https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 01:12:43 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-schoolhealthgrades#post-1612927 Mon, 05 May 2014 10:04:10 +0000 Alivoo01 1612927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congrats on your A!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-schoolhealthgrades#post-1612853 Mon, 05 May 2014 09:46:08 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1612853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Edit: Late to the party. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-schoolhealthgrades#post-1612698 Mon, 05 May 2014 09:05:35 +0000 MaryM 1612698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Update - I got my grade back today.</p> <p>I thought really seriously about emailing the professor...but in the end, I figured I've had a good enough relationship throughout the semester that I'd wait and see what grade she gave me.</p> <p>I *just* eeked out an A (I ended up with a 90, so technically, an A-). But she indicated in my grade on the exam that she was somewhat lenient because of how much I've contributed throughout the class (and really...the only thing she was lenient about was citations...which I HATE. I work as a writer so I'm used to attributing to sources, but that leads to me sometimes being not as great at getting MLA citations complete. I forgot to include the year of publication. arg).</p> <p>I'm over the A vs. A- thing. I'm happy I got through with a 90 and am just hoping my reputation as a good student will continue in her summer course and I can hopefully do better then (hoping I don't have to miss any more courses!)</p> <p>Thank you all for your input when I was feeling somewhat desperate about the situation. I'm over the moon I didn't end up with a B, as I'm afraid that would have felt like salt in the wound. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-schoolhealthgrades#post-1595621 Sun, 27 Apr 2014 10:32:28 +0000 Littlebit 1595621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't ask for her to dismiss the two absences, but I would ask if there was anything you could do to make up for those absences. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-schoolhealthgrades#post-1595605 Sun, 27 Apr 2014 10:11:32 +0000 Grace 1595605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like the idea of asking to get credit for the snow day instead of losing credit due to the miscarriage. But to be honest, I think it would depend on your motive for needing an A-. Are you in a really competitive field where the 4.0 means the difference between the post-doc you want or being able to be published in more prestigious journals? Or is it more of a pride thing? Will it actually matter in 10 years? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-schoolhealthgrades#post-1595602 Sun, 27 Apr 2014 10:05:24 +0000 lizzywiz 1595602@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I second @Trailmix:and @nana87: Professors are people and she may completely understand. I say tell her the reason if she needs to know to make her decision.</p> <p>I would lay out the situation but be humble. Something along the lines of , "I never would have missed if it wasn't serious and understand I can't make up participation points but is there any other way I can improve my grade...?" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-schoolhealthgrades#post-1595316 Sat, 26 Apr 2014 21:55:48 +0000 nana87 1595316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say talk to her. I'm a graduate student who works as a TA for my department, teaching classes that give grades for participation. Of course my policy isn't the same as all teachers, but my rule is that I take points away for absences unless it's for circumstances out of students' control, like medical or family emergencies. I do tell them though that they need to tell me in advance as much as possible-- I would have explained at the time rather than the end of the semester. Honestly, participation grades (which in my courses includes not just presence/absence but also qualify of their contributions to the class discussions) are so subjective that a good student who missed classes for reasons like yours would be given a break. Does your prof have office hours? It might be better to explain in person rather than email </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-schoolhealthgrades#post-1595009 Sat, 26 Apr 2014 18:18:54 +0000 MaryM 1595009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>FWIW...I did contact her the day of the missed class (before class) to let her know that it's out of character for me to miss two classes in a row, but that I was really sick and could not make it. </p> <p>It's hard to know when a class is "only" worth 2 points how much of an impact it might have on a final grade. </p> <p>I think I'm definitely going to contact her and ask if perhaps I can "earn" a point or two back since I made it to the optional class, but I'm still on the fence of whether or not I tell her the exact reason for me missing.</p> <p>I try to keep personal and work/school life totally separate and not pull a pity card...but sometimes I think that circumstances might justify some compassion. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-schoolhealthgrades#post-1595008 Sat, 26 Apr 2014 18:15:06 +0000 Greentea 1595008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted take the grade you earned- but here is why- in my classes the best profs lay out a strict policy for attendance. My favorite one actually has everyone sign it because he hates students coming to him crying (not saying that is what you are doing, but literally he has people come and cry in his office) about changing their grade. I think you should have contacted her at the time you missed with your specific reason to be excused. Does that makes sense? That is my objective answer, but on a personal level I am sorry for what you went through! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-schoolhealthgrades#post-1595006 Sat, 26 Apr 2014 18:12:05 +0000 Crystal 1595006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaryM: I just wouldn't want the professor to think I was making things up to get a better grade, and it would show I was being proactive. </p> <p>I do like the idea to see if you can exchange the optional class you attended for the one you missed. It would open a door for you to talk about why you missed if you wanted to share. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-schoolhealthgrades#post-1595003 Sat, 26 Apr 2014 18:08:50 +0000 MaryM 1595003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for weighing in! I appreciate all the viewpoints. </p> <p>Also, I'm not sure if this affects any answers, but I'll have the same professor for a class next semester so I for sure don't want to burn any bridges!</p> <p>Originally I leaned toward waiting until I got the grade, but then I thought it might be a huge pain for her to change a final grade? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-schoolhealthgrades#post-1595001 Sat, 26 Apr 2014 18:07:02 +0000 Crystal 1595001@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't wait til after the final grade. My reasoning is that it might look like you are using that as an excuse instead of having an open dialogue beforehand. </p> <p>I would visit her in person, though, not email. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-schoolhealthgrades#post-1595000 Sat, 26 Apr 2014 18:06:32 +0000 Trailmix 1595000@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Email for sure! Professors are human, I think going through a miscarriage is a genuine reason to miss a class. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-schoolhealthgrades#post-1594999 Sat, 26 Apr 2014 18:05:58 +0000 LemonLong 1594999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would ask if one of your absences could be exchanged for participation points for the optional class you attended during the bad weather. I wouldn't go into the circumstances of why you were absent. I'm sure other people also had important reasons why they might have missed and the professor shouldn't be put in the position to judge if each person's absence has enough justification to award points or not. If you were gone you lose the points seems more fair. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-schoolhealthgrades#post-1594998 Sat, 26 Apr 2014 18:04:29 +0000 Cole 1594998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted to wait and see after your test, I figure at that point what do you have to lose? Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-schoolhealthgrades#post-1594980 Sat, 26 Apr 2014 17:43:41 +0000 MaryM 1594980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, normally I'm all about taking what you earn...but I have a conundrum.</p> <p>I'm in a grad school program, and I'm pretty pleased I've been able to maintain a 4.0.</p> <p>I'm in a class this semester that's actually in my field (which the program isn't totally). It was a lot of fun, and I think the professor really appreciated what I was able to bring to the class. I contributed a lot and she grades heavily on participation.</p> <p>Well, I missed two classes early on. One was for the horrible norovirus, the next was the day I found out I was miscarrying. The professor offers 2 participation points for each class and those can't be made up.</p> <p>Well, I currently have B in the class and have to get a perfect score on the final to get an A-. </p> <p>If I had the two points back from one of the classes I missed, I'd have an A- and could easily get an A (which I think I deserve...not just because I want it).</p> <p>Would you send the prof an email and let her know what the circumstances were and see if she might take that into consideration when she gives the final grades?</p> <p>There was also a class where it snowed and the University didn't close, but she made it optional to come to class that night. I could have gone home early, but I stayed for the class. But because of the weather, she didn't award any points for that class. </p> <p>If you were me, what would you do?</p> <p>I feel sort of silly being disappointed by an A- or B+...but I feel like I aced this class and that I earned an A based on what I produced in the class... </p>