Asking a professor to reconsider the grades he gave you is one of the more sensitive things you will do while in college. But if you feel justified in doing so, you absolutely should.
And in this post we will look at how you can enquire about your grades with your professor via email, some best practices and tips to sound polite, professional and non-confrontational. So let us get started.
Tips to Remember
Be respectful and polite when emailing your professor, especially in this case, You do not want to sound accusatory or hostile even if you have a legitimate case to make.
Clearly state your purpose and avoid ambiguity so that your professor can address the problem with your grades without getting confused.
Provide context as to why you believe your grades are not what they should be, and provide evidence for it if possible.
Best Practices
Show eagerness to improve when talking to your professor about grades. Your professor would not appreciate someone just trying to bargain for better grades without putting in the effort to improve.
Be open to discuss this matter further if this email is not sufficient. There might be reasoning or context that are better explained via a call, so keep communication lines open.
Express your concerns without hesitation, because at the end of the day, you need to confront them anyway, so your professor might be able to help you tackle it.
Sample
Subject: Inquiry about [Course/Subject] Grades
Dear [Recipient’s Name],
Hope you are doing well. My name is [Your Name] and I am currently enrolled in the [Course Name] and I recently took the [Exam Name] on [Date] and scored [Score].
I have received your feedback but I want some clarity on [Your Concerns] and more specifically, [Briefly Explain Your Concerns].
I am eager to improve and your clarifications and feedback on my concerns would help me understand how to get better and improve my grades.
I am also open to discussing this further, so please feel free to reply back to this email. Alternatively you can also call me on [Mobile Number] on weekdays between [Timings].
Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing back from you.
Regards,
[Your Name]
Conclusion
If you were nervous about sending an email enquiring about your grades to your professor before, now you should at the very least be less nervous. By following all the tips, practices and the sample email shared, you are well equipped to handle this situation.
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