Complaining for better grades

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"Complain" is kind of a loaded word to use. You won't find many people that openly state that they "complained" for a better grade. However, you would be more likely to find those who found errors in grading, incorrect "correct" answers, or contradictions and brought them to the attention of said prof / TA / grader.
 
lazy said:
Do you do this in your undergrad classes? Do you ever go to the prof / TA / grader and complain for a better grade? I was wondering how many people do this regularly.
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There is a difference between complaining and asking the TA/professor to change a grade that is wrong. I have done the latter, but I never do the former.
 
Haha this is funny because the pre-meds at my college have a terrible reputation. Several professors that I have taken have even gone into long diatribes on the first day of class about how they understand that pre-meds need A's to get into med school but they have a stout policy against grade changes regardless of the amount of complaining the student does...unless of course there is an obvious error on the professors part.

I remember my biostatistics professor was especially sour on pre-meds, he kept belittling them throughout the semester...no one specifically, just the group/type in general.
 
icalz said:
Haha this is funny because the pre-meds at my college have a terrible reputation. Several professors that I have taken have even gone into long diatribes on the first day of class about how they understand that pre-meds need A's to get into med school but they have a stout policy against grade changes regardless of the amount of complaining the student does...unless of course there is an obvious error on the professors part.

I remember my biostatistics professor was especially sour on pre-meds, he kept belittling them throughout the semester...no one specifically, just the group/type in general.
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I have had professors do this to, however they were not specific to pre-meds.
 
my bio prof graded my groups lab wrong (8.6 when it was a 9.6) and this lab also happend to count for a lab quiz grade. well she forgot to add the point to the lab quiz...im not going to complain. generally, if its not going to make a difference in your gpa in the long run(like a point or two), dont bother.

and if your tests are curved or your prof adds a few points every now and then it would be extremely disrespectful to argue for points...


very very very touchy

and depends on so many variables....


my short answer: no.
 
I would only question a grade if it was calculated incorrectly or if I genuinely believed it was unfair. I'm pretty non-confrontational. I'm also perfectly able to accept my mistakes as my own responsibility. I don't consider grades to be important enough to be disrespectful.
 
minicow said:
my bio prof graded my groups lab wrong (8.6 when it was a 9.6) and this lab also happend to count for a lab quiz grade. well she forgot to add the point to the lab quiz...im not going to complain. generally, if its not going to make a difference in your gpa in the long run(like a point or two), dont bother.

and if your tests are curved or your prof adds a few points every now and then it would be extremely disrespectful to argue for points...


very very very touchy

and depends on so many variables....


my short answer: no.
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I went into my Genetics Final with a 96 average so I thought I had an A in the bag...don't know what happened but my final grade showed up as a B. To this day I think it is still somehow incorrect, but I calculated my gpa with an A and I calculated it with a B and the difference went from a 3.87 to a 3.879 (something like that), so I just let it go.
 
Usually, if something is unfair, another student will address it before I get the chance to. I have, however, genuinely missed a couple due dates over the years for various reasons and I have sometimes asked for the teacher to accept my late work even though they don't have to. They usually are quite receptive. It doesn't hurt to ask considering your future is on the line in regards to your GPA as a premed.

I'm not the type to argue about exams being off topic or unfair. I'll complain to myself, but I usually just accept any poor performance as my own fault.
 
i had a B+ in orgo 1 and decided to have a talk with my prof, didn't really complain

i just told him that i think the way he is grading is unfair when looking at my scores and I believe i deserve an A-, we did couple of different calculations and he decided that I made a good point and he changed my grade
 
sportsfreak said:
i had a B+ in orgo 1 and decided to have a talk with my prof, didn't really complain

i just told him that i think the way he is grading is unfair when looking at my scores and I believe i deserve an A-, we did couple of different calculations and he decided that I made a good point and he changed my grade
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If the way in which he graded was unfair, wouldn't it only have been fair to change everyone else's grade also?
 
icalz said:
If the way in which he graded was unfair, wouldn't it only have been fair to change everyone else's grade also?
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well you can suit for yourself if its unfair:
we took 3 exams, he dropped the lowest one, the problem was:
exam 1: i had 70 avg was 80
exam 2: i had 68 avg was 60

he dropped the 68 when calculating my grade, I complained saying that since the class is curved to the avg its unfair that my 68 is getting dropped since compared to the avg the 68 is better then the 70, so then we just sat there did some math and came up with an A-

i think he just did this for me since i brought it up and he continues to use his old grading system in class
 
Getting an A- with a 68 on a test. Man, I wish I got curves like that. Not taking a shot at you, I just wish I had more professors that were more generous and understanding in their grades.
 
lazy said:
Do you do this in your undergrad classes? Do you ever go to the prof / TA / grader and complain for a better grade? I was wondering how many people do this regularly.
Click to expand...

If you don't deserve the higher grade, then you shouldn't do it. If you feel you deserve it due to a grading error or you find something in your book or lecture notes that support another answer on a MC exam, negotiate for all the points that are rightfully yours!
 
Diggidy said:
Getting an A- with a 68 on a test. Man, I wish I got curves like that. Not taking a shot at you, I just wish I had more professors that were more generous and understanding in their grades.
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well i didn't tell u my grade on the other exam and the final, the 68 out of 60 avg was a B by itself from what i remember
 
I tried once but could never do this. I think the best you can do is go do the professor ALL the time during the semester and show them you KNOW your stuff and CARE about it, but might have made a few stupid mistakes on the test. Then at the end of the semester when you have an 89% they might just give you that 1%. Worked for me! 😀
 
DRIN said:
If you don't deserve the higher grade, then you shouldn't do it. If you feel you deserve it due to a grading error or you find something in your book or lecture notes that support another answer on a MC exam, negotiate for all the points that are rightfully yours!
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👍👍
 
I can only think of 1 instance like this and it wasnt so much that I complained as pleaded for an A...

That was because my Botany professor is deliberately difficult in abstract whether it be in giving assignments, making tests, or grading. His name is Dr. Fail (not kidding) and he did his best to do his name justice.

On the last day of the semester, I took every lab, homework/classwork/extra credit assignment, test, quiz, and study material, and we went through every single sheet of paper point for point AND I included a letter explaining why I deserved an A.

I was the only person in any of his classes that semester to get an A.
 
Personally, I find it very annoying when students complain about their grade to try to raise it higher, especially when I worked hard to get a high grade and did not have to complain. That being said, if there is an error in the grading, such as some sort of calculation error, then you have every right to get it fixed.

I feel that grades should be a reflection of your hard work and intelligence, not how well you are able to argue or complain about why you deserve a higher grade. I made grades that I was unhappy with, but I also knew I could have worked harder to get a higher grade. If you fall, pick yourself up, learn from it and use it to kick butt next time. If you succeed in getting your grade changed by complaining about it, that only lets you slide through life, and what lesson do you learn from that that helps you to become a more mature individual??
 
Don't bug them if you aren't owed the points. If there is a legitimate mistake, by all means bring it up.
 
Superman DO said:
Personally, I find it very annoying when students complain about their grade to try to raise it higher, especially when I worked hard to get a high grade and did not have to complain. That being said, if there is an error in the grading, such as some sort of calculation error, then you have every right to get it fixed.

I feel that grades should be a reflection of your hard work and intelligence, not how well you are able to argue or complain about why you deserve a higher grade. I made grades that I was unhappy with, but I also knew I could have worked harder to get a higher grade. If you fall, pick yourself up, learn from it and use it to kick butt next time. If you succeed in getting your grade changed by complaining about it, that only lets you slide through life, and what lesson do you learn from that that helps you to become a more mature individual??
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Exactly! I have a 2.5 yr old and a 12 month old and I work very hard to get good grades. Its extremely hard some days to even find the time to study. My kids are my #1 priority and they always always need my attention for something. Alot of time nights or (nap time) are my only "free time" So, Nothing infuriates me more than witnessing students cheat or hearing students beg for a better grade because the test wasn't "fair" Especially when they sleep in class and then complain about not doing well on a quiz. Or, talking about getting drunk the night before, not studying, and then complaining about a quiz or test grade. I would never beg for points, I would simply find out what I did wrong, correct it, and do better on the next test.
 
The more subjective the subject, the more likely I would be to talk to the prof about my grades. There was obviously no point in asking about scantron exams. If partial credit was given for work I would occasionally ask a question or two but I wouldn't generally argue. For my (mercifully few) liberal arts classes where the grades were based on term papers I viewed arguing with the prof as an integral part of the grading process.
 
I used to not say anything - until I transferred to a university where that was a part of staying competitive. It doesn't have to be complaining - just going to your professors during office hours and asking them about things you got wrong helps. They know your name, know you care enough to give them a hard time, and grade you up. It's crappy, but school is crappy! Sometimes it doesn't work like it should, and you have to work it like it is. I would stay away from complaining per se, though - it might get you one good test grade, but will piss off the teacher. Better to just be interested and go see them all the time. Grading bias exists, without a doubt. My wife is a college professor, and many of my friends are college professors, and they are predisposed to give better grades to the students they think of as being "the good students". The best you can do is be "one of the good students" in your professor's mind.
 
My philosophy is pretty much that good results are something you have to earn. You have to work to get the grade you want. And if you don't get the grade you want, you simply didn't work hard enough.

Of course, there's always the professor who makes your life miserable even when you are working hard. But I just kind of accept that as a fact of life. :S
 
icalz said:
I remember my biostatistics professor was especially sour on pre-meds, he kept belittling them throughout the semester...no one specifically, just the group/type in general.
Click to expand...

Do you attend UTA? At the start of this semester I had a biostats professor swear if he caught any premeds cheating he would do everything he possibly could to prevent them from getting into medical school. Sounded to me like he was just mad that he didn't make it into medschool himself.
 
Don't complain unless you have a legitimate reason to do so. Otherwise, don't expect a warm letter of recommendation from them when application time rolls around.
 
zootycoon said:
Do you attend UTA? At the start of this semester I had a biostats professor swear if he caught any premeds cheating he would do everything he possibly could to prevent them from getting into medical school. Sounded to me like he was just mad that he didn't make it into medschool himself.
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Or...and here's a thought, he didn't want cheaters to be his/society's future doctors.:idea:
 
zootycoon said:
Do you attend UTA? At the start of this semester I had a biostats professor swear if he caught any premeds cheating he would do everything he possibly could to prevent them from getting into medical school. Sounded to me like he was just mad that he didn't make it into medschool himself.
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Wow, small world 🙂 It was Britton, and I got that same impression...that he had maybe wanted to be a doctor once but I guess didn't get the grades. He had asked for a show of hands in our class to see how many pre-meds he had, I kept my hands down for my own safety.
 
Getting an A- with a 68 on a test. Man, I wish I got curves like that. Not taking a shot at you, I just wish I had more professors that were more generous and understanding in their grades.
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My two cents: no one knows how hard/ easy his test is compared to other tests on the same material. His 68 could demonstrate a higher level of knowledge than somebody else's 90.
 
greatnt249 said:
Or...and here's a thought, he didn't want cheaters to be his/society's future doctors.:idea:
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Yah ya think. I don't disagree with his policy against cheating, I just don't understand why his anger was only against premeds. I think it should be the same for future teachers, nurses, doctors, policemen, and others. Cheating is just wrong period and should be punished the same regardless of your future profession. He just seemed to have a vendetta.
 
the reason is probably because premeds in his experience are the most likely to do whater they can to get a good grade. can't say i don't think this myself
 
zootycoon said:
Yah ya think. I don't disagree with his policy against cheating, I just don't understand why his anger was only against premeds. I think it should be the same for future teachers, nurses, doctors, policemen, and others. Cheating is just wrong period and should be punished the same regardless of your future profession. He just seemed to have a vendetta.
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Probably because premeds are the most annoying of any student, lol.
 
Everybody hates premeds (they're annoying). Welcome to being a premed. Until you get into med school, you're basically the spawn of Satan as far as any academician or healthcare professional is concerned.
 
icalz said:
Haha this is funny because the pre-meds at my college have a terrible reputation. Several professors that I have taken have even gone into long diatribes on the first day of class about how they understand that pre-meds need A's to get into med school but they have a stout policy against grade changes regardless of the amount of complaining the student does...unless of course there is an obvious error on the professors part.

I remember my biostatistics professor was especially sour on pre-meds, he kept belittling them throughout the semester...no one specifically, just the group/type in general.
Click to expand...

I had a professor who let us know when our final exam grades and final grades were posted that she's not going to bump anyone up, she doesn't care if this is your 3rd time taking that class, or if you realllyyyy need an A to get into med school. It was funny. I laughed because it was so true.

Perrotfish said:
The more subjective the subject, the more likely I would be to talk to the prof about my grades. There was obviously no point in asking about scantron exams. If partial credit was given for work I would occasionally ask a question or two but I wouldn't generally argue. For my (mercifully few) liberal arts classes where the grades were based on term papers I viewed arguing with the prof as an integral part of the grading process.
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Yeah, not much wiggle room for multiple choice tests. It often is what it is.
 
dont like doing that. have never done it.

the only few time i did something close to that was a specific mistake in the marking (prof was wrong multiple choice and entire class got their marks)

and then when the prof missed a question.

but other than that, i go to the prof and start with, "im not here for more marks" i just wanna know my mistakes. even if its arguable.

oh but yeah a couple of times i did get marks

i tink in general im too lazy to go visit the prof.
and sometimes i could have gotten marks i still didnt go because it was not worth the calories to walk over.

wow. lazy much!
 
Lovemybabies said:
Exactly! I have a 2.5 yr old and a 12 month old and I work very hard to get good grades. Its extremely hard some days to even find the time to study. My kids are my #1 priority and they always always need my attention for something. Alot of time nights or (nap time) are my only "free time" So, Nothing infuriates me more than witnessing students cheat or hearing students beg for a better grade because the test wasn't "fair" Especially when they sleep in class and then complain about not doing well on a quiz. Or, talking about getting drunk the night before, not studying, and then complaining about a quiz or test grade. I would never beg for points, I would simply find out what I did wrong, correct it, and do better on the next test.
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You'll make a great doctor 👍👍 I like to hear people's stories like this, it's very motivating. Take only what you earn.
 
Don't do this. Work hard and earn your grade. All complaining will do is annoy your prof.
 
icalz said:
I went into my Genetics Final with a 96 average so I thought I had an A in the bag...don't know what happened but my final grade showed up as a B. To this day I think it is still somehow incorrect, but I calculated my gpa with an A and I calculated it with a B and the difference went from a 3.87 to a 3.879 (something like that), so I just let it go.
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Not sure why I'm commenting on this since it's really old, but it bothered me...

Most undergraduates have how many credits? 110-150 credits? It'd be even less since GPA calculation would have been submitted by the end of junior year so you have even less... As of now, I will have 108 credits completed by my junior year and I only need 120 to graduate... so I'll assume that 90 credits is the average for most to-be seniors. And I will assume that Genetics is a 4 credit course as it is at my university. (Now of course this only applies if you're applying the first time around and you have this amount of credits and if Genetics is the same amount of credits):

90 Credits and a GPA of 3.87 with a B in Genetics: (Breaks down to 3.87 * 90 = 348.3 points)

90 Credits and an A in Genetics would yield 16 points for the course instead of the 12 with a B. Therefore, 4 more points added to the points total. So, 352.3 / 90 = GPA of 3.9144. I would say this is not a significant, but in my opinion its a notable difference. And this difference is smaller because you already had such a high GPA.

Only if you had done this at the end of your undergrad of 150 credits:

150 Credits and a GPA of 3.87 with a B in Genetics: (Breaks down to 3.87 * 150 = 580.5 points)

150 Credits and an A in Genetics would yield 16 points for the course instead of the 12 with a B. Therefore, 4 more points added to the points total. So, 584.5 / 150 = GPA of 3.87666.

Or you could possibly mean a B+ vs. an A- which then completely changes everything...

Or maybe I'm just being a little too neurotic. 😎
 
If the teacher made a mistake while checking the exam, of course I let the teacher know and make him change it.
 
apumic said:
Everybody hates premeds (they're annoying). Welcome to being a premed. Until you get into med school, you're basically the spawn of Satan as far as any academician or healthcare professional is concerned.
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I need to disagree here. Have not begged for better grades but ask what I did wrong. I have always been angelic to my professors even though some get on my nerves. My expression is that of stone when I walk into their office.:meanie:
 
Spend less time on SDN and more time studying for your exams. If you're really devoted to getting an MD/DO, then you should be doing well enough that you don't have to beg for an improved grade.
 
mediterranean said:
I have always been angelic to my professors even though some get on my nerves.

My expression is that of stone when I walk into their office.:meanie:
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How do these two statements even go together?
Someone who is "angelic" does not walk in with an "expression of stone." The latter sounds like an attempt at intimidation or to pressure someone. Maybe that's not what you meant, but that's how it sounds.
 
I actually hate people who do this. It's normally because you don't deserve it. These types of people make me sick. Man up and take what you got. Take some personal responsibility.
 
Ack, I'll probably seem like a jerk for doing this, but I'm setting up a meeting with our biology "lecture coordinator" (we have rotating professors) to get my grade bumped up from a B+ to an A-. With our highly stilted curve in the course with grade letter cutoffs, the difference between a B+ and an A- is 2%, which I realize isn't that much different from the normal gap, but I'm seeing where my percentage fits in that scale, and if it would be substantiated enough to push me through that cusp if I can salvage points from faulty grading, etc. If worse comes to worse, then I can suck it up and accept the grade as what I deserve.

I'VE LOST ALL OF YOUR RESPECT, HAVEN'T I? :scared::scared:
 
bowenyang said:
Ack, I'll probably seem like a jerk for doing this, but I'm setting up a meeting with our biology "lecture coordinator" (we have rotating professors) to get my grade bumped up from a B+ to an A-. With our highly stilted curve in the course with grade letter cutoffs, the difference between a B+ and an A- is 2%, which I realize isn't that much different from the normal gap, but I'm seeing where my percentage fits in that scale, and if it would be substantiated enough to push me through that cusp if I can salvage points from faulty grading, etc. If worse comes to worse, then I can suck it up and accept the grade as what I deserve.

I'VE LOST ALL OF YOUR RESPECT, HAVEN'T I? :scared::scared:
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If that's the grade you deserve, then why don't you "suck it up" and take it? For some reason, everyone has lost sight of what grades should and should not be. A grade is simply an arbitrary letter that goes on a transcript, it may or may not represent your true competency or level of mastery with respect to course material. A B+ isn't the end of the world, and the difference between this grade and what you're complaining for is so little after its dilution in GPA calculations. Here's a radical suggestion: work harder next time.

As for your last comment about respect, I really hope you don't care about your SDN reputation.
 
icalz said:
I went into my Genetics Final with a 96 average so I thought I had an A in the bag...don't know what happened but my final grade showed up as a B. To this day I think it is still somehow incorrect, but I calculated my gpa with an A and I calculated it with a B and the difference went from a 3.87 to a 3.879 (something like that), so I just let it go.
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Maybe you should check this out with your professor. Given your success on the rest of the tests, there is a decent chance the professor made a mistake.

I had an ex who got a "surprise B" in a class, and didn't want to say anything to the prof. After some prodding from me, she finally checked it out, and guess what? The prof goofed, and she had actually earned an A. It preserved her 4.0 cumulative GPA in undergrad. I think she still owes me one for this... 🙂
 
I had gotten one standard deviation away on both midterms and got 100% on my homework in physio lab, so i expected an A

In neurolab I got a C on the anatomy midterm and B-'s on lab writeups, so i expected at best a B

In the end, I got a B+ in physio and an A- in neuro. I don't know how I got a B+ physio b/c coming out of the exam I thought I aced it. However, I didn't complain about it since the A- in neuro was unexpected. Plus, I was graduating and the GPA diff was miniscule.
 
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