Cue the Jaws Theme
The pre-grade nervousness is spreading. Judging by the people I’ve talked to recently, the entire 1L class has done nothing other than go to firm receptions, attend classes, and worry about grades for the past week or so (for the record, I have no qualms about generalizing from a small group of people to the entire 560-some class–this is a blog, after all–logic is optional!).
Everyone is pretty sure that professors were supposed to submit them to the registrar on Friday. But what about the possibility of extensions for busy professors? And what about the real question: when will the grades be posted online? Rumors are flying, but no one seems to know for sure. Will grades show up in 2-3 days, like they supposedly did last year? Will they come out next Friday at noon? Valentine’s Day was mentioned, but someone else heard that grades won’t come out until the day after, in deference to couples. (If this is true, what is worse: that the administration put off posting grades so as to not ruin Valentine’s Day, or that we all think this would be an eminently sensible idea?)
I’m trying not to worry and doing a fairly good job of it. I know I could have done better on my exams, and I’m annoyed at myself accordingly. But once they’re turned in, there’s nothing more you can do. Grades, on the other hand, were never in my control. I tell myself that I’m expecting average grades–maybe one slightly above average and another somewhat below–but if I were honest I’d admit that I’m hoping for something better, even though I feel guilty because that means pushing someone else down the curve.
Grades aren’t important. They aren’t indicative of your intelligence or of your worth as a person. They’re just a symbol corresponding to a range of scores on a three-(or eight-)hour slice of time in January. They won’t significantly harm your future or impair your career options. I know all of this, but I’m not sure I fully believe it. I’m even less sure everyone else believes it.
Carey Cuprisen, a 3L at Michigan, posted his first-semester grades a couple years ago. I wish I could be that awesome. I can’t think of a better way to say, “grades don’t matter.” But I can’t. Not even if I get good grades. Especially not if I get good grades. Or bad grades, or average grades.
It’s too bad. It would be fun to stir things up as much as Carey did.
February 4th, 2006 at 9:25 pm
I’m tempted to post my grades. Good, bad, or indifferent. Everyone wants to know each other’s grades, anyway. Why not be transparent?
But I went and looked at Carey’s blog, and Heidi’s, and JCA’s (Sua Sponte), and people get so hostile and worked up about grades (even though they secretly want to know). I don’t know.
February 5th, 2006 at 12:05 pm
I would be very impressed if you posted your grades. That would take more bravery than I have right now. Yes, people get angry, but only people who aren’t worth your time in the first place. That’s one side of the argument, at least…
There’s no real reason not to be open about grades. You should do it (he says, hiding under his desk).
February 5th, 2006 at 9:16 pm
Stirring things up *is* fun! (cackles evilly)
That said, CM is right that you’ll probably get a lot of shit for it. It was fun once, but doing it twice would have one time too many…
btw, good luck!
February 6th, 2006 at 7:25 am
Eh, screw what everyone else thinks, post away on the grades. I posted mine (and it seems I started a bit of a trend) because one of the other bloggers at my school posted his as well (even though he did MUCH better than I did). Now, to say the least, I am not proud of my grades, most especially one grade, but since my blog is about law school, and life in law school, to some degree posting the grades was a requirement.
So far, noone at my school has gotten angry at me for posting grades. That said, I have gotten a handful of flame emails about bitching about the grades I did get.
Cheers,
Chris