Graduate students should take action if they face stress or academic problems.
7. Unfair grades: If there is one issue that connects all students from kindergarten to graduate school, it's that every student at some point believes he or she has been graded unfairly. If you feel comfortable addressing a grade directly with your professor, be polite and ask him or her to explain the grade—not because you want to take issue but because you want to learn how to make future adjustments. Often, that conversation will provide an opportunity to defend your position without coming across as confrontational.
[See these tips for how to overcome a bad grade.]
On the other hand, if you feel the situation is such that you believe speaking to an instructor directly would only worsen it, consult with an academic adviser or someone on campus, such as a student advocate or ombudsperson.
Dr. Don Martin, Ph.D., is a higher education admissions expert, author, and former admissions dean at Columbia University, Northwestern University, Wheaton College, and University of Chicago Booth School of Business. To learn more about graduate admissions, visit gradschoolroadmap.com.
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