Comments on: When Having an Exam Changed to a Later Date Isn't a Good Thing http://boardingarea.com/blogs/waapblog/2009/03/13/when-having-an-exam-changed-to-a-later-date-isnt-a-good-thing/ one plebe's journey Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:57:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Oliver http://boardingarea.com/blogs/waapblog/2009/03/13/when-having-an-exam-changed-to-a-later-date-isnt-a-good-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-158 Oliver Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:04:48 +0000 http://waapblog.com/?p=412#comment-158 Tell the professor that you're invited to a symposium of leading physicists in Moscow for that weekend, so you can't make it. :-) Tell the professor that you’re invited to a symposium of leading physicists in Moscow for that weekend, so you can’t make it. :-)

]]> By: sanjay http://boardingarea.com/blogs/waapblog/2009/03/13/when-having-an-exam-changed-to-a-later-date-isnt-a-good-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-157 sanjay Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:08:18 +0000 http://waapblog.com/?p=412#comment-157 dude you need to work this professor until he bends. what's the point of a pre-made schedule if he moves it around like this. dude you need to work this professor until he bends. what’s the point of a pre-made schedule if he moves it around like this.

]]> By: Dan Webb http://boardingarea.com/blogs/waapblog/2009/03/13/when-having-an-exam-changed-to-a-later-date-isnt-a-good-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-156 Dan Webb Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:55:25 +0000 http://waapblog.com/?p=412#comment-156 I'd work the professor first. How flexible is she? A few people in my literature class asked to take the midterm early since they were flying home from spring break before classes ended, and the professor had no problem with it. If someone had tried that in my economics class, it would have just added more weight to the final exam grade, which I wouldn't like. That's just my opinion as I am a total grade whore who has to keep us his GPA to keep financial aid. I’d work the professor first. How flexible is she? A few people in my literature class asked to take the midterm early since they were flying home from spring break before classes ended, and the professor had no problem with it. If someone had tried that in my economics class, it would have just added more weight to the final exam grade, which I wouldn’t like.

That’s just my opinion as I am a total grade whore who has to keep us his GPA to keep financial aid.

]]> By: G.Ro http://boardingarea.com/blogs/waapblog/2009/03/13/when-having-an-exam-changed-to-a-later-date-isnt-a-good-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-155 G.Ro Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:24:03 +0000 http://waapblog.com/?p=412#comment-155 Thanks so much for all the great insight and suggestions, folks. @Blake: I think I will try, at least a few times, to see if I can find a sympathetic agent. And, that fare from ORD on AA is unreal . . . sometimes I wonder why I'm not collecting on OneWorld carriers . . . @livitup: Hmm, my friend and I were debating trying to take it on the original date. I'll definitely try to check with her. @Ryan: That's excellent advice - ha, I'm glad someone else has had to deal with such a thing, and can provide some background. I think it's a very pertinent point and logical to approach the professor and say that I was anticipating taking the exam on the original date, and unfortunately, the new date does not work for me. Good stuff. Overall, I think I may try to go with a mix of seeing if I can find a sympathetic UA agent, and try to work with the professor. Thanks, again, folks. Thanks so much for all the great insight and suggestions, folks.

@Blake: I think I will try, at least a few times, to see if I can find a sympathetic agent. And, that fare from ORD on AA is unreal . . . sometimes I wonder why I’m not collecting on OneWorld carriers . . .

@livitup: Hmm, my friend and I were debating trying to take it on the original date. I’ll definitely try to check with her.

@Ryan: That’s excellent advice – ha, I’m glad someone else has had to deal with such a thing, and can provide some background. I think it’s a very pertinent point and logical to approach the professor and say that I was anticipating taking the exam on the original date, and unfortunately, the new date does not work for me. Good stuff.

Overall, I think I may try to go with a mix of seeing if I can find a sympathetic UA agent, and try to work with the professor.

Thanks, again, folks.

]]> By: Ryan http://boardingarea.com/blogs/waapblog/2009/03/13/when-having-an-exam-changed-to-a-later-date-isnt-a-good-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-154 Ryan Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:30:42 +0000 http://waapblog.com/?p=412#comment-154 Ryan (rwk32882) here. I thought I'd write you about your exam conundrum since it is something that I've been through on numerous occasions since I started graduate school. One particularly horrifying example being the time that I had to take a "Discrete Stochastic Processes" midterm about 36 hours after returning from spring break in Vietnam. I will admit that attempting to study while suffering from a twelve hour time change defined "suck." I didn't do stellar on the exam and that probably resulted in my receiving one letter grade lower in the class than I would have gotten otherwise. This brings me to my main point: What will you remember twenty years from now? A) a less than optimal score on some obscure physics exam or B) a weekend in Russia I suspect the answer there is B. In other words, DO NOT CANCEL THE TRIP! As you stated, there are a number of ways to handle potential scheduling conflict. While moving the trip to a different week would be a great approach (assuming you can convince UA to do it for free), I suspect that this will be very hard to pull off. Instead, I would focus your effort on the professor. My method is usually to approach the professor (or the TA) in the class with an assertive statement such as: "I'm not going to be here on the exam date. Has a make-up date been scheduled?" In other words, don't go in with an "asking permission" tone. Be assertive. I think you have a fair amount of leverage here considering the fact that they moved the exam after you scheduled the trip. You attempted to schedule you trip around the exam and their rescheduling (not your actions) caused the conflict. Just make sure to inquire sooner rather than later as this exhibits responsibility on your behalf. Also, keep in mind that any class of a reasonable size (say >20) is bound to have other students who are sick/unavailable that day. Chances are, they are going to have to offer a make-up session anyways. Ok, well that's what little advice I can provide. Best of luck untangling things! Let us know how it goes. Ryan (rwk32882) here. I thought I’d write you about your exam conundrum since it is something that I’ve been through on numerous occasions since I started graduate school.

One particularly horrifying example being the time that I had to take a “Discrete Stochastic Processes” midterm about 36 hours after returning from spring break in Vietnam. I will admit that attempting to study while suffering from a twelve hour time change defined “suck.” I didn’t do stellar on the exam and that probably resulted in my receiving one letter grade lower in the class than I would have gotten otherwise. This brings me to my main point:

What will you remember twenty years from now?
A) a less than optimal score on some obscure physics exam or
B) a weekend in Russia
I suspect the answer there is B. In other words, DO NOT CANCEL THE TRIP!

As you stated, there are a number of ways to handle potential scheduling conflict. While moving the trip to a different week would be a great approach (assuming you can convince UA to do it for free), I suspect that this will be very hard to pull off. Instead, I would focus your effort on the professor.

My method is usually to approach the professor (or the TA) in the class with an assertive statement such as: “I’m not going to be here on the exam date. Has a make-up date been scheduled?” In other words, don’t go in with an “asking permission” tone. Be assertive.

I think you have a fair amount of leverage here considering the fact that they moved the exam after you scheduled the trip. You attempted to schedule you trip around the exam and their rescheduling (not your actions) caused the conflict. Just make sure to inquire sooner rather than later as this exhibits responsibility on your behalf.

Also, keep in mind that any class of a reasonable size (say >20) is bound to have other students who are sick/unavailable that day. Chances are, they are going to have to offer a make-up session anyways.

Ok, well that’s what little advice I can provide. Best of luck untangling things! Let us know how it goes.

]]> By: livitup http://boardingarea.com/blogs/waapblog/2009/03/13/when-having-an-exam-changed-to-a-later-date-isnt-a-good-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-153 livitup Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:06:27 +0000 http://waapblog.com/?p=412#comment-153 Any chance the professor would be sympathetic to taking it early or late? Any chance the professor would be sympathetic to taking it early or late?

]]> By: Blake http://boardingarea.com/blogs/waapblog/2009/03/13/when-having-an-exam-changed-to-a-later-date-isnt-a-good-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-152 Blake Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:53:43 +0000 http://waapblog.com/?p=412#comment-152 Actually, it wouldn't technically be cheaper. In the end, I say pay it...cough up the $500...and go. $600 ($360 plus $250) to Russia is still a good deal, especially since you used some vouchers...cash cost is even lower. Actually, it wouldn’t technically be cheaper. In the end, I say pay it…cough up the $500…and go. $600 ($360 plus $250) to Russia is still a good deal, especially since you used some vouchers…cash cost is even lower.

]]> By: Blake http://boardingarea.com/blogs/waapblog/2009/03/13/when-having-an-exam-changed-to-a-later-date-isnt-a-good-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-151 Blake Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:52:26 +0000 http://waapblog.com/?p=412#comment-151 Eeeeek, that sucks. I'd call about 100 times and do lots of begging, praying for a nice agent. In the battle for market share to Russia, AA has lowered the fare to $260 via ORD. I'm sure this doesn't excite you as much since it's AA vs. UA, but would be cheaper? I'll be going the weekend before. Love this deal. Eeeeek, that sucks.

I’d call about 100 times and do lots of begging, praying for a nice agent.

In the battle for market share to Russia, AA has lowered the fare to $260 via ORD. I’m sure this doesn’t excite you as much since it’s AA vs. UA, but would be cheaper?

I’ll be going the weekend before. Love this deal.

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