This course director has me so angry over grading. What should I do?

[han14tra]

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On our last exam, I left one of the bubbles blank. Later, it was decided that "This question will be credited, as it has been determined that the material was not covered in this block."

However, since I left the question blank and didn't fill it in with some nonsense answer, I lost a point for it. So 254 people got credit for filling in a wrong answer to an impossible question and I was the only one in the class to get it wrong.

This didn't make sense to me. So, I emailed the prof thinking she would give me credit. Her response:

"You left the question blank, so why would you think you deserve credit? When a student leaves a question blank, THAT MEANS THE STUDENT DIDN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION, therefore, the student should not be given any credit."

She sent me some other emails and her tone had me either wanting to a) burst into tears or b) punch somebody in the face. I've been upset over this for 3 days not because of the missed point but because I feel that I wasn't taken seriously or treated with respect.

(I know I need to get a spine before 3rd year. You don't have to say it).

But, I'm seriously considering taking this to a higher power. Who should I speak to? Do you think I have reason to be upset?

 

[deleted263296]

No, just, no. Wow.

 

[Guillemot]

So... just so its clear, you're in the wrong, no matter what, since your a student and don't yet have an MD. That is the way medical school works.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

On our last exam, I left one of the bubbles blank. Later, it was decided that "This question will be credited, as it has been determined that the material was not covered in this block."

However, since I left the question blank and didn't fill it in with some nonsense answer, I lost a point for it. So 254 people got credit for filling in a wrong answer to an impossible question and I was the only one in the class to get it wrong.

This didn't make sense to me. So, I emailed the prof thinking she would give me credit. Her response:

"You left the question blank, so why would you think you deserve credit? When a student leaves a question blank, THAT MEANS THE STUDENT DIDN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION, therefore, the student should not be given any credit."

She sent me some other emails and her tone had me either wanting to a) burst into tears or b) punch somebody in the face. I've been upset over this for 3 days not because of the missed point but because I feel that I wasn't taken seriously or treated with respect.

(I know I need to get a spine before 3rd year. You don't have to say it).

But, I'm seriously considering taking this to a higher power. Who should I speak to? Do you think I have reason to be upset?

Yes, that is total BS. Is it worth fighting over? Probably not. As an M1, I quickly learned that a) the faculty and administration can do basically anything they want and b) the best bet is to just keep your head down and hope no one notices you before you graduate.

 

[CatFactorial]

Maybe the tone was excessive, but the prof is not wrong.

Learn how to pick your battles.

 

[deleted263296]

Yes, that is total BS. Is it worth fighting over? Probably not. As an M1, I quickly learned that a) the faculty and administration can do basically anything they want and b) the best bet is to just keep your head down and hope no one notices you before you graduate.

This is very true. No matter how much your school administration professes to be student friendly, they will NOT go against any faculty member. They will throw you under the bus at any time.

 

[Antibodies]

You left it blank..
Why would you leave it blank anyway? (I hope you don't get points off for wrong answers).

 

[a winner is you]

Why would you ever leave any question blank?

Either way, it's 1 question. Let it go. If you're that upset over 1 question, I can't wait to see how you react to the subjective evals in third year.

 

[Pansit]

On our last exam, I left one of the bubbles blank. Later, it was decided that "This question will be credited, as it has been determined that the material was not covered in this block."

However, since I left the question blank and didn't fill it in with some nonsense answer, I lost a point for it. So 254 people got credit for filling in a wrong answer to an impossible question and I was the only one in the class to get it wrong.

This didn't make sense to me. So, I emailed the prof thinking she would give me credit. Her response:

"You left the question blank, so why would you think you deserve credit? When a student leaves a question blank, THAT MEANS THE STUDENT DIDN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION, therefore, the student should not be given any credit."

She sent me some other emails and her tone had me either wanting to a) burst into tears or b) punch somebody in the face. I've been upset over this for 3 days not because of the missed point but because I feel that I wasn't taken seriously or treated with respect.

(I know I need to get a spine before 3rd year. You don't have to say it).

But, I'm seriously considering taking this to a higher power. Who should I speak to? Do you think I have reason to be upset?

Dude...let this go and lesson learned: DONT LEAVE MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS BLANK (unless wrong answers count against you)

 

[JC Denton]

I'm gonna have to be realistic with you now. You need to forfeit your dreams of practicing derm.

But don't worry about it. I'm sure you could impress them with your fortitude by being antsy and going around nagging faculty members. That'll surely cover for your missed point on this exam! 👍

 

[Fleur de Me]

But, I'm seriously considering taking this to a higher power. Who should I speak to? Do you think I have reason to be upset?

Wait a second, are you for real????? First of all it is ONE question. Haven't you grown out of grade grubbing yet???? This isn't 9th grade, this is med school, be professional and deal with it.

Stressing over this is completely pointless, and any drama you start is going to make you look like a completely immature idiot.

Do yourself and everyone else a favor and just drop it.

Unbelievable. Stop being petty, you'll probably be treated with a lot more respect in your life if you learn to roll with the punches and not take things so personally.

 

[CatFactorial]

Wait a second, are you for real????? First of all it is ONE question. Haven't you grown out of grade grubbing yet???? This isn't 9th grade, this is med school, be professional and deal with it.

Stressing over this is completely pointless, and any drama you start is going to make you look like a completely immature idiot.

Do yourself and everyone else a favor and just drop it.

Unbelievable. Stop being petty, you'll probably be treated with a lot more respect in your life if you learn to roll with the punches and not take things so personally.

Stop being petty, eh?

 

[sanityonleave]

On our last exam, I left one of the bubbles blank. Later, it was decided that "This question will be credited, as it has been determined that the material was not covered in this block."

However, since I left the question blank and didn't fill it in with some nonsense answer, I lost a point for it. So 254 people got credit for filling in a wrong answer to an impossible question and I was the only one in the class to get it wrong.

This didn't make sense to me. So, I emailed the prof thinking she would give me credit. Her response:

"You left the question blank, so why would you think you deserve credit? When a student leaves a question blank, THAT MEANS THE STUDENT DIDN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION, therefore, the student should not be given any credit."

She sent me some other emails and her tone had me either wanting to a) burst into tears or b) punch somebody in the face. I've been upset over this for 3 days not because of the missed point but because I feel that I wasn't taken seriously or treated with respect.

(I know I need to get a spine before 3rd year. You don't have to say it).

But, I'm seriously considering taking this to a higher power. Who should I speak to? Do you think I have reason to be upset?

That would piss me the hell off, too. I think it's outrageous.

That said, as others have pointed out, it's not worth trying to do anything about. The administration will never overrule a professor in your favor for something like grading unless it's just completely egregious (e.g. being propositioned for sex in order to get an A egregious). There's a reason residencies don't weight 1st and 2nd year grades nearly as heavily as they do Step 1 -- and this is why. Preclinical grading is totally random and subject to the whims of your course directors.

That said... leaving a multiple choice question blank is silly. Don't do that. My advice? Grab a picture of your course director off of the school directory, print out a copy and tape it to the nearest dartboard. Great stress reliever.

 

[deleted263296]

There's a reason residencies don't weight 1st and 2nd year grades nearly as heavily as they do Step 1 -- and this is why. Preclinical grading is totally random and subject to the whims of your course directors.

No way that's true. 3rd year grading is random, not the preclinical grading. And 3rd year grades are the most important.

 

[Depakote]

There's a reason they say "choose the best answer" on multiple choice questions. If all are wrong, take your best guess and hope your logic = the professor's logic. No bubble = no chance.

Choose your battles. There's a difference between having a spine and painting a picture of yourself as someone petty. The people you will be appealing to are the same who might be writing your LORs and Dean's Letters in the future and likely value their working relationship with the course director.

 

[RapplixGmed]

Wow is this for real?

1) Why didn't you answer the question? By this point in life you should know that in the last 5 min of any exam should be spent randomly filling in the rest of the bubbles if you're out of time.

2) You're not going to win any battles over this one. Your logic makes no sense. Think about it in this instance: Suppose there was a paper assigned for a grade and you didn't turn in the paper but then the prof decided that the paper was unfair and gave the same credit to everyone who did the paper. You are not entitled to the credit because you didn't do the work for the paper. Likewise you are not entitled to any credit because you didn't do the work of filling in any of the 5 bubbles.

3) Why do you care? The only instance I would even think about disputing this one is if this one question was the difference between passing and failing. Elevating this case if it was the difference between P/HP/H would make you look like a total douche in the eyes of the administration. You will be remembered for that come evaluation time.

4) Get used to it. At least in 1st and 2nd year, you know what you need to do to get the grade you get. We just had a talk about grading in 3rd year and it is entirely subjective. He even said that there is no set formula to getting an honors and that often the hardest workers don't get it 😕. He said something about it was a mix of innate talent, competency, luck, and hard work. Try wrapping your head around that one. He also said that this system has worked for decades and that trying to go against it will only make you look like an angry person. lol.

 

[sanityonleave]

No way that's true. 3rd year grading is random, not the preclinical grading. And 3rd year grades are the most important.

Guess you have a point there. Apparently all grading in medical school is fairly random.

 

[han14tra]

I didn't fill in the bubble because I didn't see the last page of the exam. So, I actually left 3 questions in a row blank. The exam only filled up 1/2 of the "last page" so I thought that was it 🙁 I should have looked at the back of the last page.

I wouldn't be so furious if the director would've said:

"Dear han14tra,

Thank you for your concern. I understand that this situation must be frustrating, but our course policy does not allow us to give you credit for an unmarked answer. I'm sorry that we cannot help you, but feel free to contact me with any questions"

Instead, she had to be rude, snotty and arrogant. Too bad the administration doesn't hold the faculty to the same professionalism standards as the students. She'd be canned.

Her snotty attitude is why I can't get over it.

 

[MilkmanAl]

No, I think the reason you can't get over it is that you stress to a ridiculous degree over everything. Sweet Jesus, let it go. It's one freaking question.

 

[han14tra]

No, I think the reason you can't get over it is that you stress to a ridiculous degree over everything. Sweet Jesus, let it go. It's one freaking question.

Isn't that a given? I think all med students meet that criteria.😛

 

[RapplixGmed]

Ok that makes some sense. Just let it go though. If you can't find it easy to get over this, you'll have an even harder time when your attending yells at you in 3rd year.

 

[DrYoda]

Like others have said, you need to pick your battles. And this particular issue is a pretty minor one to be escalating.

 

[Untraditional]

On our last exam, I left one of the bubbles blank

Not only did you NOT fill an answer in you somehow failed to look your exam sheet over before turning it in?

That's like the most basic skill. People learn it in 8th grade.

If I were the dean and you came to me with this and you passing the class wasn't in the balance I'd laugh you out of my office.

 

[han14tra]

Not only did you NOT fill an answer in you somehow failed to look your exam sheet over before turning it in?

That's like the most basic skill. People learn it in 8th grade.

If I were the dean and you came to me with this and you passing the class wasn't in the balance I'd laugh you out of my office.

Wow, thank you for the truly moving display of compassion. FYI, I didn't have time to look over the exam before turning it in. Not everyone can finish with time to spare.

 

[chiz2kul]

Wow, thank you for the truly moving display of compassion. FYI, I didn't have time to look over the exam before turning it in. Not everyone can finish with time to spare.

lol you came on here look for compassion? hahaha

if you can't handle this non-issue with some degree of maturity - g/luck dealing with 3rd yr/life.

smh at the something I read on here - do pple really still think this way?? you want to take this to a higher authority because of ONE point...and her tone?

madness.

 

[Siverhideo1985]

Which backwards school still has scantron tests?

 

[priam18]

madness.

Madness? This isn't madness

THIS IS MED SCHOOL

To OP: If it helps, picture yourself kicking said professor into a huge pit. While roaring. Does the trick for me every time.

 

[drizzt3117]

Wow, thank you for the truly moving display of compassion. FYI, I didn't have time to look over the exam before turning it in. Not everyone can finish with time to spare.

So you're slow and imprecise? Next year should be fun for you.

Seriously, all you'd accomplish by trying to pursue this is making yourself look like more of an idiot than you already have by posting this thread on Sdn.

 

[2012mdc]

Which backwards school still has scantron tests?

My school still has scantrons for some of the 2nd year tests. School isn't backwards, professor is just old school, steadfast, and has a lot of clout (former dean).

And I know this wasn't a NBME exam but all the shelfs are still scantron

 

[officedepot]

unless it would have made a difference in your grade like going from a B to an A I wouldn't give it too much thought. You're just stressed out overall and this is just icing on the cake I would bet. It's one question. It won't ruin your life. Move on.

Plus you didn't answer it. Why would you not answer it? At the very least guess. That's just your bad luck. Stop pushing the issue or you're going to make someone up top annoyed and mad.

 

[caseofthemndays]

Wait a second, are you for real????? First of all it is ONE question. Haven't you grown out of grade grubbing yet???? This isn't 9th grade, this is med school, be professional and deal with it.

Stressing over this is completely pointless, and any drama you start is going to make you look like a completely immature idiot.

Do yourself and everyone else a favor and just drop it.

Unbelievable. Stop being petty, you'll probably be treated with a lot more respect in your life if you learn to roll with the punches and not take things so personally.

Geez, fleur, chill out. I think you missed the point. The OP is upset with the way the professor said it. And I agree, it was pretty rude and snarky. But, just drop it, han. Don't make it worse. Accept the grade, learn your lesson and move on...

 

[officedepot]

I didn't fill in the bubble because I didn't see the last page of the exam. So, I actually left 3 questions in a row blank. The exam only filled up 1/2 of the "last page" so I thought that was it 🙁 I should have looked at the back of the last page.

I wouldn't be so furious if the director would've said:

"Dear han14tra,

Thank you for your concern. I understand that this situation must be frustrating, but our course policy does not allow us to give you credit for an unmarked answer. I'm sorry that we cannot help you, but feel free to contact me with any questions"

Instead, she had to be rude, snotty and arrogant. Too bad the administration doesn't hold the faculty to the same professionalism standards as the students. She'd be canned.

Her snotty attitude is why I can't get over it.

well just be prepared for this kind of crap 3rd year because it is coming and it happens to everyone. Residents or attendings or other hospital staff will just be rude at times. You really need to learn to just get over this kind of petty stuff or your stress level will cause you to do poorly on evaluations and tests in the future I think.

 

[adaptation1]

If you were to take this to a higher power--which I don't advise, but would find entertaining, nevertheless--what would be your argument? You didn't fill it out because the question was unanswerable, or you didn't see it, or didn't have enough time. People filled it out because it was answerable, when it wasn't, or because they merely guessed, despite knowing that it was pretty much unanswerable. Wait.... what? Yah.

If it's the course director's attitude that bothers you, then that's even more reason to let it go. Faculty are treated like royalty in med school.

 

[hivoltage]

I didn't fill in the bubble because I didn't see the last page of the exam. So, I actually left 3 questions in a row blank. The exam only filled up 1/2 of the "last page" so I thought that was it 🙁 I should have looked at the back of the last page.

I wouldn't be so furious if the director would've said:

"Dear han14tra,

Thank you for your concern. I understand that this situation must be frustrating, but our course policy does not allow us to give you credit for an unmarked answer. I'm sorry that we cannot help you, but feel free to contact me with any questions"

Instead, she had to be rude, snotty and arrogant. Too bad the administration doesn't hold the faculty to the same professionalism standards as the students. She'd be canned.

Her snotty attitude is why I can't get over it.

i agree with you. Just the way you talk to someone is important. You should write a letter to the dean to underscore the importance of how people talk to other people but i am afraid it will negatively reflect on you. Moreover, if you write the letter ask him how he or she can expect professionalism from students when faculty cant exhibit professionalis. I will echo what other posters have said.. Move ON. this is a learning experience. IN the clinical arena I cant tell you how many people you will come across that will evoke the same emotions in you 100 times worse. just the nature of the business... early mornings and high stress in people who cant deal just brings that out.... and unfortunately even then you cant really lash out. You can say anything you want in your head though. Just the business that you are in

 

[han14tra]

Thank you for all the answers. Some of them were really helpful and I appreciate it.

I've calmed down, and I don't think I'm going to push the issue further. But, if I ever get the opportunity to grade an assignment she turns in, she has already failed 😉

Well, back to Step 1 studying. Goodbye. I won't be visiting this post again.

 

[alwaysaangel]

I didn't fill in the bubble because I didn't see the last page of the exam. So, I actually left 3 questions in a row blank. The exam only filled up 1/2 of the "last page" so I thought that was it 🙁 I should have looked at the back of the last page.

I wouldn't be so furious if the director would've said:

"Dear han14tra,

Thank you for your concern. I understand that this situation must be frustrating, but our course policy does not allow us to give you credit for an unmarked answer. I'm sorry that we cannot help you, but feel free to contact me with any questions"

Instead, she had to be rude, snotty and arrogant. Too bad the administration doesn't hold the faculty to the same professionalism standards as the students. She'd be canned.

Her snotty attitude is why I can't get over it.

I'd be curious to read your original email to her. Med students are generally snotty, impatient people who snap at others (especially profs and administrators when it has to do with grades) - and it gets worse the further you go in med school.

I've seen classmates be COMPLETELY rude to administrative staff and then get offended when they are rude back. They just don't see their own behavior.

Unfortunately a lot of med school staff and faculty (at least at my school) get quickly defensive at the first sign of a rude/aggressive student. Simply because so many students are that way.

 

[raynor123456]

There is no reason for the professor to be rude and unprofessional to you in her e-mail. However, like everyone else has said, just deal with it. That's life as a med student. Do something about it AFTER you're no longer at the mercy of school administrators and residency directors.

Our school is always harping on us over professionalism, honesty, integrity, etc. yet the institution systematically lied to every student that entered the school. We were told we had a P/F system, but it turns out there are still internal records that WILL be noted on our transcripts. And, the reality is, there are definitely some courses many people might have tried harder in had they known their grade was being recorded. I know I would have put a little more effort into some courses.

I'd be curious to read your original email to her. Med students are generally snotty, impatient people who snap at others (especially profs and administrators when it has to do with grades) - and it gets worse the further you go in med school.

I've seen classmates be COMPLETELY rude to administrative staff and then get offended when they are rude back. They just don't see their own behavior.

Unfortunately a lot of med school staff and faculty (at least at my school) get quickly defensive at the first sign of a rude/aggressive student. Simply because so many students are that way.

You're definitely right about some of the med students. However, even if the professor had become hyper-sensitized or if the student was rude, it's still not appropriate or even excusable for a faculty member to act the way he/she did.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

Isn't that a given? I think all med students meet that criteria.😛

Not true for all of us.

 

[shaggy alfresco]

What was your email like? Maybe the course director didn't like your tone either.

 

[Pansit]

What was your email like? Maybe the course director didn't like your tone either.

Imagine your the course director and 100 students email you about an unfair question...so your already flustered. It turns out to be true and you have to mark all of the answers correct because YOU messed up. Now here comes one student asking for full credit when he didnt even answer the question. Wouldnt you be just ticked at that point?...lol. When a professor has to admit they made an error, it is probably not a good idea to keep poking at them.

 

[Fleur de Me]

Geez, fleur, chill out. I think you missed the point. The OP is upset with the way the professor said it.

I'm not trying to be a jerk (or "petty"), I just get sick of people bitching and moaning about stupid stuff in med school. There are plenty of things in life and medicine to get indignant about- take that energy and desire to "take an issue to a higher up" and apply it to something that matters. Like access to quality healthcare, health education, childhood obesity, HIV prevention, infant mortality rates- whatever.

One question on an exam? It makes me think that all med students should be required to go out into the world and experience real life a little bit more before going to med school. The lack of perspective is appalling at times.

That's all I'm saying.

 

[Belleza156]

Which backwards school still has scantron tests?

Really??? What do you have ALLLL computer tests?

 

[MilkmanAl]

Really??? What do you have ALLLL computer tests?

That's what we had until our IT department decided to royally screw the pooch somehow and make our tests not save properly after some update they did. Consequently, we had scantrons for about half of our first year.

 

[Siverhideo1985]

Really??? What do you have ALLLL computer tests?

Yes.

Now get back to scratching your answer into the cow hide. Or into sandstone...whatever you use.

 

[Rollo]

I'm not trying to be a jerk (or "petty"), I just get sick of people bitching and moaning about stupid stuff in med school. There are plenty of things in life and medicine to get indignant about- take that energy and desire to "take an issue to a higher up" and apply it to something that matters. Like access to quality healthcare, health education, childhood obesity, HIV prevention, infant mortality rates- whatever.

One question on an exam? It makes me think that all med students should be required to go out into the world and experience real life a little bit more before going to med school. The lack of perspective is appalling at times.

That's all I'm saying.

Agreed. 👍

They should put requirement as "must have worked a year or 2 full-time" for applying to medical school.

Some of these students' sense of entitlement and self-centered attitudes leads me to believe that all the "horror" stories of rotations and residencies must be exaggerated.

 

[Dr Oops]

I'd be curious to read your original email to her. Med students are generally snotty, impatient people who snap at others (especially profs and administrators when it has to do with grades) - and it gets worse the further you go in med school.

I've seen classmates be COMPLETELY rude to administrative staff and then get offended when they are rude back. They just don't see their own behavior.

Unfortunately a lot of med school staff and faculty (at least at my school) get quickly defensive at the first sign of a rude/aggressive student. Simply because so many students are that way.

Maybe, but after how much we get professionalism rammed down our throats for them to turn around and be unprofessional just because someone else is doing it is not exactly leading by example, or leading at all.

 

[MilkmanAl]

Can you blame them? Look how much trouble one unanswered question has caused. Basically, they're getting blamed because someone is bad at taking tests, and I'm sure there were at least a few other people chiming in with ridiculous complaints about the test. You're not going to get the benefit of the doubt when you are and are surrounded by people raising ludicrous issues and getting pissed off when they're shot down.

TL;DR: Respect is earned. Deal with it.

 

[Lokhtar]

Jesus. Grow up. Find a real problem to get 'so angry' about.

 

[45408]

Why would you ever leave a question blank?

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

Agreed. 👍

They should put requirement as "must have worked a year or 2 full-time" for applying to medical school.

🙄

When they start lowering tuition, I'll consider starting late.

In the meantime, the best BANG FOR YOUR BUCK is to go straight into med school, minimize your debt load, get into a residency of your choice (I dont care if you go primary care vs. specialty), get out of your residency, and become an attending and start making the $$ to pay off said debt load.

Why should I wait until I'm 24 to start med school, when I can start when I'm 22 and be done by 26, finish residency by 30, start making money by 30 or 31... 👍