My kid is a grade grubber... help

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the harm in asking? "I'm very close to an A. Is there anything I can do to get my grade round up that .01%, or whatever it is?"

The prof is kind of a dick for not rounding up already, imo.

The majority would round it up, if for no other reason then to avoid being asked to change the grade later. There is a reason the prof is set on not rounding up.

How would we know? Most people aren't grade grubbers and can accept that they didn't get an A.

[Anonymous]

How is the YA novel writing going?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one wondering why a parent would be so aware and involved with their college kid's course grade during the semester? Is this normal at the college level? [Genuine question - our kids are in HS, not college.]

No comment on OP's intentions or whether s/he's a troll, but I have a friend who is a prof at a t10 private. She tells me she personally gets calls from parents all.the.time with outlandish requests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the harm in asking? "I'm very close to an A. Is there anything I can do to get my grade round up that .01%, or whatever it is?"

The prof is kind of a dick for not rounding up already, imo.

No, they undoubtedly published the criteria for each grade in the syllabus (or it is published on the school’s website). Individual faculty members should not start messing with those criteria for individuals. That would not be fair. Plus it would open professors up to a flood of sob stories.

This kid really has to “get” that he is there to learn, not worship his GPA.

U Jess he changes, he will alienate a lot if people there.

[Anonymous]

I mean, I definitely fought professors when I though they were being unfair. One was for a C in a class I had no less than a B. He lied to a dean that I didn't participate in class and got a F in participation to justify the C.

I also fought a professor that gave me a B in a class that I had a 93%.

I lost both, but I still think it was worth sticking up for myself.

[Anonymous]

Did he ask the professor to round it up or did he ask the professor if there was any extra work he could do to improve his grade? The first is asking for a freebie and the second at least shows a willingness to do extra, Although asking to do extra work means the professor has to do more grading so that’s also annoying. There is an art and diplomacy to trying to do something like this, so if all your son did was just go up to the professor and ask for the grade to be rounded up, that’s a bad approach. And if he’s not getting an in the class, the professor wasn’t going to write him a letter for recommendation anyway, in all likelihood.

What class is this for? If I were you, I would stop lecturing and just let it go. Your son will learn how to handle these things without you lecturing him or trying to manage it.

[Anonymous]

What college is giving out final grades in October? Has to be a troll post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the harm in asking? "I'm very close to an A. Is there anything I can do to get my grade round up that .01%, or whatever it is?"

The prof is kind of a dick for not rounding up already, imo.

The majority would round it up, if for no other reason then to avoid being asked to change the grade later. There is a reason the prof is set on not rounding up.

Rounding it up also means that word will get out that the professor is open to being petitioned. It’s easier for the professor to have a bright line rule that the grade is the grade and that’s it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jesus Christ.

What can I do for you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did he ask the professor to round it up or did he ask the professor if there was any extra work he could do to improve his grade? The first is asking for a freebie and the second at least shows a willingness to do extra, Although asking to do extra work means the professor has to do more grading so that’s also annoying. There is an art and diplomacy to trying to do something like this, so if all your son did was just go up to the professor and ask for the grade to be rounded up, that’s a bad approach. And if he’s not getting an in the class, the professor wasn’t going to write him a letter for recommendation anyway, in all likelihood.

University professor here. I agree with this post. "Rounding up" is asking for a freebie. To be fair to all students, I would have to "round up" all scores like that, even for then students who are too shy to ask. Asking for extra work is a better, but not great, approach. (But also, who the hell grades to the second decimal point? This sounds like an overly punctilious professor. Ick. Sometimes I hate my colleagues.)
He already asked and was turned down. I would advise him, as you did, to let it go. But if he doesn't, and no matter the response, there will be a lesson there somewhere and it's his to learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one wondering why a parent would be so aware and involved with their college kid's course grade during the semester? Is this normal at the college level? [Genuine question - our kids are in HS, not college.]

No comment on OP's intentions or whether s/he's a troll, but I have a friend who is a prof at a t10 private. She tells me she personally gets calls from parents all.the.time with outlandish requests.

Do tell.