>have you talked to this "friend" yet?</p>

<p>yes, he said sorry.</p>

<p>Sorry? That's it? He was directly responsible for you getting a failing grade in a class, and all he can say is sorry?!?!?!?!</p>

<p>I seriously hope you ripped him several new ones.</p>

<p>Why would you trust your friend like that in the first place? That's just stupid.</p>

<p>Your dumb move. It honestly sounds to the professor like you just finished it. If I was your professor, I certainly wouldn't believe that instead of e-mailing me a paper, you "gave it to your friend" who didn't turn it in. F for you.</p>

<p>It can't hurt to tell the prof the truth. Offer to write him another paper over the summer.</p>

<p>
[quote]
want to talk to the professor, but I can't reach him over the summer. Also, he's on leave next semester. This is a nightmare. I am so mad at my friend, but I'm even madder at myself. What do you think I should do? Because of this, my GPA went down from a 3.5 last semester to a 2.7 this semester. Do you think the professor will understand?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>So you haven't talked to the prof yet? I WOULD do it. Here's my story. I was in this engineering class that had a computer final (it was only an hour long; the class was module based) that we were supposed to email the professor at teh end of the class. I did mine and finished completely-A quality work I thought. However, I sent him the email but forgot to the attachment. So he only got my email. He later notified me and I sent it to him. This was only after 1 week though. Didn't penalize me for it. Just explain and the professor should understand.</p>

<p>Just because you left early does not mean you could not turn it in early. Unless things have changed a lot all profs have a mailbox where you can leave stuff or you could just use the regular mail. Putting the onus on a friend is asking for trouble.
I turned in a few papers for friends but it was usually because it was late and the friend did not want to see the prof and get yelled at.</p>

<p>I can't reach him! I even left a message on his machine. </p>

<p>Two Reasons Why I didn't email the prof:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>He made it clear in the beginning of the semester that he doesn't like electronic submissions--he prefers hard copy because he hates printing student's work. That's why I gave it to my friend eventhough I did eventually send the prof. an email.</p></li>
<li><p>I assumed there'd be no point to an email submission if the hard copy was submitted. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>I didn't find out what happened until this Monday. I would not work my behind off all semester only to fluke the final paper, which is worth the biggest portion.</p>

<p>barrons,</p>

<p>I could not have turned it in early. There's no way. The professor gave us the assigment on May 2. It was due May 9. </p>

<p>I left Atlanta on May 5. I knew there was no way that I could finish a 5-7 page paper, pack all my stuff, and study for my finals in about 3 days. Therefore, I gave my friend an email, with the paper attached. He said that he'd print it and submit to the teacher. I thought that everything was taken care of until Monday (15) when I recieved an email from the prof. asking for my paper. I was like w t f?</p>

<p>Do you think that he'd change the grade considering the above circumstances?</p>

<p>1) You should have done the paper early.
2) You shouldn't have left town.</p>

<p>You deserve your grade.</p>

<p>3) You should've just handed it in early. Professors have no problem with this as it'll give them a chance to get ahead with their grading.
4) Should have sent an e-mail attachment as a follow-up and fail-proof plan for him to receive your paper, no matter howit turned in.</p>

<p>Let this be a lesson learn. At the end, in college, it's every (wo)man for him/herself.</p>

<p>If you can, take the course again drop the old grade and keep the new one.</p>

<p>uh...guys would you stop staying "you should have turned it in" we know that's what he SHOULD have done...but he didn't...mistakes happen...this happened to me this week too. I forgot about the finals and didnt' turn in my final essay....worth 50% of grade...went and talked to teacher, he gladly accepted it....</p>

<p>Yeah, mistakes happen. It is your fault, and it would be fair for the teacher to give you a D, if not nice. But the professor might be understanding, especially if you worked hard all year and it would be uncharacteristic of you to not turn in the paper. Get into contact with him as soon as possible. Like some suggested, try speaking to the department head to figure out how to get in contact with him, or at least to have proof that the next time you get a chance to talk to him, you did try to fix the problem as soon as possible.</p>

<p>Also, did your friend delete your e-mail? If not, you may have proof that you did indeed finish it, and this is not some elaborate story.</p>