The Dreaded Grade

Indignant Student: Do you really think that is worth three points off my grade on my paper?

Professor (In head): Obviously I do, because that is the grade I gave you; and unfortunately for you, dude, you don’t get to be the judge…

Professor (Out loud): I would be happy to sit down and go over your paper with you, if you like, to explain the grade you received.

Professors cannot actually say so many of the things they may be thinking when it comes to conversations about academic grades. So, I am going to bring you into the loop, with a ten-part blog series on The Dreaded Grade. To start, let’s just name it upfront: grading is an unfortunate business. To own the truth, I am not entirely convinced that it is a productive phenomenon. In my experience, it tends to distract people from The Big Picture, with respect to what matters in getting an education. Some universities have instead embraced a narrative approach to student evaluation, rather than using letter grades, which is designed to more thoroughly respond to how the student is developing in their skills, which I imagine is more fruitful in the end. However, most of us live and dwell in a system that is based upon grades. So how to get the most out of that system?

By this I mean, how does one approach learning, and learn well, within a graded environment?

Hint number one for navigating the system— Breathe.

For many students, competition to get into college is intense. It may be that your guidance counselors, teachers, and parents impressed upon you the value of getting good grades so as to position yourself well and to stand out in the sea of college applicants. While this may be a useful strategy for navigating the challenging college admissions process… it may also have the unfortunate side effect of contributing to high stress levels.

So, perhaps contrary to whatever popular advice you have heretofore received, I am going to suggest that instead of obsessing, worrying, and otherwise freaking out about your grades… now that you are actually in college, I recommend, as the old song says… Just Breathe. Seriously. Take three deep breaths any time you find yourself getting antsy over your grades. Research clearly demonstrates this small action helps to reduce stress levels, and anything that helps to lower anxiety these days is an excellent place to start.

After taking those breaths, remind yourself that focusing upon grades may actually get in your way in college. Granted, some of you may feel motivated to achieve by the letter grade system, and as such, it may serve as a necessary jolt of caffeine for you. However, I suspect that for many others, an emphasis upon grades may prevent you from enjoying the process of learning. Because despite what you may have been told heretofore along your academic journey, your grades are not the point of getting an education. In the best of all possible worlds, expanding your horizons is at the heart of an learning. Remind yourself of that often. Whenever stress over letter grades surfaces, breathe and allow your focus to gently shift toward zeroing on the essentials… to what extent is my learning shaping who I and am becoming, in a productive way?

Especially now. In light of the incredibly intense pressure of navigating a pandemic, some universities are beginning to realize that distinction. Indeed, acknowledging that personal development is at the core, the institution where I was teaching relaxed their system to allow more options for pass/fail grading. If you haven’t already, check out whether your school is allowing for similar grace, and what you might need to do to sign up. If not, grant that grace to yourself. If you are getting through the day, if you are completing your tasks (or most of them), if you can at least pass the course, and if you are learning something fruitful along the way, then for now count that as an academic victory. Because it is!

So keep breathing, friends. And stay tuned for more specific blog exhortations surrounding how not to allow a concern for grades to define and direct the whole of your college experience.