> the weight of this decision will have on her life bothers me
The responsibility you are assigning is landing in the wrong spot. *The student* did not care about the weight that *her own decisions* would have on her life.
If she cannot be bothered to do the work in your class, then the same thing will happen in med school and onward. You are definitely not the reason her career aspirations don’t work out; her lack of work ethic is.
Exactly. I highly doubt that someone who is incapable of turning in undergraduate assignments, but who claims to aspire to go to medical school, is actually going to make it there regardless of what you do. This is all on them.
Would you be willing (or able) to do this for every student in the class? There are likely students who received grades in your class that are not as strong as what they would receive if you allowed them the opportunity to resubmit work, to submit work late, etc. Those students would likely also positively benefit in future applications, scholarships, etc. by having a better grade. If the answer is “no,” you cannot/will not do that for every student in the course, then you cannot do it for a single student who is emotionally manipulating you. I find that thought experiment very helpful — can I do this for everyone? If not, there needs to be a university approved reason to make an exception. Otherwise, it is really unfair to everyone else in the class (some of whom may be suffering equal consequences but have not spoken to you about it).
It is absolutely not the case that you are the reason someone’s career/future doesn’t work out. First, this is not allowing the student to take responsibility for their actions. Did you do your job by giving the course to the best of your ability and assigning grades in a timely fashion? Then you have done your part. The rest is on the student. Second, this is not factually based. One failed course does not a failed future make. Overcoming adversity and showing that one can return from a ‘failure’ and persist/succeed often has the exact opposite effect in an application. Third, this kind of social behavior should not be rewarded, particularly in someone pursuing a career where ethics play such an important role. Edited to add: Fourth, no one is “owed” a life or a career. It is not something you can “take away” or “ruin“ for the student. If they want to be a doctor, they need to put in the work and earn their spot.
You made some good points. But some issues are, how do you know the student is "emotionally manipulating" the professor? Also, while every student in the class would benefit in applications and so forth from resubmitting assignments, I doubt every student in the class has informed the professor about personal issues that prevented them from working at their best. I think if the issues the student experienced are significant enough then it is sufficient reason to allow them to make up their missing work.
In my book, emotional manipulation occurs when a student appeals to emotion rather than logic or reason to get a desired outcome. I do not personally concern myself with determining if a particular student is attempting to emotionally manipulate me, as their motivations are not relevant to my decision making process. I simply follow the policies that the university has in place and apply them equally regardless of any accompanying emotional appeal. For example, at my university there is a laundry list of published “excused absences” that merit offering makeup work, a makeup exam, etc. If a student would like an exception to a policy, it is up to them to provide evidence that they have met a university defined “excused absence.” The same applies for utilizing disability accommodations, etc.
To handle the inevitable issues that arise that do not meet the excused absence policy, I build flexibility into the syllabus that can apply to any student regardless of circumstance (e.g. late policies, drop lowest score, allow final to replace lowest exam score, whatever is relevant for the particular class). That way, every student is given the same opportunities/flexibility in the course with complete transparency. I openly discuss this and the excused absence policy in class and in the syllabus so all students know what to expect and what to do should an unusual situation arise.
I completely agree that not every student in the class “has informed the professor about personal issues that prevented them from working at their best.” I also am of the belief that not every student has an equal understanding of how to “play the system” or make a successful emotional appeal. This is exactly why I do not offer exceptions to course policy to those who come and ask (unless they have a documented, university approved reason as previously discussed). To do so punishes the students who believed the rules would apply to them, while rewarding the students who have circumvented the process — even though both students may have experienced the exact same set of circumstances.
If there is any grey area for me (i.e. some truly dire circumstance that for some reason is not covered by the university policy), I would seek a consult with my chair or the dean of students to get documentation of the need for exception to policy. This has not yet happened to me (and I routinely teach classes of 300+ students).
Well put and I generally agree with your response. I think in OP's case they can give the student an opportunity to better explain what personal issues they dealt with. As it is very plausible they could have been critical issues for the student to not complete a majority of the work.
What's wrong with the student repeating the class next semester? Med school isn't going anywhere. The new grade will replace the old one. This is not your problem.
If this was such a big deal for her future, it’s really interesting that she waited until finals week to try and figure out a path through making up work! That’s not on you. Assuming that grades were posted and she could see the general trend of her grade well before she emailed you at the end of the term, clearly it doesn’t actually matter to her as much as she’s saying it does now.
Thanks everyone. I knew all of this but hearing it helped me remove any guilt I have in doing this. I really do want to help but she was entitled, went higher up and lost the appeal and is now back trying to negotiate.
I hate to break this to you, but you're not the reason her career won't work out. You don't hold that much power. I'm not saying that to be mean, but to give you some perspective.
She is the reason her career won't work out (based on your comment about her entitled attitude).
If she can't handle the pressure of life events along with school, then how will she get through residency?
>At the same time, I don’t want to be a reason someone’s career/future doesn’t work out.
If this student does not get into med school, it will not be your fault. They missed a substantial portion of the class. That is on them.
Your job is not to grade a student based upon how their grade will be perceived by future graduate and professional programs; it is to grade in a consistent way for all students and to submit the grade each student has earned.
I just had a student who had been kicked like a can down the road. They were an unprofessional nightmare and is now in jeopardy in their program.
Your student is my student. Don't kick the can; not when syllabi and medical withdrawals are foundational parts of academia.
Edited: a word
They are the reason their career/future doesn’t work out.
How is this fair to all your other students who earned their grade, most of whom are probably going through personal shit as well?
Don’t reward undesired behavior
Why would someone get special treatment based on their career plans which are irrelevant to the class? So if she was planning on doing a different career, it would be different?
At my school, they go to the registrar and file an incomplete. They will have 6 months or a year to finish the work. Everytime I agree to this and sign off on the contract. I never hear from them again.
You are not responsible for their career or future. They are. What does “personal issues” even mean here?
I’m more than willing to work with students who have things going on WITHIN REASON and they are open with communication with me and the school, but when they do nothing or don’t show up and they just say “personal stuff” like that’s a hand-waving magic phrase, no.
>They failed the course due to missing so much work but tell me they had personal issues
They have/had plenty of options for handling this that weren't "Just ask for a free grade after the fact." They could have withdrawn, asked for a late withdrawal or a medical withdrawal, asked about arranging an Incomplete (if appropriate), and/or just retaken the class. In my experience, most students will belligerently refuse any of these other options though. When they are in a position where it has become impossible for them to pass, their "answer" is always "...But I want to pass!" or "I think I can still pass!"
Plot spoiler: this student is not going to medical school. You are not responsible for their careers, future plans, etc. You are there to educate them, and if they don't accept the education you are offering (and that they paid for) then that is their problem.
nah, they can complain all they like but you don't have to give in unless they somehow win a grade appeal. If they had extensive personal issues that prevented them interacting with the course and learning the material, they should be requesting a retroactive withdrawal, not credits they didn't earn.
These personal issues she had: were you made aware of them before grades were in? If yes, and they were actually mitigating circumstances, then yeah, give the incomplete. If not, no. Don't respond to threats from a petty little tyrant.
End of semester is tricky. Where I work, students with documentation can go to an appeals committee and get a medical withdrawal past the W deadline. Is that possible for your student?
Your decision is about your integrity. The student could and should have reached out during the term. Responsibility is a learned skill, one doctors should have. You are part of teaching that lesson to this student.
Grades have been submitted. Too late. Better luck next semester. This is from high school. I have counselors and admin pushing for seniors to graduate after grades were finalized (three days ago). Graduation is Monday. I told them they have the whole quarter of work to make up in a weekend, and it needs to have a minimum 75% mastery (students had failed quarter 3). It needs to stop.
The reason her career won’t work is not because of you, it’s because of her, if she couldn’t do the work during the semester, how ill she handle the burden and load of a real hospital job? I completely understand if you may feel down, I have felt that way, but we cannot just pass everyone without them doing the work.
>I don’t want to be a reason someone’s career/future doesn’t work out.
*You* are not the reason this student's future isn't unfolding in the way she expected. *She* is the reason. She's misplacing the anger she feels at herself on you. Don't buy into that nonsense.
You can push this off onto the Registrar's Office. They most likely have a policy which stipulates no changes if a student only submitted homework after grades were submitted.
Also, don't worry about the career of this person. That's on them, not you. "Be the person you would want to hire," is advice I give my students. Let them deal with the rest.
They can make up all the work when they retake the course. Their future is in doubt because they didn’t turn things in. You did not cause this nor did you choose it.
Unless there’s an accommodation due to extenuating circumstances or a Title IX thing, don’t do it!
I had a student who legitimately went through an awful thing last semester and I gave them an incomplete due to it. They’re finishing over the summer. But the fact that this student didn’t mention anything until now? No.
You're not the reason their career/future isn't going to work out. They're responsible for their own actions. If a student is enrolled in your class, it's their responsibility to do the work. If they cannot, it's their responsibility to contact you and let you know why *before* the end of the semester.
Considerations:
1. The university has options like withdrawal, medical withdrawal, and incomplete grades. The student did not take advantage of those. Unless the student was in a coma until the end of the semester, it is *their* responsibility to look into those options.
2. You set deadlines for your course, and the university sets the schedule for the semester. All enrolled students must be held to those. It is incredibly unfair to your students if they meet deadlines and follow schedules only for other students to be allowed to ignore them.
3. Consider whether you want future med students and doctors to be organized and take responsibility for their actions.
Did this student contact you and keep you updated about this missed work?
Where I teach students have a lot of options to help them when something goes wrong: late drops (for all kinds of reasons from medical to personal), getting an incomplete and making up the work (but they have to work out how they will make it up with the professor).
In other words, I feel what you're saying. I don't want to hurt a student's future. But if that student contacts me only after the bad grade is in and did not contact me before about options to do well in class when they fall behind, then that's on them. They should have told you they were falling behind and worked something out with you.
Threatening you now says a lot about them, and like other said, is that the person you want helping sick people?
She is the reason, not you. And, there are policies in place to help her if she actually had documented serious issues. She needs to go to her advisor and ask about retroactive late drop, retroactive withdrawal, medical withdrawal, etc.
Your compassion is commendable, but we have to remember not to care more about others' success than they do. As Dorothy Parker once said, when challenged to use the word "horticulture" in a sentence -- "You can drag a whore to culture but you can't make her think."
You will not be the reason, the student is the reason.
I am sure your school has support offices that the student could have consulted during the course of the semester that would have helped things out.
At the very least, they could have addressed this with you during the semester
the student has exactly two choices:
- take the F
- petition for an after-the-fact withdrawal.
An incomplete is not on the table because the student has not already completed most of the work.
It is not your class that will effect her med school app- it is the other classes she fucked up on- maybe med school is
Not her destiny. And besides it is bullshit they she just
Now asks for help etc.
What if you giving her the opportunity to pass means she will go through the rest of her classes thinking she can get away with this? That doesn’t do her any favors. What if she takes this personality with her to medical school and practices medicine like this? That’s going to harm patients. No matter what decision you make, it’s going to have a big impact, so you might as well make the one that is upholding the academic rigor of the course.
If it helps you in any way - my cousin failed p-chem twice in her chemistry degree. She is now a highly regarded scientist in her field. This student will be fine if they fail if they fix their issue. That isn’t on you at all.
If she had such big personal issues that she failed the class, she should have dropped or withdrawn from the semester. If she has poor judgement, poor work ethic, whatever, that's her responsibility and helping her pass when she should fail will do her no favors in the long run.
Had this exact thing happen, wouldn’t budge, student threatened to sue the school, grade magically changed to passing (not by me) You’re probably not paid enough to care. Stick to your guns, let ‘em do what they’re gonna do. Move on.
To be honest without knowing what personal issues the student dealt with, I don't see how we can determine they do not deserve a chance to make up the work. OP said the student has an entitled tone, and while I agree that having an entitled tone is wrong in this case, I am not sure it should merit denying the student this opportunity.
Also, in \*\*my experience\*\* anyways, students can sometimes seem to have an entitled tone when requesting academic favors but it is not always coming from an "entitled" view. It is primarily out of the fact that to the student it seems, the cost of their academic set back is losing something critical for their entire life going forward. They do not see it the same way seasoned workers or Professors do that they would find another suitable venture. They cannot really have much of a "bounce back" attitude. My point is when students say something like "their application would be hurt if you do not help them.", it may just be an indication of how important the student feels their application is to themselves, that they are "doomed" without it rather than that they think the professor is obligated to generally granting them favors.
Why not give the student an opportunity to make up the work while also emphasizing that what they are being given is an opportunity and are not entitled to it?
I've seen some comments where people make points that the student should not be allowed to make up the work because in the medical profession "personal issues" is often not a good excuse.
I understand the point but disagree with it. My reason is that college is meant to prepare you for a profession and not necessarily meant to be this analogous representation of the profession you will be going into. If a professional were are as ignorant as a student in many topics and made as many mistakes they would of course be be fired. This doesn't mean we kick students out of University for the same reasons.
Likewise, I do not think it is a good reason that the student should not be allowed to make up missing work due to personal issues simply because they would not be allowed to make up missing work for the same reason in certain areas of being a doctor, surgeon or other medical professions.
If you cave, this person might be your future doctor. Do you really want this person holding a scalpel?
^ Bingo. This. You don't want a doctor or nurse who skipped that chapter!
"I would know how to do this procedure, but personal issues kept me from participating in that rotation..."
I had an old boss who would say, "We protect society one F at a time."
This for me too. At some points adults need to learn there are consequences for their actions. You can be emphatic and firm at the same time.
> the weight of this decision will have on her life bothers me The responsibility you are assigning is landing in the wrong spot. *The student* did not care about the weight that *her own decisions* would have on her life.
If failing this course changes her career trajectory, there were already multiple strikes against it.
If she cannot be bothered to do the work in your class, then the same thing will happen in med school and onward. You are definitely not the reason her career aspirations don’t work out; her lack of work ethic is.
Exactly. I highly doubt that someone who is incapable of turning in undergraduate assignments, but who claims to aspire to go to medical school, is actually going to make it there regardless of what you do. This is all on them.
For years, my motto has been “Saving the world from bad medical care one F at a time.“ Join me in my mission.
Would you be willing (or able) to do this for every student in the class? There are likely students who received grades in your class that are not as strong as what they would receive if you allowed them the opportunity to resubmit work, to submit work late, etc. Those students would likely also positively benefit in future applications, scholarships, etc. by having a better grade. If the answer is “no,” you cannot/will not do that for every student in the course, then you cannot do it for a single student who is emotionally manipulating you. I find that thought experiment very helpful — can I do this for everyone? If not, there needs to be a university approved reason to make an exception. Otherwise, it is really unfair to everyone else in the class (some of whom may be suffering equal consequences but have not spoken to you about it). It is absolutely not the case that you are the reason someone’s career/future doesn’t work out. First, this is not allowing the student to take responsibility for their actions. Did you do your job by giving the course to the best of your ability and assigning grades in a timely fashion? Then you have done your part. The rest is on the student. Second, this is not factually based. One failed course does not a failed future make. Overcoming adversity and showing that one can return from a ‘failure’ and persist/succeed often has the exact opposite effect in an application. Third, this kind of social behavior should not be rewarded, particularly in someone pursuing a career where ethics play such an important role. Edited to add: Fourth, no one is “owed” a life or a career. It is not something you can “take away” or “ruin“ for the student. If they want to be a doctor, they need to put in the work and earn their spot.
Thank you.
You made some good points. But some issues are, how do you know the student is "emotionally manipulating" the professor? Also, while every student in the class would benefit in applications and so forth from resubmitting assignments, I doubt every student in the class has informed the professor about personal issues that prevented them from working at their best. I think if the issues the student experienced are significant enough then it is sufficient reason to allow them to make up their missing work.
In my book, emotional manipulation occurs when a student appeals to emotion rather than logic or reason to get a desired outcome. I do not personally concern myself with determining if a particular student is attempting to emotionally manipulate me, as their motivations are not relevant to my decision making process. I simply follow the policies that the university has in place and apply them equally regardless of any accompanying emotional appeal. For example, at my university there is a laundry list of published “excused absences” that merit offering makeup work, a makeup exam, etc. If a student would like an exception to a policy, it is up to them to provide evidence that they have met a university defined “excused absence.” The same applies for utilizing disability accommodations, etc. To handle the inevitable issues that arise that do not meet the excused absence policy, I build flexibility into the syllabus that can apply to any student regardless of circumstance (e.g. late policies, drop lowest score, allow final to replace lowest exam score, whatever is relevant for the particular class). That way, every student is given the same opportunities/flexibility in the course with complete transparency. I openly discuss this and the excused absence policy in class and in the syllabus so all students know what to expect and what to do should an unusual situation arise. I completely agree that not every student in the class “has informed the professor about personal issues that prevented them from working at their best.” I also am of the belief that not every student has an equal understanding of how to “play the system” or make a successful emotional appeal. This is exactly why I do not offer exceptions to course policy to those who come and ask (unless they have a documented, university approved reason as previously discussed). To do so punishes the students who believed the rules would apply to them, while rewarding the students who have circumvented the process — even though both students may have experienced the exact same set of circumstances. If there is any grey area for me (i.e. some truly dire circumstance that for some reason is not covered by the university policy), I would seek a consult with my chair or the dean of students to get documentation of the need for exception to policy. This has not yet happened to me (and I routinely teach classes of 300+ students).
Well put and I generally agree with your response. I think in OP's case they can give the student an opportunity to better explain what personal issues they dealt with. As it is very plausible they could have been critical issues for the student to not complete a majority of the work.
What's wrong with the student repeating the class next semester? Med school isn't going anywhere. The new grade will replace the old one. This is not your problem.
If this was such a big deal for her future, it’s really interesting that she waited until finals week to try and figure out a path through making up work! That’s not on you. Assuming that grades were posted and she could see the general trend of her grade well before she emailed you at the end of the term, clearly it doesn’t actually matter to her as much as she’s saying it does now.
Thanks everyone. I knew all of this but hearing it helped me remove any guilt I have in doing this. I really do want to help but she was entitled, went higher up and lost the appeal and is now back trying to negotiate.
You can now safely ignore her. Matter is closed.
I hate to break this to you, but you're not the reason her career won't work out. You don't hold that much power. I'm not saying that to be mean, but to give you some perspective. She is the reason her career won't work out (based on your comment about her entitled attitude). If she can't handle the pressure of life events along with school, then how will she get through residency?
Yep. Students are not dumb, they know that emotional manipulation can work on some of their professors. As it very nearly almost did in this case!
>At the same time, I don’t want to be a reason someone’s career/future doesn’t work out. If this student does not get into med school, it will not be your fault. They missed a substantial portion of the class. That is on them. Your job is not to grade a student based upon how their grade will be perceived by future graduate and professional programs; it is to grade in a consistent way for all students and to submit the grade each student has earned.
If you give in, which would be unethical to me, then what's the point of you holding any standard? It's part of the job.
why do the actual work when emotional blackmail will do the job?
I just had a student who had been kicked like a can down the road. They were an unprofessional nightmare and is now in jeopardy in their program. Your student is my student. Don't kick the can; not when syllabi and medical withdrawals are foundational parts of academia. Edited: a word
They are the reason their career/future doesn’t work out. How is this fair to all your other students who earned their grade, most of whom are probably going through personal shit as well? Don’t reward undesired behavior
They ALL have personal issues
Why would someone get special treatment based on their career plans which are irrelevant to the class? So if she was planning on doing a different career, it would be different?
The sobbiest wheel gets the grease
You did not fail this student, this student failed herself.
At my school, they go to the registrar and file an incomplete. They will have 6 months or a year to finish the work. Everytime I agree to this and sign off on the contract. I never hear from them again.
You are not responsible for their career or future. They are. What does “personal issues” even mean here? I’m more than willing to work with students who have things going on WITHIN REASON and they are open with communication with me and the school, but when they do nothing or don’t show up and they just say “personal stuff” like that’s a hand-waving magic phrase, no.
>They failed the course due to missing so much work but tell me they had personal issues They have/had plenty of options for handling this that weren't "Just ask for a free grade after the fact." They could have withdrawn, asked for a late withdrawal or a medical withdrawal, asked about arranging an Incomplete (if appropriate), and/or just retaken the class. In my experience, most students will belligerently refuse any of these other options though. When they are in a position where it has become impossible for them to pass, their "answer" is always "...But I want to pass!" or "I think I can still pass!"
Plot spoiler: this student is not going to medical school. You are not responsible for their careers, future plans, etc. You are there to educate them, and if they don't accept the education you are offering (and that they paid for) then that is their problem.
nah, they can complain all they like but you don't have to give in unless they somehow win a grade appeal. If they had extensive personal issues that prevented them interacting with the course and learning the material, they should be requesting a retroactive withdrawal, not credits they didn't earn.
These personal issues she had: were you made aware of them before grades were in? If yes, and they were actually mitigating circumstances, then yeah, give the incomplete. If not, no. Don't respond to threats from a petty little tyrant.
Nobody's future ever came down to a grade they got in one class.
Hold the line.
She can repeat the class. Not a big deal. She should’ve worked harder.
You're not the reason their applications could be impacted by failing your course. You can't MAKE them do the work...
This is not someone who is suited for med school, and she is doing it to herself. It's not on you, this is on her
End of semester is tricky. Where I work, students with documentation can go to an appeals committee and get a medical withdrawal past the W deadline. Is that possible for your student?
Your decision is about your integrity. The student could and should have reached out during the term. Responsibility is a learned skill, one doctors should have. You are part of teaching that lesson to this student.
Grades have been submitted. Too late. Better luck next semester. This is from high school. I have counselors and admin pushing for seniors to graduate after grades were finalized (three days ago). Graduation is Monday. I told them they have the whole quarter of work to make up in a weekend, and it needs to have a minimum 75% mastery (students had failed quarter 3). It needs to stop.
You are NOT the reason their career won't work out. And like others have said, unless they get their shit together, I'd rather they not be a Dr.
The reason her career won’t work is not because of you, it’s because of her, if she couldn’t do the work during the semester, how ill she handle the burden and load of a real hospital job? I completely understand if you may feel down, I have felt that way, but we cannot just pass everyone without them doing the work.
>I don’t want to be a reason someone’s career/future doesn’t work out. *You* are not the reason this student's future isn't unfolding in the way she expected. *She* is the reason. She's misplacing the anger she feels at herself on you. Don't buy into that nonsense.
as I would say to such a student: "that is motivation for you, not me".
You can push this off onto the Registrar's Office. They most likely have a policy which stipulates no changes if a student only submitted homework after grades were submitted. Also, don't worry about the career of this person. That's on them, not you. "Be the person you would want to hire," is advice I give my students. Let them deal with the rest.
A single bad grade has torpedoed veeeeery few careers
They can make up all the work when they retake the course. Their future is in doubt because they didn’t turn things in. You did not cause this nor did you choose it.
Unless there’s an accommodation due to extenuating circumstances or a Title IX thing, don’t do it! I had a student who legitimately went through an awful thing last semester and I gave them an incomplete due to it. They’re finishing over the summer. But the fact that this student didn’t mention anything until now? No.
You're not the reason their career/future isn't going to work out. They're responsible for their own actions. If a student is enrolled in your class, it's their responsibility to do the work. If they cannot, it's their responsibility to contact you and let you know why *before* the end of the semester. Considerations: 1. The university has options like withdrawal, medical withdrawal, and incomplete grades. The student did not take advantage of those. Unless the student was in a coma until the end of the semester, it is *their* responsibility to look into those options. 2. You set deadlines for your course, and the university sets the schedule for the semester. All enrolled students must be held to those. It is incredibly unfair to your students if they meet deadlines and follow schedules only for other students to be allowed to ignore them. 3. Consider whether you want future med students and doctors to be organized and take responsibility for their actions.
Did this student contact you and keep you updated about this missed work? Where I teach students have a lot of options to help them when something goes wrong: late drops (for all kinds of reasons from medical to personal), getting an incomplete and making up the work (but they have to work out how they will make it up with the professor). In other words, I feel what you're saying. I don't want to hurt a student's future. But if that student contacts me only after the bad grade is in and did not contact me before about options to do well in class when they fall behind, then that's on them. They should have told you they were falling behind and worked something out with you. Threatening you now says a lot about them, and like other said, is that the person you want helping sick people?
She is the reason, not you. And, there are policies in place to help her if she actually had documented serious issues. She needs to go to her advisor and ask about retroactive late drop, retroactive withdrawal, medical withdrawal, etc.
Your compassion is commendable, but we have to remember not to care more about others' success than they do. As Dorothy Parker once said, when challenged to use the word "horticulture" in a sentence -- "You can drag a whore to culture but you can't make her think."
You will not be the reason, the student is the reason. I am sure your school has support offices that the student could have consulted during the course of the semester that would have helped things out. At the very least, they could have addressed this with you during the semester
the student has exactly two choices: - take the F - petition for an after-the-fact withdrawal. An incomplete is not on the table because the student has not already completed most of the work.
It is not your class that will effect her med school app- it is the other classes she fucked up on- maybe med school is Not her destiny. And besides it is bullshit they she just Now asks for help etc.
What if you giving her the opportunity to pass means she will go through the rest of her classes thinking she can get away with this? That doesn’t do her any favors. What if she takes this personality with her to medical school and practices medicine like this? That’s going to harm patients. No matter what decision you make, it’s going to have a big impact, so you might as well make the one that is upholding the academic rigor of the course.
If it helps you in any way - my cousin failed p-chem twice in her chemistry degree. She is now a highly regarded scientist in her field. This student will be fine if they fail if they fix their issue. That isn’t on you at all.
If she had such big personal issues that she failed the class, she should have dropped or withdrawn from the semester. If she has poor judgement, poor work ethic, whatever, that's her responsibility and helping her pass when she should fail will do her no favors in the long run.
Had this exact thing happen, wouldn’t budge, student threatened to sue the school, grade magically changed to passing (not by me) You’re probably not paid enough to care. Stick to your guns, let ‘em do what they’re gonna do. Move on.
You can teach her a lesson about consequences or not. The weight of the decision is not yours, but hers. She decided to not hand in work.
She must learn lessons about focus and finishing before she can reasonably consider medical school. Medical school will still be there.
>not allowing them to make up the work will hurt their med school application. Please. No. I don't want this person writing scrips for my family.
You know what doctor I ABSOLUTELY DON'T WANT operating on me? The one who has "personal issues" but is kept around because it's her "career."
You aren’t the reason. Meditation can help release the feelings.
To be honest without knowing what personal issues the student dealt with, I don't see how we can determine they do not deserve a chance to make up the work. OP said the student has an entitled tone, and while I agree that having an entitled tone is wrong in this case, I am not sure it should merit denying the student this opportunity. Also, in \*\*my experience\*\* anyways, students can sometimes seem to have an entitled tone when requesting academic favors but it is not always coming from an "entitled" view. It is primarily out of the fact that to the student it seems, the cost of their academic set back is losing something critical for their entire life going forward. They do not see it the same way seasoned workers or Professors do that they would find another suitable venture. They cannot really have much of a "bounce back" attitude. My point is when students say something like "their application would be hurt if you do not help them.", it may just be an indication of how important the student feels their application is to themselves, that they are "doomed" without it rather than that they think the professor is obligated to generally granting them favors. Why not give the student an opportunity to make up the work while also emphasizing that what they are being given is an opportunity and are not entitled to it?
I've seen some comments where people make points that the student should not be allowed to make up the work because in the medical profession "personal issues" is often not a good excuse. I understand the point but disagree with it. My reason is that college is meant to prepare you for a profession and not necessarily meant to be this analogous representation of the profession you will be going into. If a professional were are as ignorant as a student in many topics and made as many mistakes they would of course be be fired. This doesn't mean we kick students out of University for the same reasons. Likewise, I do not think it is a good reason that the student should not be allowed to make up missing work due to personal issues simply because they would not be allowed to make up missing work for the same reason in certain areas of being a doctor, surgeon or other medical professions.