Was this a d**k move?

[dmf2682]

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So as a nontrad, someone who's closer to the prof's age and having been in the workplace for a while I try and be courteous to them as much as I can, which generally includes not asking for points back on exams. Me and this prof with a few other students were talking after class and conversation came to the latest exam and how I thought a few questions were a bit off, with no good answer choices, etc. We looked it over together and the prof agreed that they were bad questions, and that everyone should get those points back.

For the record, I got a 99 before the points were added back, so I kind of feel like a jerk pointing them out. On the other hand, I felt I was in the right here (salivary lipases don't work in the low pH of the stomach, and hepatocytes do in fact carry out glycolysis).

Can someone tell me if I should feel bad about this? I never want to put the prof on the spot, and I really want a letter from him, maybe I should apologize or something? I dunno. guidance anyone?

 

[DrMidlife]

Not a bad move. A good move. This is the kind of participation that shows you actually comprehend the material.

Also this is what happens after EVERY EXAM in med school. Med school is where all the good lawyers are.

 

[rangoon1984]

I did this very thing on a chapter on glycolysis this semester! Ha.

Don't feel bad. If the questions were legitimately off (the a few of the questions on our test weren't even on chapters we were covering....or in the book at all...or in the lectures...) then don't feel bad pointing it out in a mature manner.

My prof was actually defensive when we pointed out these questions, but when he realized that I actually did well on the exam without any gimme points (94), he relaxed and gave us the points. As long as you're a good, active student in class that isn't trolling for free points all the time I think it's fine. My professor even pulled me aside at the end of semester and told me that he would be happy to write a letter of recommendation for me.

 

[Courtjester8]

No you shouldn't feel bad. The wrong thing to do would have been to ignore it because your grade was fine, which would have hurt all of the other students that took the exam. You advocated for your fellow scholars, feel proud.

 

[NightGod]

Honestly, the dick move would have been NOT saying anything because you had a 99 already.

 

[jsp132]

I don't consider that a dick move

better to understand really

 

[wholeheartedly]

Definitely doesn't sound that way from the way you presented it. Sounds like a collegial discussion and correction session, not a jerk move at all.

 

[ineed2stpsmurfn]

Honestly, the dick move would have been NOT saying anything because you had a 99 already.

this

 

[Lunasly]

Maybe its the gunner in me, but I probably wouldn't have said anything. I'm not, by any means, saying what you did was wrong, but I wouldn't put in on myself to really give other students in the class extra points. Obviously, this was not your intention, but its what resulted. It's becoming tougher to gain acceptances these days and honestly you want every fair advantage you can get.

In the end, I admire and respect what you did. You are a better person then I am.

 

[Long Way to Go]

How did you get a 99 before the points were added back if you talked to him about multiple questions?

 

[DrMidlife]

Maybe its the gunner in me, but I probably wouldn't have said anything. I'm not, by any means, saying what you did was wrong, but I wouldn't put in on myself to really give other students in the class extra points. Obviously, this was not your intention, but its what resulted. It's becoming tougher to gain acceptances these days and honestly you want every fair advantage you can get.

In the end, I admire and respect what you did. You are a better person then I am.

Gunner economics on this work out, imho. You sacrifice advantage points in favor of LOR favorability. Gunner economics also only pay off long term if you stop being a gunner. See game theory.

 

[SrootsWwings]

It sounds like there was a conversation carried out, not people talking at each other. I generally find there's no d**k behavior in conversation and notable amounts of it in talking at each other. If someone is on a power trip or is excessively sensitive, then they might mistake partaking in conversation with having been talked at - unless this is the case, I bet he respects you for conversing with him. Or, you talked at him, but it sounds like you are far too considerate for that.

 

[NightGod]

How did you get a 99 before the points were added back if you talked to him about multiple questions?

Bonus questions? Curve?

 

[dmf2682]

Bonus questions? Curve?

Yeah, a curve.

Thanks everyone, I feel a lot better about it. I'll start getting my interfolio schiz together before the final this Thursday. Good luck to everyone as summer classes end!

 

[Lunasly]

Before this topic dies, I actually have a question for all of you: I was in a similar situation where I basically nagged the professor on multiple occasions to give me some extra points or to write an exam at a later date due to not feeling prepared. Stupid move, I agree. I wasn't planning to ask them for an LOR anyway, but I still like an idiot doing it. I have this professor again for another class that I'm taking this upcoming semester. Do you think I should visit him during the first week and apologize about my behaviour from last time? Basically just say that I shouldn't have been asking for extra points or an extension and that is was rather unprofessional.

 

[MedPR]

Before this topic dies, I actually have a question for all of you: I was in a similar situation where I basically nagged the professor on multiple occasions to give me some extra points or to write an exam at a later date due to not feeling prepared. Stupid move, I agree. I wasn't planning to ask them for an LOR anyway, but I still like an idiot doing it. I have this professor again for another class that I'm taking this upcoming semester. Do you think I should visit him during the first week and apologize about my behaviour from last time? Basically just say that I shouldn't have been asking for extra points or an extension and that is was rather unprofessional.

No. Just dominate his class and don't bother him again.

 

[dmf2682]

Before this topic dies, I actually have a question for all of you: I was in a similar situation where I basically nagged the professor on multiple occasions to give me some extra points or to write an exam at a later date due to not feeling prepared. Stupid move, I agree. I wasn't planning to ask them for an LOR anyway, but I still like an idiot doing it. I have this professor again for another class that I'm taking this upcoming semester. Do you think I should visit him during the first week and apologize about my behaviour from last time? Basically just say that I shouldn't have been asking for extra points or an extension and that is was rather unprofessional.

I'd say demonstrate your professionalism by not doing it again.

 

[MedPR]

So as a nontrad, someone who's closer to the prof's age and having been in the workplace for a while I try and be courteous to them as much as I can, which generally includes not asking for points back on exams. Me and this prof with a few other students were talking after class and conversation came to the latest exam and how I thought a few questions were a bit off, with no good answer choices, etc. We looked it over together and the prof agreed that they were bad questions, and that everyone should get those points back.

For the record, I got a 99 before the points were added back, so I kind of feel like a jerk pointing them out. On the other hand, I felt I was in the right here (salivary lipases don't work in the low pH of the stomach, and hepatocytes do in fact carry out glycolysis).

Can someone tell me if I should feel bad about this? I never want to put the prof on the spot, and I really want a letter from him, maybe I should apologize or something? I dunno. guidance anyone?

Depends on the prof. Some are receptive to criticism, others hate it. This past semester I had a lot of similar problems with test questions. Here are the two that come to mind.

Which of the following is a type of T cell?
A. Memory
B. Resistant
C. Plasma
D. Suppressor

During the test I asked the teacher "Aren't two of these correct?" and her reply was "You only learned about one of them in this class." So.. how the hell am I supposed to know which T cell YOU taught me about?

Next question:

What secretes amylase?
A. Salivary Glands
B. Pancreas
C. Stomach
D. Rectum

I asked her (again, during the test) "Which amylase are you asking about?" and her reply (again) was "You only learned about one of them in this class." 😕😕

Needless to say, she didn't like me. I didn't need/want an LOR from her though.

 

[dmf2682]

Yeah I could see that. My concern was because I'd groomed this prof for a letter by actively engaging in conversation with him after class, plus taking on students who he identified as having problems with the material. Didn't want to throw all of that away, you know?

 

[MedPR]

Yeah I could see that. My concern was because I'd groomed this prof for a letter by actively engaging in conversation with him after class, plus taking on students who he identified as having problems with the material. Didn't want to throw all of that away, you know?

Well, if the prof already has a positive outlook on you (high grade, out of class conversations, etc) then s/he will probably not change their mind just because you pointed out some lame test questions. You might've earned points for being extra observant.

 

[Lunasly]

Does it make a difference if it's a small class (36 students)? Thanks for the tips, though. I do agree that maybe I should just keep my mouth shut and not do it again.

 

[NightGod]

Does it make a difference if it's a small class (36 students)? Thanks for the tips, though. I do agree that maybe I should just keep my mouth shut and not do it again.

It depends on the teacher. Some encourage it, some hate it. I had a Physics teacher that we (the class as a whole) fought with over points all the time on conceptual questions and he loved it-it showed that we were engaged in the material and we really thinking about what was being said. He offered to write me an LOR for med school, completely unprompted. You need to be semi-good at reading people and you can usually figure it out pretty quickly.

 

[freakingoutabit]

I'm taking post-bacc courses, too, and whenever a situation like that arises, I couch it in terms of wanting to better understand the material rather than obviously pointing out an error. Example: "Hey Prof. Appel, I'm a little confused about how this action potential works. I thought XYZ was the process, but the answer choices don't seem to match that. I've been studying for the MCAT, so I really want to make sure I know this stuff inside and out. Could you explain why the answer is C?"

It's silly but effective, and it makes me feel less like an ass-hat for pointing out mistakes.

 

[brownbaglunch]

I'm taking post-bacc courses, too, and whenever a situation like that arises, I couch it in terms of wanting to better understand the material rather than obviously pointing out an error. Example: "Hey Prof. Appel, I'm a little confused about how this action potential works. I thought XYZ was the process, but the answer choices don't seem to match that. I've been studying for the MCAT, so I really want to make sure I know this stuff inside and out. Could you explain why the answer is C?"

It's silly but effective, and it makes me feel less like an ass-hat for pointing out mistakes.

This is the right approach. It's really all about the presentation. If you approach a professor or TA from a standpoint that the question/grading was unfair, you will probably evoke a negative response. If, however, you approach them humbly, the results will be positive.

When it comes right down to it, humility is also the correct approach because more often than not the professor is right and the student is wrong. If you come in on the offensive, you will look bad when this is the case. I generally say something like, "I would like to improve my understanding of this concept, can you show me the flaw in my logic?"

I am not familiar with gunner/gaming strategy at all, but it seems to me that acceptance into medical school is earned on a macroscopic scale. A few students' scores on one exam is not anywhere near the same order of magnitude. You probably do a better service to yourself practicing selflessness.

From what I can tell of OP's demeanor, I'm sure you made the right move.

 

[JennWolf]

I don't think it was a dick move either. My professor last year for anatomy and physiology had quite a few questions that were just blatantly wrong on the test. As long as you bring it up in a nice manner and have the proof to back up what you are saying I have found they don't mind it. My professor actually thanked me for pointing them out since like many other professors they have a lot on their plate too and things do slip by. Sounds like you handled it just fine. I have run into one or two though that refuse to listen even if you show something on a test is completely wrong. In that instance its useless to argue and at that point I'd take it to the dean even if others might find that a bit much.