You asked:

I totally blew this one class I really needed, and I’m worried about how it’s going to affect my GPA. Is it possible to negotiate a final grade with my professor? Like, maybe get extra credit or a do-over?

It really depends on the professor -- and sometimes on your school’s academic standards. It’s best to see your professor earlier on during the semester for help if you feel like your grade is falling, but better late than never. It never hurts to ask, so try talking with your professor and school personnel about your grade. Stop by during office hours, or contact them via phone or email to set up an appointment. Be calm when talking with your professor, and remember that he or she isn’t required to haggle with you over grades. Here are some points to keep in mind:

Re-evaluation: If you feel you received a grade in error -- or that one of your exam grades wasn’t quite right -- then ask the professor to re-evaluate your work.  Like anyone, professors make mistakes when they have a lot of students to keep track of -- especially when it comes to calculating grades.

Extra credit: Ask if you can redo an assignment for extra credit. Not all professors will allow this, but sometimes a few extra points can make all the difference. Maybe you can rewrite a paper you didn’t understand very well. If one exam is bringing your grade down and you now have a better understanding of the material, ask if you could do something to fix it.

Class do-over: If the final grade you got will be on your transcript, ask your school registrar’s office about the policy on retaking classes. In some schools, retaking a class will allow the new grade to replace the old one. It stinks to have to repeat a class (and cough up additional tuition costs), but it could help your GPA in the long run. Even if the original bad grade stays on the transcript, your GPA will factor in the new grade. Anyone viewing your transcript in the future will see that you made an effort to bring up your grade in this class.

Pass/fail option: Taking a class for a pass/fail grade is a possibility at some schools. This means as long as you pass, you won’t mess up your transcript with a bad grade. However, most schools will not permit you to take a course that way if it is required for your major. Talk to your professor or registrar’s office about this process.

Name: Sarah Arsenoff
School: UNC Wilmington
Year: Senior
Major: Marine Biology
Her Deal: This is Sarah's third year as an R.A. for freshmen and international students. She writes for Periplus, a university newsletter for students who, like her, are in the honors scholars program.

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