Regarding Final Grade and Medical Issue & Credit/No credit

[Mytime2017]

Hi all,

long story short, i did not do well in a course this semester ( C+ in a Histology course).

I missed the final ( an oral presentation) and the professor is refusing to give me a make up oral presentation despite providing him verifiable medical documentation ( i was vomiting and had severe nausea that day); he is super strict in general.

This plummeted my grade from an A-/B+ to a C+ as this presentation was 25% of my grade.

As I would like to fight this ( I was genuinely ill and had the issue documented by my physician), I would like to know if its worth fighting? My school has a retroactive withdrawal or pass/fail option that I could petition for given that I have the appropriate documentation and was genuinely ill. should i take that instead; i havent had a p/f or withdrawal in 2 years?

I mainly do not want this to affect my gpa as I am a postbac and did well in everything else this semester.

Your clarification would be truly appreciated.

@LizzyM , @Goro, @Catalystik

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[Goro]

It's one course; just let it go. But if you can take the retroactive W, then fine.

 

[Mytime2017]

It's one course; just let it go. But if you can take the retroactive W, then fine.

Dear Goro,

I am grateful for your response.

I am also concerned because I was doing this postbac to enhance my record ( I cannot afford anymore low grades and this will heavily impact my overall gpa as its a 5 credit course, and feel like I didn't deserve to be penalized grade-wise for a medical issue.

Do you suggest a retroactive withdrawal would be more appropriate in this case?

Thank you once again.

 

[Catalystik]

i did not do well in a course this semester ( C+ in a Histology course).

I missed the final ( an oral presentation) and the professor is refusing to give me a make up oral presentation despite providing him verifiable medical documentation ( i was vomiting and had severe nausea that day); he is super strict in general.

This plummeted my grade from an A-/B+ to a C+ as this presentation was 25% of my grade.

As I would like to fight this ( I was genuinely ill and had the issue documented by my physician), I would like to know if its worth fighting? My school has a retroactive withdrawal or pass/fail option that I could petition for given that I have the appropriate documentation and was genuinely ill. should i take that instead; i havent had a p/f or withdrawal in 2 years?

I mainly do not want this to affect my gpa as I am a postbac and did well in everything else this semester.

Your clarification would be truly appreciated.

@LizzyM , @Goro, @Catalystik

Does the instructor (or the school) have a printed policy on absense during exams? What is it?

Does the physician letter rely solely on your report that you were ill, or is evidence provided like abnormal vital signs, need for IV fluids, or provision of prescription antinausea meds? Did you acquire a copy of the visit record that supports your claim?

 

[featherdelights]

Sorry to piggyback off this thread but I had a similar concern...I got an incomplete for a class because I was ill during the final but got to make it up and received a final grade of "A." My transcript doesn't state the incomplete anywhere but sadly AMCAS says we have to report it anyway. I was wondering how this will look? @gyngyn @Catalystik @Goro

 

[Mytime2017]

Does the instructor (or the school) have a printed policy on absense during exams? What is it?


Does the physician letter rely solely on your report that you were ill, or is evidence provided like abnormal vital signs, need for IV fluids, or provision of prescription antinausea meds? Did you acquire a copy of the visit record that supports your claim?

The school does not have a printed policy on absences; all that the professor stated was that there are no exceptions for missed exams or presentations. The professor in this case gave me no credit for the missed presentation.

The physician's note specifies that I was suffering from vomiting and nausea; in addition, i was prescribed antinausea medications; in addition, as I have a chronic condition, this condition was uncontrolled during this time causing great weakness.

What could I possibly do given I was being truthful? I am doing this postbac for academic enhancement reasons and this grade sticks out in a negative way.

Does the instructor (or the school) have a printed policy on absense during exams? What is it?

Does the physician letter rely solely on your report that you were ill, or is evidence provided like abnormal vital signs, need for IV fluids, or provision of prescription antinausea meds? Did you acquire a copy of the visit record that supports your claim?

 

[Catalystik]

The physician's note specifies that I was suffering from vomiting and nausea; in addition, i was prescribed antinausea medications; in addition, as I have a chronic condition, this condition was uncontrolled during this time causing great weakness.

What could I possibly do given I was being truthful? I am doing this postbac for academic enhancement reasons and this grade sticks out in a negative way.

You might set up an appointment with a Dean, bringing all documents, including the visit notes of the doc, and ask if you have any recourse for appeal to try to save your grade.

If your grade would have been a B, it wouldn't do your GPA any favors, though. P/F or W would look better on your record if it can be negotiated. A W is better if it comes with a tuition refund.

 

[Goro]

Given your position, the retroactive W is better than a C.

Teaching moment: It would have been helpful if you had included this info in your OP.

The school does not have a printed policy on absences; all that the professor stated was that there are no exceptions for missed exams or presentations. The professor in this case gave me no credit for the missed presentation.

The physician's note specifies that I was suffering from vomiting and nausea; in addition, i was prescribed antinausea medications; in addition, as I have a chronic condition, this condition was uncontrolled during this time causing great weakness.

What could I possibly do given I was being truthful? I am doing this postbac for academic enhancement reasons and this grade sticks out in a negative way.

 

[Catalystik]

If you have no visit record with objective evidence of your illness and handled everything by phone, don't bother with a Dean visit.

 

[Mytime2017]

If you have no visit record with objective evidence of your illness and handled everything by phone, don't bother with a Dean visit.

Dear Catalystik,

I have physician documentation that states everything ( vomiting/nausea + prescription, documentation of visit, etc).

I will definitely try and negotiate for a p/f or withdrawal as there is honestly nothing I could have done. My professor refused to help as it would be "unfair to other students".

do you think a withdrawal/p/f/ would be detrimental? i havent withdrawn in 2 years and was not planning on to :/

 

[Mytime2017]

if the school has no stated policy
if the professor stated no exceptions to missed classes
the only possible path is with dean and even then he could only influence the professor's grade decision. While most schools have verbiage or rules that do permit the dean to intervene, it is usually qualified with something like "under extraordinary circumstances." a regular illness usually does not rise to that level

i really appreciate your response! as I was told that my chronic condition was uncontrolled after this medical issue ( the vomiting/nausea affected my ability to properly control my chronic condition which was evident to the physician), i could get an explicit note from my doctor documenting this.

would this be better? i guess the best course of action would be to appeal for a retroactive withdrawal/p/f given the nature of this circumstance?

 

[Catalystik]

do you think a withdrawal/p/f/ would be detrimental? i havent withdrawn in 2 years and was not planning on to :/

Neither a W nor a P/F will be detrimental to your application.

 

[Catalystik]

My professor refused to help as it would be "unfair to other students".

What is unfair to other students is forcing potentially infectious students to attend class so that the illness spreads.
/commercial message

 

[featherdelights]

Sorry to piggyback off this thread but I had a similar concern...I got an incomplete for a class because I was ill during the final but got to make it up and received a final grade of "A." My transcript doesn't state the incomplete anywhere but sadly AMCAS says we have to report it anyway. I was wondering how this will look? @gyngyn @Catalystik @Goro

Would appreciate any help/advice on this! sorry!!

 

[Mytime2017]

Appealing would have no downside risk and only an upside to it. That is, it cant get worse, it can only get better. However, in my experience this would not qualify as extraordinary circumstance. That would be at least hospitalization

i am grateful for your response. I guess i can request the dean for a p/f or withdrawal as there was absolutely no way i could have come ( I had to do an oral presentation and having vomiting and nausea would have heavily affected my presentation). I could have gotten hospitalized but was told to go home and rest and take the prescribed medication and increase fluid intake.

Do you think additional documentation would be useful? i mainly do not want my grades to be affected by this.

 

[Mytime2017]

hi all,

just to give an update. so it turns out the professor gave everyone in the class an A but me ( 7 students total and we're all in touch) despite the fact that I had higher exam grades. Since this presentation was worth a significant percentage, my grade ended up being a C+.

in this scenario, would the best course of action be to fight for the grade and get the dean involved? or should i just take the easier route of requesting a p/f or retroactive withdrawal given the circumstances and my GPA?

@Catalystik @Goro @LizzyM

 

[Goro]

Complain to dep't Chair and the Dean.

Is this a DIY post-bacc? If this is a formal program, also contact the program director.

hi all,

just to give an update. so it turns out the professor gave everyone in the class an A but me ( 7 students total and we're all in touch) despite the fact that I had higher exam grades. Since this presentation was worth a significant percentage, my grade ended up being a C+.

in this scenario, would the best course of action be to fight for the grade and get the dean involved? or should i just take the easier route of requesting a p/f or retroactive withdrawal given the circumstances and my GPA?

@Catalystik @Goro @LizzyM

 

[WedgeDawg]

hi all,

just to give an update. so it turns out the professor gave everyone in the class an A but me ( 7 students total and we're all in touch) despite the fact that I had higher exam grades. Since this presentation was worth a significant percentage, my grade ended up being a C+.

in this scenario, would the best course of action be to fight for the grade and get the dean involved? or should i just take the easier route of requesting a p/f or retroactive withdrawal given the circumstances and my GPA?

@Catalystik @Goro @LizzyM

I would try to get a P, and, failing that, a W. It's probably not worth fighting for the A as you're unlikely to get it. A P or even a W won't significantly impact you anywhere nearly as much as a C.

 

[Mytime2017]

Complain to dep't Chair and the Dean.

Is this a DIY post-bacc? If this is a formal program, also contact the program director.

i definitely plan on complaining to the chair and the dean. This is DIY postbac.

@WedgeDawg : im definitely going to do that. do you think i have a strong case now in addition to my explicit medical documentation? i've never had a prof clearly discriminate against a student because of a medical issue so im at a loss for words.

thank you once again!

 

[WedgeDawg]

i definitely plan on complaining to the chair and the dean. This is DIY postbac.

@WedgeDawg : im definitely going to do that. do you think i have a strong case now in addition to my explicit medical documentation? i've never had a prof clearly discriminate against a student because of a medical issue so im at a loss for words.

thank you once again!

I have no idea because I have no experience in this matter, but if you have clear documentation (which you seem to) and the option of being retroactively given either the P or W due to school policy, you're in the best position you can be in given the situation.

 

[Goro]

The prof is not discriminating against you, he's simply being lazy because he doesn't want to do a retake exam for one student.

i definitely plan on complaining to the chair and the dean. This is DIY postbac.

@WedgeDawg : im definitely going to do that. do you think i have a strong case now in addition to my explicit medical documentation? i've never had a prof clearly discriminate against a student because of a medical issue so im at a loss for words.

thank you once again!

 

[jqueb29]

Fight this. Your professor is a loser and shouldn't have a job if he's penalizing someone for a legitimate medical illness.

 

[Mytime2017]

hi all,

just to give an update on this situation. the professor refused to change my grade out of fairness to the class but is willing to give me the Pass/Fail option for the class retroactively.

Overall, this would make my GPA a 3.7 for the term ( 3 A's and 1 B and 1 Pass grade).

Would you take this? Would you also classify this as a successful semester ( A's in the sciences with the B in a science as well)? im concerned because im doing this as a DIY postbac? Would medical schools view this semester as successful despite the Pass?

your feedback would be appreciated. thank you once again

@Goro @LizzyM @Catalystik

 

[Goro]

This is a best-case scenario. Accept it and don't think twice about it.

hi all,

just to give an update on this situation. the professor refused to change my grade out of fairness to the class but is willing to give me the Pass/Fail option for the class retroactively.

Overall, this would make my GPA a 3.7 for the term ( 3 A's and 1 B and 1 Pass grade).

Would you take this? Would you also classify this as a successful semester ( A's in the sciences with the B in a science as well)? im concerned because im doing this as a DIY postbac? Would medical schools view this semester as successful despite the Pass?

your feedback would be appreciated. thank you once again

@Goro @LizzyM @Catalystik

 

[gizmoo]

HECK yeah. Take the P. A pass will have no effect on your GPA, whereas a C will bring you down.
Average GPA for med school matriculants is ~3.7, so I would take it and be happy with the semester.

 

[LizzyM]

Take the Pass. Much better for your GPA than any alternative other thank a A or A- which, it seems, is not happening. Now go to "Rate My Professor" and warn the world of this twit.

 

[Mytime2017]

Take the Pass. Much better for your GPA than any alternative other thank a A or A- which, it seems, is not happening. Now go to "Rate My Professor" and warn the world of this twit.

Thank you! Would an adcom still classify this semester as a successful semester? I'm concerned because I'm aiming for a top tier school and did well in my other classes?

 

[LizzyM]

Thank you! Would an adcom still classify this semester as a successful semester? I'm concerned because I'm aiming for a top tier school and did well in my other classes?

they are going to look at the GPA first and if it is 3.77 then they really won't go deeper because there is no red flag in a 3.77.