Please help: HLS 1L w/grades Forum

[Anonymous User]

1 H, 1P, 3 LP

Something life-changing happened during going into my last 3 finals (that's where the 3 LPs are from) -- member of my immediate family was diagnosed with a terminal illness. I was far from a slacker; went into finals thinking I would come out with 3/4 Hs. I've come to grips with it now and I'm hoping (and am willing to whatever it takes) to get 4-5 Hs next semester. Will firms cut me any slack?

[edited for some context]

[Kohinoor]

1 H, 1P, 3 LP

I had a few things going on in my life this semester (they're taken care of now, so I'm fine now, but what does this mean for 2L OCI? In other words, am I really screwed? I'm so sad.

Is that bottom 10%?

[bk1]

1 H, 1P, 3 LP

I had a few things going on in my life this semester (they're taken care of now, so I'm fine now, but what does this mean for 2L OCI? In other words, am I really screwed? I'm so sad.

If the things are taken care of doesn't that mean your grades should improve and that this is premature?

[RVP11]

Tempted to call flame. It would be astounding for the same person who earns an H to also earn three discretionary LPs.

[vanwinkle]

I can confirm that OP is an HLS student. If it is a flame it's a pretty elaborate one.

[Anonymous User]

Tempted to call flame. It would be astounding for the same person who earns an H to also earn three discretionary LPs.

OP here. I'm not a flame. When I said "I had things going in in my life," I was just being overcautious I suppose in order to not "out" myself because a couple people do know about my situation. Something happened during the last 6 days of finals that affected my performance on my last 3 finals. I tried, but was told that I could not postpone them. My first final was my only H.

[Kohinoor]

Tempted to call flame. It would be astounding for the same person who earns an H to also earn three discretionary LPs.

OP here. I'm not a flame. When I said "I had things going in in my life," I was just being overcautious I suppose in order to not "out" myself because a couple people do know about my situation. Something happened during the 6 days of finals that affected my performance on my last 3 finals. I tried, but was told that I could not postpone them. My first final was my only H.

On the plus side, it seems like you'll have a bunch of H's and P's next semester, which leaves you around HLS median?

[vanwinkle]

Two points, OP:

1) If you can do better next semester, that would help a lot. That's especially true if you can get multiple H's. At a minimum you have got to avoid getting any LP's in the spring, which it sounds like you should be able to do as long as whatever happened doesn't happen again.

2) EIP interviews are entirely lottery-based. You won't be pre-screened out because of low grades. They will interview you, and you will have the opportunity to say "I did poorly my first semester because of X, and if you look at my second-semester grades, they show my full potential."

That is, assuming you rock your second semester, which you had better do.

[Anonymous User]

Thank you both for your help.

What happened last semester was a life-changing event - the day before my second final, I found out one of my parents was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Before finding out, I went into finals thinking I was going to do very well (was hoping to hit 3-4 Hs). But the news left me completely unable to focus. It took up every last piece of my mind.

I've been able to come to grips with it now, so it won't affect my performance this semester. I'm going to do whatever it takes. I'm hoping if I end up with 3-5 H's this semester, I can interview and explain to the interviewer that my first semester grades were low because I was told one of my parents may have as little as one year to live. Hopefully they'll be forgiving...

[BlueCivic]

I'm so sorry to hear about your bad news. I know that when you explain it to employers they will fully understand.

[vanwinkle]

If ever there was an explanation that employers would accept, I think it would be that one. Condolences.

That said, it's on you to demonstrate in your spring classes that you are able to handle this. You need to commit now to doing better this semester than last, or else see about withdrawing from school and taking a leave for a year or something to deal with this, if they'll let you do that. Employers will be a lot less sympathetic toward that kind of argument if you show up with a bunch of LPs in the spring also.

I am not trying to be harsh, I'm just trying to make sure you understand the position you're in. I'm really hoping you can pull this out, and I wish you the best of luck.

[Anonymous User]

Tempted to call flame. It would be astounding for the same person who earns an H to also earn three discretionary LPs.

Not necessarily. I earned a Dean's Scholar and an LP in the same semester during my 1L year, and that's arguably less likely.

OP: So sorry about the news. Employers will be very understanding, particularly if you do better next semester. Good luck.

Although I have sympathy for what sounds like a very unfortunate development in OP's life, I find the bolded statement to be very probably untrue. Many firms will simply move on to another candidate with higher grades. These firms will not take the time to understand or not understand. Some firms might, but OP had better have a fantastic spring term to convince them to take the time to do so.

Good reason + good personality + good Spring semester will overcome a lot. Some firms will be less understanding, but OP shouldn't feel foreclosed from anywhere.

[keg411]

I am sorry OP . Have you talked to anyone in the administration/your professors about your situation? I would think maybe there is something that can be fixed. I know if I went through something like that, I probably would have just asked to see if I could do-over 1L the following year. Family always comes first.

[RVP11]

Tempted to call flame. It would be astounding for the same person who earns an H to also earn three discretionary LPs.

OP here. I'm not a flame. When I said "I had things going in in my life," I was just being overcautious I suppose in order to not "out" myself because a couple people do know about my situation. Something happened during the last 6 days of finals that affected my performance on my last 3 finals. I tried, but was told that I could not postpone them. My first final was my only H.

Ahh, that explains it. Sorry for calling flame and good luck next semester. However it goes, you should talk to career services about how you should explain your fall grades at OCI; you will be asked about them and you have a reason that almost anyone would understand.

[BlueCivic]

Yeah I'm HLS too and I think someone said earlier that OCI is a lottery so you will get a chance to explain; and you have a good explanation.

[Anonymous User]

OP I am a 2L at HLS. My condolences. I think that with a great spring term, employers will be forgiving. EIP employers do not pre-screen so you will at least get the interview. Most interviewers will ask for a transcript at the interview itself, giving you a chance to explain. I improved from the fall to spring terms and any employer who commented on grades asked why I thought I did better. If you rock spring term (which it seems like you should be able to given that you got the H on your first exam) you shouldn't be too worried. Also, go talk to OCS; they will help you strategize about what to do next.

[rose711]

Any firm that doesn't understand what happened to you is not worth working for, as long as you can pull up your grades.

But, I mean, your family couldn't wait until after exams to tell you this? Or barring that - the school wouldn't let you postpone? What would happen if you had a death in your family -are you supposed to just stay at school and take the finals? Finding out a close family member has a terminal illness is a horrible blow.

Just, stay up and keep going.

[existenz]

Have you talked to anyone in the administration/your professors about your situation? I would think maybe there is something that can be fixed. I know if I went through something like that, I probably would have just asked to see if I could do-over 1L the following year. Family always comes first.

If they were going to do anything, they would have let him postpone exams. They will not let him redo his 1L year.

[Anonymous User]

Tempted to call flame. It would be astounding for the same person who earns an H to also earn three discretionary LPs.

One of the crappiest things that HLS did was send that email saying that LPs were discretionary when it's not necessarily the case. Some professors view LPs as discretionary and others stick exactly to the "recommended" curve. As a result, when employers see the LP on someone's transcript, they think that the person was so awful as to trigger that professor's discretion when it could simply be that this particular section's profs who decided to stick to the curve.


OP: Sorry to hear about your situation. I think it's pretty crappy that your professors and/or the Dean of Students Office didn't agree to help you out or give you some form of accommodation (assuming this was mentioned to them before the final). I have to echo a previous poster though in asking if you think that you'll be able to focus and give 100% this semester or if the news and the resulting treatment will negatively impact your thinking this semester. If you think it will, I would strongly suggest a leave of absence for a semester in order to spend time with family before coming back in order to kick ass for your second semester. I know of a couple of people who have previously taken leaves of absence for personal reasons and I'd think that your family situation is a great reason to do so.

Best of luck to you!