Effective way of getting a prof to bump you up a grade

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
ysk1

ysk1

Membership Revoked
Removed
10+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2007
Messages
137
Reaction score
0
In my inorgo class of 40 people, only 2 people got A's.
My overall percentage fell short of an A by only 2% and I ended up getting an A- instead.
I emailed the prof to bump me up to an A, but he said that doing that won't be fair to other people in the class.
So I asked him instead to widen the range or boundary of A's, A-'s, and so on. He replied that the grades won't change. :(

I visited this prof's office hours often and he knows me by name.
It really maddens me to miss an A by only 2%!!!!

Any effective way of making your prof bump you up a grade?
Members don't see this ad.
 
score higher on the exams next time?
 
I'm with your professor. If you wanted an A, you should have worked harder. You earned an A-. Run with it and be glad it's not lower.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
I can understand if you are like .2-.3% away, or like 1 question on an exam (ARGH!!!)... but 2% is pretty big!!!

Some classes at my university have the "-" or "+" ranges only include 2-4%.
 
ysk1 said:
In my inorgo class of 40 people, only 2 people got A's.
My overall percentage fell short of an A by only 2% and I ended up getting an A- instead.
I emailed the prof to bump me up to an A, but he said that doing that won't be fair to other people in the class.
So I asked him instead to widen the range or boundary of A's, A-'s, and so on. He replied that the grades won't change. :(

I visited this prof's office hours often and he knows me by name.
It really maddens me to miss an A by only 2%!!!!

Any effective way of making your prof bump you up a grade?
Click to expand...

Only 2%?!!! Wait, that's actually a pretty significant miss. What exactly is the problem here?
If it's 0.2%, talk to him and see if there's any way. Anything over 0.5%, stay home.
 
You gotta put out



and don't be crying when you do it
 
2% is pretty big. In many cases it IS the range for A-: 90-92% = A-, 93-98% = A, 98+ = A+, etc.

Asking for a 2% increase for no reason is not fair to all those who got grades lower than an A, your prof is right. Then the people who got an 81% (B-) will whine because they would have to be bumped to an 83% (B).

Nice try, but no cigar. You can't beg for pity points on the mcat by the way. Take your A- and study harder in your next courses.
 
I missed an A in physics by 0.07%, a fractional part of a single question on the final exam, sub 2 points. I went over the exam and found a number of errors in the grading that each was worth enough to put me over the top but the professor said that the grading errors were not substantial enough to warrant a regrade of the exam, despite the fact I was right and it was enough to change my entire course grade. He said the course policy is there must be a MAJOR grading error for the grade to be changed. So I earned an A but got an A-. I certainly could have worked a little harder and overcome the issue but it's still BS to have earned it. I argued with him for about 5 months about it and never got anywhere. I have considered going over his head since I don't have anymore courses to take in that department but I just don't think it will help.
 
An A- is still good.
 
it sounds in your case like it isn't possible.

more generally, i don't understand why people think they are entitled to grade changes, particularly in science classes in which there is little subjectivity to the grading. the range was set at the beginning of the course, no? you knew what you were getting on exams, no?

guess you should have studied harder.

Tutmos said:
I missed an A in physics by 0.07%, a fractional part of a single question on the final exam, sub 2 points. I went over the exam and found a number of errors in the grading that each was worth enough to put me over the top but the professor said that the grading errors were not substantial enough to warrant a regrade of the exam, despite the fact I was right and it was enough to change my entire course grade. He said the course policy is there must be a MAJOR grading error for the grade to be changed. So I earned an A but got an A-. I certainly could have worked a little harder and overcome the issue but it's still BS to have earned it. I argued with him for about 5 months about it and never got anywhere. I have considered going over his head since I don't have anymore courses to take in that department but I just don't think it will help.
Click to expand...

This, on the other hand, is BS. After being shot down once by the prof, I would have threatened going to the dean. After being shot down twice by the prof, I would have gone to the dean. If YOU make an error on an exam, it comes out of your grade. If THEY make an error in grading your exam (taking points you have otherwise earned), your grade should be augmented accordingly.

Take action, or this prof will pull stuff like this on other students in the future.

I would also add: do it SOON if you want it to happen at all. Most schools have a formal or informal statute of limitations for these things. A recent Supreme Court decision highlights this fact: http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/05-1074.ZD.html (brief summary, discrimination occurred but the plaintiff did not act quickly enough, according to the majority).
 
Members don't see this ad :)
Low cut tops and tight jeans should work.
 
ysk1 said:
In my inorgo class of 40 people, only 2 people got A's.
My overall percentage fell short of an A by only 2% and I ended up getting an A- instead.
I emailed the prof to bump me up to an A, but he said that doing that won't be fair to other people in the class.
So I asked him instead to widen the range or boundary of A's, A-'s, and so on. He replied that the grades won't change. :(

I visited this prof's office hours often and he knows me by name.
It really maddens me to miss an A by only 2%!!!!

Any effective way of making your prof bump you up a grade?
Click to expand...

So you put in the face time to develop a relationship with a professor who could have written you a good LOR, then ruined that relationship and made yourself look like an immature grade-grubber in an attempt to go from an A- to an A?

Good decision making there bub.
 
Tutmos said:
I missed an A in physics by 0.07%, a fractional part of a single question on the final exam, sub 2 points. I went over the exam and found a number of errors in the grading that each was worth enough to put me over the top but the professor said that the grading errors were not substantial enough to warrant a regrade of the exam, despite the fact I was right and it was enough to change my entire course grade. He said the course policy is there must be a MAJOR grading error for the grade to be changed. So I earned an A but got an A-. I certainly could have worked a little harder and overcome the issue but it's still BS to have earned it. I argued with him for about 5 months about it and never got anywhere. I have considered going over his head since I don't have anymore courses to take in that department but I just don't think it will help.
Click to expand...

wow, I would be livid!

I just got 2 points back (that were incorrectly marked wrong) on a genchem exam... I can't believe a prof wouldn't change something that is right!!!
 
I once believed that professors were obligated (or at least ought to) bump a students grade if they were close enough for it to make a difference in the letter grade.....then I realized students need to stop being whiny b!tches, put forth effort, study and do good on tests and assignments and they wont have to worry about asking for a bump.

If you didnt get the grade you want, you dont deserve it.....unless, of course, the prof blatantly screwed you over
 
Ha, could be worse. In physics lab, I had a 93% just based on point scores. And I got a B+ because our professor did an ACTUAL bell curve. I didn't really complain though, it was just 1 credit, whatever.

Heh, he wasn't allowed to run lab anymore though since so many TAs and students complained.
 
I actually had a professor that said in class that if any of us wanted to pay him a quarter's worth of his salary up front, that he would give that student an A. After a long time of silence, he shook his head and said, "Thought so."
 
ysk1 said:
In my inorgo class of 40 people, only 2 people got A's.
My overall percentage fell short of an A by only 2% and I ended up getting an A- instead.
I emailed the prof to bump me up to an A, but he said that doing that won't be fair to other people in the class.
So I asked him instead to widen the range or boundary of A's, A-'s, and so on. He replied that the grades won't change. :(

I visited this prof's office hours often and he knows me by name.
It really maddens me to miss an A by only 2%!!!!

Any effective way of making your prof bump you up a grade?
Click to expand...


Inorganic is difficult. Be glad you got an A-, that's good.
 
dude 2% is a lot...that would just be ridiculous to give you the same A that others had to actually work for...quit being a baby and be happy with your A-
 
the range was set at the beginning of the course, no? you knew what you were getting on exams, no?
Click to expand...

The prof curved the class, so there were no such fixed grade ranges in the beginning. Since I did at least 20% better than average for midterms and final, I expected to get an A.
 
ysk1 said:
The prof curved the class, so there were no such fixed grade ranges in the beginning. Since I did at least 20% better than average for midterms and final, I expected to get an A.
Click to expand...

curves can be frustrating as hell, since many professors do them differently. however, i think you can tell from the plethora of negative responses here that you sound a little immature. as long as the grading criteria were applied uniformly, you unfortunately don't have a case for a grade bump.

let it pass. enjoy college. there's more to this lifetime than 3.XX
 
nu2004 said:
curves can be frustrating as hell, since many professors do them differently. however, i think you can tell from the plethora of negative responses here that you sound a little immature. as long as the grading criteria were applied uniformly, you unfortunately don't have a case for a grade bump.

let it pass. enjoy college. there's more to this lifetime than 3.XX
Click to expand...

Bah, that's no premed talk! :D
 
EpiPEN said:
You gotta put out



and don't be crying when you do it
Click to expand...

lol. You beat me to it.

I'm just surprised that no one said it until the 8th post...I'm pretty sure that's what most of us were planning to say when we clicked on this thread.
 
I have to point out that this is one of the 5 reasons people hate premeds.

Two percent is a lot (as has already been pointed out). How do you know there aren't a few people between you and those 2 A's? Bumping you to an A might mean bumping 3 or 4 people to an A.
 
dontwakeme said:
Inorganic is difficult. Be glad you got an A-, that's good.
Click to expand...

Exactly. I'm praying for a B+ after my final. Plus, like everyone else has said, 2% is a fairly large margin.
 
ok 2% is a big deal....I got a B once because I got an 89.3% instead of an 89.5%...only one person got an A in this class of 30.

so suck it up!!
 
If your grades increase over the course of a semester and profs just like you for whatever arbitrary reason they'll bump you up a grade. At least that's what has happened to me before. Acing the final will usually do it too. How can a prof not give you an A if you got a 100 on the final exam??
 
Randal Graves said:
If your grades increase over the course of a semester and profs just like you for whatever arbitrary reason they'll bump you up a grade. At least that's what has happened to me before. Acing the final will usually do it too. How can a prof not give you an A if you got a 100 on the final exam??
Click to expand...
that's not how it works everywhere.
 
Screw him. Literally.

Hey chicka bum bum.
 
ysk1 said:
In my inorgo class of 40 people, only 2 people got A's.
My overall percentage fell short of an A by only 2% and I ended up getting an A- instead.
I emailed the prof to bump me up to an A, but he said that doing that won't be fair to other people in the class.
So I asked him instead to widen the range or boundary of A's, A-'s, and so on. He replied that the grades won't change. :(

I visited this prof's office hours often and he knows me by name.
It really maddens me to miss an A by only 2%!!!!

Any effective way of making your prof bump you up a grade?
Click to expand...

Instead of worrying about how you might be able to manipulate your professor into fudging your grade, I would focus instead on what you're going to do with your life now since no medical school is going to accept an A- in chemistry.
 
How about this story... After a semester of classes during a big lecture class Bio I, I calculated my grade based on my exam, lab, etc. breakdown that was given at the beginning of the semester and calculated out a 91.3. So I believed that I would receive an A-. When I checked my grades I actually received a B+ ( 90.0-91.9 = A- and under that is a B+). I emailed my professor and he said he could not talk about it until a few months later. So I emailed him the next semester multiple times, while he ignored me, and then finally decided to meet with me. I met with him and he did not have anything that I asked prepared about my grade to discuss with me, i.e. the breakdown of what I received, and told me to check back again two weeks later. So what was the point of meeting? Anyways, I email him again and he emails me a break down of my grade. I did indeed get a 91.3% but he subtracted 1% for poor class participation to a 90.3. I was like ok thats still an A-. He said no, 91.3% uncoincidentally was the last A- he gave out. Then I asked why he took off 1% for poor class participation since I completed all assignments and only had two absences. He told me that the grade I received was "not just a percentage, but a reflection of what he thought I earned." In other words total BS. After about 5 months of emailing I dropped it cuz I didn't think it was worth it. Then when I was filling out my amcas, about a year later, I realized this extra grade actually did matter. And so I met with the Biology Dean and showed him all the documentation, the email my professor sent me that had the breakdown of the grade that he sent me. The Dean said he would talk to the professor. He got back to me and said "I can not change your grade. Professor A said that your grade is not just a percentage but a reflection of what he thinks you learned and earned. He has the discretion to change any student's grade +/- 5%. You recieved a B+." Tell me that that is fair... This is why I hate my undergrad institution and this is another reason people should go to a state school instead of schools that are notorious for their premed curriculum. Not to mention this was the second time I was taking this class, as I had made <C the first time around. Oh well, I am in a med school so I guess it doesn't matter, but still, PURE BS.
 
ysk1 said:
In my inorgo class of 40 people, only 2 people got A's.
My overall percentage fell short of an A by only 2% and I ended up getting an A- instead.
I emailed the prof to bump me up to an A, but he said that doing that won't be fair to other people in the class.
So I asked him instead to widen the range or boundary of A's, A-'s, and so on. He replied that the grades won't change. :(

I visited this prof's office hours often and he knows me by name.
It really maddens me to miss an A by only 2%!!!!

Any effective way of making your prof bump you up a grade?
Click to expand...

:lol::lol::lol::lol:
 
crash2500 said:
How about this story... After a semester of classes during a big lecture class Bio I, I calculated my grade based on my exam, lab, etc. breakdown that was given at the beginning of the semester and calculated out a 91.3. So I believed that I would receive an A-. When I checked my grades I actually received a B+ ( 90.0-91.9 = A- and under that is a B+). I emailed my professor and he said he could not talk about it until a few months later. So I emailed him the next semester multiple times, while he ignored me, and then finally decided to meet with me. I met with him and he did not have anything that I asked prepared about my grade to discuss with me, i.e. the breakdown of what I received, and told me to check back again two weeks later. So what was the point of meeting? Anyways, I email him again and he emails me a break down of my grade. I did indeed get a 91.3% but he subtracted 1% for poor class participation to a 90.3. I was like ok thats still an A-. He said no, 91.3% uncoincidentally was the last A- he gave out. Then I asked why he took off 1% for poor class participation since I completed all assignments and only had two absences. He told me that the grade I received was "not just a percentage, but a reflection of what he thought I earned." In other words total BS. After about 5 months of emailing I dropped it cuz I didn't think it was worth it. Then when I was filling out my amcas I realized this extra grade actually did matter. And so I met with the Biology Dean and showed him all the documentation, the email my professor sent me that had the breakdown of the grade that he sent me. The Dean said he would talk to the professor. He got back to me and said "I can not change your grade. Professor A said that your grade is not just a percentage but a reflection of what he thinks you earned. He has the discretion to change any student's grade +/- 5%. You recieved a B+." Tell me that that is fair... This is why I hate my undergrad institution. Not to mention this was the second time I was taking this class, as I had made <C the first time around. Oh well, I am in a med school so I guess it doesn't matter, but still, PURE BS.
Click to expand...

He probably confused your grade with someone else and made that up to catch his back
 
2% is way too much to ever warrant a grade bump.

That's like asking for an A- with an 88%.

If you were within half of a percentage point you might have a point for your beef, but the simple fact is you didn't earn it this time round. Some professors are fine with only 1 or 2 students earning an A is they have used the same or very similar tests in the past and they've demonstrated the exams are good at discerning student comprehension and application of material. The simple fact is not all classes are created equal and in some years more students achieve higher than in other years.

That being said, echo sentiments, an A- in orgo is a thumbs up for you, not a frowny face.
 
Wait, are we talking about Inorganic or General Chemistry?
 
crash2500 said:
How about this story... After a semester of classes during a big lecture class Bio I, I calculated my grade based on my exam, lab, etc. breakdown that was given at the beginning of the semester and calculated out a 91.3. So I believed that I would receive an A-. When I checked my grades I actually received a B+ ( 90.0-91.9 = A- and under that is a B+). I emailed my professor and he said he could not talk about it until a few months later. So I emailed him the next semester multiple times, while he ignored me, and then finally decided to meet with me. I met with him and he did not have anything that I asked prepared about my grade to discuss with me, i.e. the breakdown of what I received, and told me to check back again two weeks later. So what was the point of meeting? Anyways, I email him again and he emails me a break down of my grade. I did indeed get a 91.3% but he subtracted 1% for poor class participation to a 90.3. I was like ok thats still an A-. He said no, 91.3% uncoincidentally was the last A- he gave out. Then I asked why he took off 1% for poor class participation since I completed all assignments and only had two absences. He told me that the grade I received was "not just a percentage, but a reflection of what he thought I earned." In other words total BS. After about 5 months of emailing I dropped it cuz I didn't think it was worth it. Then when I was filling out my amcas, about a year later, I realized this extra grade actually did matter. And so I met with the Biology Dean and showed him all the documentation, the email my professor sent me that had the breakdown of the grade that he sent me. The Dean said he would talk to the professor. He got back to me and said "I can not change your grade. Professor A said that your grade is not just a percentage but a reflection of what he thinks you learned and earned. He has the discretion to change any student's grade +/- 5%. You recieved a B+." Tell me that that is fair... This is why I hate my undergrad institution and this is another reason people should go to a state school instead of schools that are notorious for their premed curriculum. Not to mention this was the second time I was taking this class, as I had made <C the first time around. Oh well, I am in a med school so I guess it doesn't matter, but still, PURE BS.
Click to expand...

That blows! The grade appeal committee is a wonderful thing. Could have been useful in this situation, especially if the grade scale was documented in the syllabus, etc. When you are in the right and you have a plausible case, it can't hurt. By asking you to wait a few months the Prof screwed you out of the ability to go through the appeals process. For any student, it can't hurt to know how to use these things.

:laugh: 2%. :laugh: That is hopeless. Furthermore, it doesn't matter how many % you beat the curve by. It is all standard deviation. If he spelled out exactly how he was going to curve, you don't have much to say.
 
Lawliet2008 said:
lol. You beat me to it.

I'm just surprised that no one said it until the 8th post...I'm pretty sure that's what most of us were planning to say when we clicked on this thread.
Click to expand...

Ha, I hesitated because I don't know how graphic I can be and not get kicked off this lame site.
 
Stuff happens. Lesson learned. I missed an A with 0.2%. The professor hated me for never showing up for classes, so he wouldn't bump my grade. Same thing happened again the following semester, getting docked for not showing up in lectures, though neither class required attendance. In the long run, it didn't hurt me.

Still, in a tight class, 2%, even 0.2% is a large difference. I had a class in which 90% of the class cheated, and eventually the bell-curve was that 95% and above was an A... The professor just simply couldn't bump anything or everyone was getting an A or A-.
 
Lawliet2008 said:
lol. You beat me to it.

I'm just surprised that no one said it until the 8th post...I'm pretty sure that's what most of us were planning to say when we clicked on this thread.
Click to expand...

Yeah people are just afraid to speak their mind. We were all thunking it anyways
 
You are the type of premed i can't stand, and why I dont associate as one. You didn't earn an A, thus your don't deserve it. Some classes are meant to be harder than others. Don't ask for free handouts.
 
You've already done all that you can to request a bump in your grade-- that is ask your professor. It sounds like he/she has already made up his/her mind, and your grade isn't going to budge. At this point, you're pestering your prof- you might want to stop. No need getting on someone's bad side for a mere 2%.
 
This is why I am so glad I majored in math so I could minimize my dealing with annoying people like you. 2% is huge amount, you don't deserve an A.
 
This has got to be some kind of joke. How can you deserve an A when your off by 2%?
 
OP: "Bump you up a grade" ?!?! I am a TA and I am sick and tired of students who refuse to come to terms with the grade they deserve, bugging me for extra points on tests. What do you think sets you apart from everyone else? Why should YOU specifically be bumped up? You'll probably just annoy your professor if you go begging for a grade change. I know, i know, life is hard.
 
Um... I think the OP got the point after the 20th post :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Next unread thread

Similar threads

smc285
Chances of Getting Into a T20 Medical School
Replies
4
Views
761
LindaAccepted
LindaAccepted
The Deep
Is this a good way to approach the diversity essay?
Replies
3
Views
370
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
The Deep
How long should you wait before following up with a school through email?
Replies
1
Views
474
AJS59
AJS59
N
Best way to ask to shadow?
Replies
6
Views
884
Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight
jdsj sd
PI wants to contact/bump certain med schools--who should they send to?
Replies
7
Views
1K
GoSpursGo
GoSpursGo
Top