<p>Hey everyone,</p>
<p>My grades are finally up. I got a C in Educational Law. It makes me sad and very angry because I did well in my other classes (1 A and 2 A-s). Had I dropped the law course, my cum GPA would have rise instead of staying the same. Worse, I have 3 Cs on my transcript, including now a 300-level course for my major. I can kiss good-bye the U.S. Dept of Education Internship becuase they would never accept anyone such as myself getting a C in an 300-level Education class. To get an A in Race/Ethnicity Constitutional Law (without the use of Socratic method) and a C in Education Law (with the use of the Socratic method) just looks awful. I can kiss grad school good-bye.</p>
<p>I want to contest the grade so badly (I could use doctor visits since I had episodes of eczema and pityriasis rosea this quarter which I did not want to wake up, dress and go to class). The Socratic method scared me to death to the point I just didn't want to speak at all due to being seen as stupid. I felt at a complete disadvantage since I never grew up in an suburban school district (i live in the city) and most of the cases applied to suburban schools. I could not share my experiences to anyone because my experiences did not apply, so I could not participate as much as I wanted like in my other classes. And when I did an urban school for my first paper, I still got a C because I didn't mention the court cases (why should I when the school itself used zero tolerance? the court cases didn't even apply). I am not a C person, everyone. Just look at my other grades! Sighs....</p>
<p>Try to negotiate a Pass/Fail grade with your professor --be persistent, and annoying if you must.</p>
<p>Let me know how that works out; we'll go from there. </p>
<p>Also, let the internship committee decide not to accept you. I mean (and I know it sounds cliche, but it's true) the only way you can guarantee you won't get accepted is if you do not apply.</p>
<p>As far as Grad school goes, you are not doomed. While the C/s on your transcript will certainly make admissions to top schools tougher, you are bound to get in somewhere if you are smart selecting schools. </p>
<p>I noticed you say Grad school and not "law school." You may be able to "write your way in" to the former. And if you get a strong LSAT score, you may be able to do the same for the latter.</p>
<p>Now, an issue you have to address is fear of public speaking. I know it can be difficult, as I used to be rather shy myself. Nevertheless, it is something that you can overcome. It may be tough, but it's possible. I would encourage you to try and challenge yourself through extracurriculars that require you to speak in public (and often.) It will be horrible at first, but after a bit you grow used to it, and it merely become a tedious task. Trust me, after you give a speech in front of 4,000 people speaking up in class is, more or less, cake. And if you have the inclination, do some reading regarding public speaking techniques; If you are feeling ambitious you can take a public speaking class. (I am just not sure a class would be the best idea since I don't know how that will interfere with your schedule and/or how you will react to the pressure of having to do well b/c of your GPA.)</p>
<p>Good luck! Let us know how everything turns out.</p>
<p>Cheers,</p>
<p>WF</p>
<p>I only have three arguments right now. I plan to speak to my advisor and then the prof:
- lack (more like none) of graded assignments before drop deadline (this is my crucial argument because I could have dropped the class and not have it affect my GPA)
- how did everyone respond to a new writing style (did she even teach students how to write in legal writing?)
- very subjective class participation (30% is a lot)</p>
<p>I can't do Pass/Fail because this is a major course.</p>
<p>I would try not being confrontational; humility goes a long way. It doesn't mean not being assertive, though.</p>
<p>Based on what you are saying, I would try to persuade your faculty into doing an administrative (non-punitive) withdrawal --which, at most schools, can be made after the student-drop deadline. It may be tough, but the experience will also improve your negotiation skills ;). Sure, you would have to re-take the class, but you would be better prepared and aware of what you need to do in order to earn a better grade.</p>
<p>Anyway, just my 0.00002 cents. Keep us posted.</p>
<p>Not to be entirely harsh... but why contest the grade? Didn't you earn it?</p>
<p>If you didn't go to the professor to try to improve your writing; if you chose a topic for a paper that is tangental to the course; if you didn't ask your professor if you could re-write your papers for a higher grade; and if you are generally unwilling to do much to help yourself, then why contest it? </p>
<p>It is problematic that your professor chose mostly cases from suburban school districts - but is that because she thought that the class could relate better? Or does it underlie one of the fundamental problems with court-made jurisprudence: that only the suburbanites are wealthy and savvy enough to litigate these issues, so the law is only well-developed with regards to certain issues? </p>
<p>Either way, if your paper is about something tangental to the main focus of the course, you will need to somehow integrate the course with your paper: figuring out how to stretch the rules from the suburban cases to an urban case. </p>
<p>Zero-tolerance policies, fyi, are policies: note that they must comport with state and federal laws, as well as any judicial interpretations thereof. If your professor hadn't adequately explained the interactions of laws (and which ones trump), that could be an issue.</p>
<p>Your chances for grad school are not entirely in the garbage - and neither are your chances for law school. Trust me on this one - I have a pile of Cs (sure, I was an engineer, but still) and made it into law school (sure, it was by the skin of my teeth, but I'm here).</p>
<p>^^chill with the big words. In English please...</p>
<p>Whatever happened with this?? Is your grade still the same?</p>
<p>Yes, I got a C in the class. However, I plan to appeal my grade (instead of asking for a higher grade, I will ask the Dean to give me a 'P' -- the office of the registrar said it's possible). What I had to endure in that class was just terrible. There was no reason I should have received Cs on the papers and a D on the final. The only way that could happen is if I was never taught the criteria in the first place.</p>