College is no walk in the park. It’s draining and, at times, seems to suck all motivation out of you. Nothing wrong with that. It is, by default, the universal college experience of all students across the globe. But, keeping up your grades, when steamed under such massive stress, can be a task. It’s not always your fault slipping down some points. Straight As require constant attention and dedication. But, sometimes, things just don’t seem to be working the way you want them to. Added with the course load of college and the pressure to maintain a social life, along with some co-curricular, sounds exhausting. Should we email to professor for a better grade?
Writing to your professors isn’t as intimidating as it sounds. Especially, when it comes to grades. Grades are important. That is exactly why you should email them about it when faced with a problem. No other person can change your grade, other than your professor. An email to your professor should be concise and polite. Stick to the point and tell them why you’re writing to them.
Given how hard student life can be, it is no surprise that sometimes, some of us let an A slip to a B or a B to a C. This article is a guide to how to battle a similar situation. Write to your professors and teachers for a better grade. It’s easier than you may believe!
How to Change Your Grade: A Beginner’s Guide
Before you start writing an email, it is crucial to consider the tone and tenure. Writing isn’t only about words. It’s also about how you present it.
When writing to a teacher, it goes without saying that you need to be polite. And, yes, being courteous will also include taking “no” for an answer and letting the case rest. Not all professors might be willing to give you extra assignments and test to increase your grade.
How can I ask my professor to change my grade?
There can be various reasons to ask for a grade change. Like asking your professor to recheck your turned-in assignment or ask them to provide you with extra credit.
When writing to your professor, make sure you mention your reasons clearly. If you need to retake a text, let them know why the first try wasn’t enough. The same goes for asking them to let you hand in extra work.
However, when approaching them for issues like rechecking, make sure you don’t end up blaming the professor. Be polite. Writing them for revising your assignment again is also a request.
How to respond to your professor
Some professors might not even reply to your email. When that happens, you can send them a follow-up email but make sure that you do not spam them with emails.
You can talk to them directly after class and ask them if they’ve read your email. Your professor should take time to speak to you at such a moment and will surely give you an answer.
But what if my professor is being extremely harsh?
In such a case, you can either let the situation be and hope for your next semester to be better. Or, you can contact the head of your department or the college advisor.
You do need to keep in mind that, the same professor might teach you a new paper in the next semesters. In any case, straining your relations with a faculty member will most likely not turn out in your favor. So be ready to step back when necessary.
Writing an Email
Yeah, we all know how to write an email. There’s nothing that hard about it. But, when writing to a superior, especially when requesting an extra credit, your email needs to be perfect. Here are a few tips you should keep in mind when writing an email to the faculty:
- Use your university ID: Using the university-granted ID is the most formal way to go about it. Email IDs are a lot more professional than you might think. Emailing your professor from a personal ID can come off as rude. In case you do not possess an official ID, then use a professional email address. The Id should have your name in it and be easily recognizable as yours.
- Write a self-explanatory subject line: Subject lines should be able to convey the entire purpose of your email. An informative subject will help your professor understand the nature of your email better and will not have to search your email for its purpose.
- Structure of your email: Your email should be precise and to the point. Don’t mention topics that are unrelated to the nature of the email. Try to wrap up the body of your email in about 150-200 words. You can end on a polite note and even ask for an in-person discussion if feasible. You need not introduce yourself in the email since you will sign it off with your name.
End the message with a “Thank You.”
Writing emails aren’t that hard as long as you know the entire process and format. Use an accurate grammar tool and proofread your email before sending it to your professor.
Sample Emails
The following are some examples of how you can format and send in an email that will get your teacher to hear you out:
Sample 01
From
Taylor Jenkins
University X
To
Anna Lee
Department of social sciences, University X
Subject: Request for an extra assignment to improve my grades
Dear Professor Lee,
Last week, you posted our grades on the student portal. In the past few months, my grades have really started to slip.
As a student, I’ve rarely ever compromised my grades, so this came as a surprise to me and has left me disappointed. As a result, I am writing to you to please allow me to work on an extra assignment that can help me boost up my scores.
I apologize for my recent academic decline. Please, do allow me to improve my grade. I will make myself available at your convenience for further discussion.
Thank you for your time.
Yours sincerely,
Taylor Jenkins
Sample Email 02
From
Sasha Smith
University X
To
Rose Greene
Department of History, University X
Subject: Request for a class test retake
Dear Professor Greene,
The results of our class test, conducted on the 10th of July, came back yesterday. On the day of the class test, I suffered severe migraines and had to be rushed to the infirmary, due to which I had to turn in an unfinished test.
My grade for the class test is disappointing, and I would like to retake the test to increase my scores. In the past week, I have received adequate medical care and am ready to turn up for a retest.
I am sure that, if given another chance, I would do much better. I can take the test at your convenience.
Thank you for your time.
Yours sincerely,
Sasha Smith
Sample Email 03
From
Hayley Ray
University X
To
William Fulham
Department of Art Studies, University X
Subject: Extra support on semester grades
Dear Professor Fulham,
I noticed that you put up our predicted semester-end scores on the portal. I was thoroughly surprised by my poor grades this semester.
Since this semester was conducted online, I found it difficult to adapt to the sudden change. I was wondering if you could allow me to increase my grades through extra credit opportunities. I would be thankful if you could advise me on how I can improve on my future assignments.
I sincerely apologize for my poor performance this semester. Please, allow me to improve my grades. I’m sure that I won’t disappoint you again. I will make myself available for discussion at your convenience.
Thank you for your time.
Yours sincerely
Hayley Ray
There are countless ways to write down an email. But, when writing to your professor, be careful not to be too familiar. While these emails may sound the same and may come off as ‘boring,’ they do complete their purpose. Professors tend to be busy and a wordy email may do little to help your course.
Also, no matter how frustrated you feel, don’t let that frustration seep into your email.
Don’t be hesitant to approach your teachers. They probably aren’t as scary as you make them out to be. Handle the situation delicately, and results will surely not be bad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Will emailing my professor about my grades be effective?
Think of it this way: your professor is the only person who can change your grade. If you don’t approach them, then no one else can change it for you. Emailing your professor to give you a chance to increase your grade can work out. So, it’s better to give it a shot rather than not trying at all.
Q2. What do I do if my professor has not replied to my email even after days of me sending it?
If your professor hasn’t replied to you, you should approach them personally. Try talking to them after a lecture. Ask them if they’ve read the email you’ve sent.
Don’t send other emails, and don’t spam them with reminders. If your professor continues to ignore you, chances are that they have no intention to increase your grade.
Q3. How polite should my email be?
There is no such thing as being too polite when writing to the professor. Be as courteous as you can. Be apologetic for troubling and thank them for their time. Be aware of the kind of tone you use while writing. You don’t want to come off as too strong or accusatory.
Q4. How can I write a good subject?
The subject line is nothing but the purpose of your email. People tend to make their subject lines too long or too vague. Focus on the nature of your email. The theme. Your email needs to be self-explanatory.
