Receiving an unfair grade in medical school can be frustrating, to put it mildly. You’ve worked for years to get into medical school, and now you may think that this one grade has the power to derail your hard work and also start off your career on the wrong foot.
At the same time, you might be hesitant to risk rocking the boat. You don’t want to risk being labeled difficult by contesting a grade. You worry that appealing a grade will negatively impact which professors are willing to give you references.
But you also worry how that low grade will affect the rest of your time in medical school and your residency placement. You’re concerned about how it might affect your academic standing or your reputation among your classmates.
With planning, appealing an unfair grade doesn’t have to be a bad option. You aren’t contesting the grade because you want to cause problems. Students choose to contest a grade when they were awarded a grade that doesn’t reflect their work or ability.
Instructors can make mistakes. Errors, inconsistent standards, and other biases can all result in issues with grading, and students are the ones who bear the brunt of those issues.
Think of it another way: As a doctor, you may be in a position where you have to correct another doctor’s treatment plan or mistake. Learning early on how to address these types of situations in a professional way can be beneficial in the long run.
If you’re a student at Rush Medical College who has received an unfair grade or is facing other academic issues, the Education Law Team at the LLF National Law Firm can help. We work with our clients to navigate the grievance process in a way that maintains relationships and protects our clients’ reputations. Call us at 888-535-3686 or fill out an online form.
About Rush Medical College
Located in Chicago, Rush Medical College is one of the oldest medical schools in Illinois. Part of Rush University, the school focuses on medical, nursing, healthcare, and biomedical research. The college uses a system-based curriculum with six objectives: Advocate, communicator, leader, practitioner, professional, and scholar. All of these contribute to the central goal, which is medical knowledge.
Rush allows students to be part of crafting the curriculum. To graduate, students must:
- Complete all of the required coursework
- Pass USMLE Step 1
- Pass USMLE Step 2
- Receive approval from the Committee on Student Evaluation and Promotion (COSEP)
The school is known for admitting students from a wide range of backgrounds. The school emphasizes innovation, research, and health equity, and students have a range of clinical opportunities because of the school’s location. The school also offers research opportunities.
A bad grade can potentially hurt a student’s chances to graduate on time and participate in activities. Clinical and research opportunities may be limited, which is why appealing a grade is often the best option for students.
Grading System at Rush Medical College
Rush Medical College doesn’t use a GPA system. The university has a school-wide grading policy. Students should check with their specific course requirements to determine the grading system for each course.
When students are struggling academically, COSEP may establish a remediation plan. This is done on a case-by-case basis. The goal of any remediation policy is to enable a student who successfully completes that program to graduate from Rush.
Grade Appeals at Rush Medical College
Grade appeals fall under the school’s complaint system. Students can use the school’s online system to make a complaint.
Before making a formal complaint about a grade, students can see informal options. Emailing a course instructor, requesting a meeting, and otherwise seeking a solution with the course instructor is often the best place to start.
Even during an informal meeting, students should provide evidence to explain why they believe a grade should be changed. This doesn’t have to be confrontational, and presenting a calm, logical explanation for their belief that a grade is wrong can be a good starting point.
Students should focus on logical arguments throughout the grade appeals process. It’s not enough to say that a grade is unfair. They should provide evidence, such as documents, other records, and information that support their claim.
Instructors are generally given leeway to determine grades as long as those grades are assigned in good faith. An appeal that interferes with an instructor’s academic freedom is unlikely to succeed.
Having leeway doesn’t mean an instructor can arbitrarily assign grades. They should provide students with grading guides, requirements, and other information to explain the grading system and what’s required for a student to successfully complete a course.
If students begin with the informal option, they should not only present evidence that supports their side but also ask the instructor for reasons that they assigned that specific grade. An instructor should be able to explain why they assigned a student a grade.
Complaints at Rush Medical College
If the informal option doesn’t result in a satisfactory resolution or if the informal option isn’t a possibility, students can use Rush’s complaint system. The complaint system covers a wide range of both academic and non-academic issues.
Students can use the online Student Complaint Portal. The university recommends that students file complaints as soon as possible.
Grade appeals have specific procedures compared to other student complaints. After a student submits a complaint related to a grade, their complaint will be forwarded to the correct office for further information. The office will then follow up with the student about their next steps for appealing a grade.
When appealing a grade, it’s important that students take every available opportunity to present their side. They should ask questions and make sure they meet all deadlines, if any. In some cases, failure to meet a deadline ends a student’s ability to contest a grade.
Grade appeals fall under academic complaints. Students will need to list:
- The involved instructors or other individuals
- Why they’re submitting a complaint
- What they’ve done to resolve the issue
- Details about the situation
- Any relevant documents or other information
After submitting this complaint, students will need to wait for the relevant office to contact them.
The formal process for a grade appeal may include additional meetings, hearings, or written explanations. Whatever the next step, the school should clearly communicate expectations and deadlines to students.
Building a Case
The Education Law Team at the LLF National Law Firm can assist students at any and all points during the grade appeals process. A bad grade can be emotional, from stress about how it may affect a student’s education and career to anger at being unjustly evaluated.
We help our clients focus on logical, evidence-based arguments for appealing a grade. We focus on what is best for the specific situation, from preparing arguments for a meeting with an instructor to writing a persuasive explanation for why a grade should be changed.
Witness statements, course syllabi, and course grading rubrics: All of these are potentially relevant to a grade appeal. What is or isn’t relevant depends on the details of a student’s situation, and we help our clients determine the best evidence and documents to include for their specific situation.
Disagreements don’t have to be adversarial, and we recognize that it’s important to appeal a grade in a way that allows students to maintain relationships and their reputation. Focusing on logical, evidence-based arguments can help a student demonstrate professionalism throughout the process.
Protect Your Future
Appealing a grade is more than simply disliking a grade. It’s about recognizing that an instructor assigned a grade with prejudice or without properly assessing a student’s work. When a student does the work and meets course requirements, they have the right to a grade that reflects that effort.
Grade appeals focus on evidence and logic over emotion. It’s not about saying “I don’t like this,” but about showing why a grade was incorrectly assigned. What evidence a student should provide to appeal a grade depends on the specific circumstances of their situation, and it’s not a one-size-fits-all process.
Assembling evidence is only the first part of the process. Equally important is how a student organizes and presents that evidence to the instructor and school. Meeting deadlines and following complaint and appeals requirements are equally important. Failing to follow policy may result in an appeal being closed or denied.
The Education Law Team at the LLF National Law Firm works with medical students throughout the process. From informal meetings to hearings and appeals, our team assists our clients with building strong cases.
Our focus is on persuasive, logical arguments that rely on evidence. We understand the importance of maintaining a professional and academic reputation in medical school, and we help our clients protect both throughout the process.
You have avenues to challenge a biased grade. If you’re a student at Rush Medical College and you’ve been unfairly graded, contact the Education Law Team at the LLF National Law Firm. Call us at 888-535-3686 or fill out an online form.