Cue the Jaws Theme
Saturday, February 4th, 2006The 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.