how do I appeal a grade? -- Virtually Advising Q+A

The Q: What's the best way to go about appealing a grade you got on a paper that you think deserves a considerably higher mark? Is it even worth the trouble?

The A: This is a terribly touchy matter. Think about what you're suggesting: that you're more equipped to do your professor's job than she is.

Appealing a grade is always a difficult matter, so I'd think hard before doing it. Remember, those few points you could get out of it may come with a price: an uncomfortable relationship with your professor. A grade change rarely makes a difference in your GPA; most students get pretty consistent grades over the course of their careers.

If, after taking all this into consideration, you still want to appeal your grade, then do so. On rare occasions, I've changed a grade and felt good about it afterward. Approach your professor without anger and ask for an explanation. You may decide after hearing her logic that your own evaluation was wrong. If not, gently explain your point and ask if she will reconsider the grade.

If the grade was given by a TA and, after taking these steps, you're still convinced you've been graded unfairly, you can try the professor. You may get a grade change or you may not, but whatever your professor says you should probably accept the answer.

Many students have come to think of themselves as consumers and us faculty as service providers. While to some extent this is true - your tuition pays some of our salary, for example - believing it goes against your own best interests. We're better dealt with as though we're your employers. We review your performance and determine how far and how fast you'll climb. You need our good will to gain access to advanced coursework, research experience and job/grad-school recommendations. We've graded a lot of papers and exams in our time; most often when students don't like grades, it's simply a case of thinking (or hoping) the work was better than it actually was.

But rarely, a grade may actually be unfair. It's almost impossible to know what to do in that case. In grad school once, I was given a very unfair grade. I took it without complaining and advised my friends to stay away from that professor.

If you want, you can complain to your professor, the department chair and, ultimately, the dean. My feeling is that this is almost never worthwhile. Unless you think it's a case of blatant discrimination - and you have real evidence to back up your claim - it's unlikely to do you or anyone else any good. In fact, it's quite likely to do a fair bit of harm.

—Anahid Kassabian, Chief Advisor