Need Advice: Take and A- or risk taking my final for a higher grade?

[Evisju7]

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I have a 90 in one of my undergraduate classes right now. I have two options:

A) take my final exam. The final will be a huge portion of my grade and can boost my average to an A.

B) Opt-out of my final and accept the A-.

Normally I would take the final without question. But it looks difficult and could be a lot harder than my previous tests. I have no idea what to expect. If I screw up, I fail the class. That's how serious the test is.

Also, I have two other finals on the same day. It's in one week. I don't feel prepared. I'm sure I could get prepared, but I might be bald by then...

What would you do? Accepting the 90 is not sitting well with me.. especially knowing I can change it.

 

[Evisju7]

*sun-glass man is supposed to be a B

 

[Lamel]

A- or A in one class is likely to be an inconsequential difference.

 

[SnakeOilForSale]

I would accept the A- but I'm a person who prefers security over chance.

 

[ski89]

Yeah the risk benefit on this seems to favor taking the a-

 

[altblue]

If it looks like it could be harder, definitely take the A-. An A- converts to about a 3.7, which probably won't hurt too much and may even help your GPA... 🙂

A B+ or lower would definitely have an effect, so to speak.

 

[Pusheen]

Take the A- and be happy. It sounds like that's what you've decided anyway.

 

[MrLogan13]

It's not even a question, take the A- and focus on your other exams.

 

[Porkloins]

Take the A-. The possible GPA gain does not justify the risk of dropping to a B+ or lower, nor does it justify the loss of time you'd have to study for your other finals.

 

[sliceofbread136]

I'm pretty sure nothing has ever mattered less.

 

[Lysinee]

Accepting the 90 is not sitting well with me.. especially knowing I can change it.

 

[ProudMD]

Please tell me that this thread is a joke...

 

[Pierre Escargot]

Take it and leave it blank

 

[clocks123]

A B+ isnt really that bad

 

[onceawolverine]

Alright, I have a slightly different opinion than everyone else I guess; for me, it depends on a) what the class is, b) how hard the rest of your finals season is, c) how much time you have to prep (i know it's in one week, but how much time do you have in that week to really hammer down details), d) how much motivation you have to do well.

I'm sorry people are getting down on you for the a- "not sitting well." I think, while you will certainly get teased about it online, it's a sentiment many of us have felt at one time or another, especially knowing that your fate is in your hands.

Weigh your options. Don't be afraid to consult with the professor. Seek his/her advice, and make sure you don't just come across as a grade grubber (the only reason you've been teased here). Be sincere and honest, ask their opinion, and then take it seriously. Also feel free to post back here with some more info as to the list in my first paragraph, and we will definitely have more constructive things to say.

 

[aalamruad]

take the A-... obviously

 

[clairephillips]

Take the A- and run. The difference is miniscule. I don't know about AMCAS but TMDSAS doesn't even figure in +s and -s. Instead, an A or A - is an A, a B, B+, or B- it's a B, etc. This means that, at least in Texas, there is a bigger difference between an 89 and 90 than there is between a 90 and 99. So, take the A- and focus on things that matter more.

 

[efle]

be brave
take the final

 

[claduva94]

I have a 90 in one of my undergraduate classes right now. I have two options:

A) take my final exam. The final will be a huge portion of my grade and can boost my average to an A.

B) Opt-out of my final and accept the A-.

Normally I would take the final without question. But it looks difficult and could be a lot harder than my previous tests. I have no idea what to expect. If I screw up, I fail the class. That's how serious the test is.

Also, I have two other finals on the same day. It's in one week. I don't feel prepared. I'm sure I could get prepared, but I might be bald by then...

What would you do? Accepting the 90 is not sitting well with me.. especially knowing I can change it.

If you aren't exaggerating this part then don't take it. If you are then maybe consider it. I agree with onceawolverine said.

 

[cryhavoc]

A- all the way. Freshman me was too overly neurotic to let a chance at an A go by. Senior me knows to pick my battles more wisely,

The amount of work you would need to get an A in that one class is better served on all your other finals.

 

[Bottle]

Do you have to inform your professor about your decision before the final? I suggest that you study for your two other exams. Begin now and try to finish studying. If you finished earlier and you feel like you have time and will power to study for this class, do so and take the final. If not, take the A-.

 

[I'm not a cat]

Your future patients will not care if you made an A or A-

The same grading scheme use to bother me so much; however, with time, you will learn it does not matter at all.

 

[freemontie]

In the course of a college career the effect between 1 A vs. A- would likely only show up in the thousandths decimal place of you GPA. i.e. if you end up taking 36 classes total than changing one class from an A- to an A would increase your GPA by only (4-3.7)/36=0.0083

On the other hand, lowering an A- to a B in the same scenario would decrease your GPA by 0.0194, almost 0.02. Also small, but now it actually begins to possibly have an effect on you. If you want to be scientific: assign (slightly pessimistic) probabilities on what your grade in the class will be if you took the exam, calculate the effects on your gpa for each grade vs. an A-, multiply each of the probabilities with it's related effect, and sum the products together to get a statistically expected effect: if positive, take it and if negative (which in all likelihood it will be) don't take it.

 

[Ace Khalifa]

Take the A-...you have 2 other finals on the same day that I'm assuming you want to do well in. Your pride is what's gonna tank you, so it's best to swallow your pride now and move on.

 

[amazing tekkers]

Neo took the red pill but I would take the blue pill in this case by taking the A-.