C&C

Since this forum is still fizzling, I will add this as a final post:
 
A classmate from this course works in one of the university's professional development centers, and shared what was happening with a boss that works closely with professors. This individual was shocked by the specifics of the class, and believes that there is a strong case against this professor for unprofessional conduct in the form of verbal harassment/abuse for repeated actions since the beginning of the semester. (This happened to a number of other students in this class too, and in past courses as well. I was warned by most everyone in my cohort when I arrived to university.)
 
I'm not interested in pursuing it AT ALL, but that is the one detail I will provide to show that perhaps I am not entirely crazy, paranoid, or grade mongering. (Again, there are others, but this one was the most important.) This course weighed me down all semester and negatively impacted my mental health, and I'm sorry for letting that shine through in the OP without relevant details (and for posting).
 
Mea culpa gradcafe. Thank you for the insights nonetheless!

Since this forum is still fizzling, I will add this as a final post:
 
A classmate from this course works in one of the university's professional development centers, and shared what was happening with a boss that works closely with professors. This individual was shocked by the specifics of the class, and believes that there is a strong case against this professor for unprofessional conduct in the form of verbal harassment/abuse for repeated actions since the beginning of the semester. (This happened to a number of other students in this class too, and in past courses as well. I was warned by most everyone in my cohort when I arrived to university.)
 
I'm not interested in pursuing it AT ALL, but that is the one detail I will provide to show that perhaps I am not entirely crazy, paranoid, or grade mongering. (Again, there are others, but this one was the most important.) This course weighed me down all semester and negatively impacted my mental health, and I'm sorry for letting that shine through in the OP without relevant details (and for posting).
 
Mea culpa gradcafe. Thank you for the insights nonetheless!

Sorry not sorry Cookie, you're just wrong.    Most of us here frequently try to limit or omit details on our programs to maintain an air of professionalism even while dealing with uncomfortable situations.
 
I am just thankful that this professor and I can have that solid professional relationship now that I am out of her class.
It was a lesson learned on my part, and I'm guess I'm happy I learned it early on in my graduate career. Yay learning? Haha

She graded everything last minute even though we turned in all of our assignments much earlier so I know that was her guise to lower my grade based upon her mood. Thankfully, I had the good sense to check my transcript before sending out an email and saw that she bumped it to an A. I'm incredibly happy that my university is on a flat grading system so all As look the same.
 
Thank you both for the quick feedback! I've read in other posts about horrific professors and how political grad school can be. Unfortunately, it turns out my program is no different. 

I decided to check my grades this morning and saw that one professor (who is unprofessional and has made it clear that she does not like me) is dangling my grade at an [redacted]%. I am in this class with one other graduate student and we taught most of her classes for her (don't get me started on that), led discussions, and the course is in my area of interest...so there is no doubt that I did A work all semester.
 
I know she is doing this to mess with me, but I do not know how to approach her via email. I have scholarships and assistantships on the line so I need straight As. Either I convince her to bump me [up by redacted]% now (which is honestly the very least I earned) or I am most certainly disputing this grade with the department and any deans necessary. I am in such shock at how unprofessional she is and that I was stupid enough to want her to be my adviser. 
 
Any suggestions? (Grades are due tomorrow so I need to contact her ASAP.) 

She graded everything last minute even though we turned in all of our assignments much earlier so I know that was her guise to lower my grade based upon her mood. Thankfully, I had the good sense to check my transcript before sending out an email and saw that she bumped it to an A. I'm incredibly happy that my university is on a flat grading system so all As look the same.
 
Thank you both for the quick feedback! I've read in other posts about horrific professors and how political grad school can be. Unfortunately, it turns out my program is no different. 

Since this forum is still fizzling, I will add this as a final post:
 
A classmate from this course works in one of the university's professional development centers, and shared what was happening with a boss that works closely with professors. This individual was shocked by the specifics of the class, and believes that there is a strong case against this professor for unprofessional conduct in the form of verbal harassment/abuse for repeated actions since the beginning of the semester. (This happened to a number of other students in this class too, and in past courses as well. I was warned by most everyone in my cohort when I arrived to university.)
 
I'm not interested in pursuing it AT ALL, but that is the one detail I will provide to show that perhaps I am not entirely crazy, paranoid, or grade mongering. (Again, there are others, but this one was the most important.) This course weighed me down all semester and negatively impacted my mental health, and I'm sorry for letting that shine through in the OP without relevant details (and for posting).
 
Mea culpa gradcafe. Thank you for the insights nonetheless!

Since this forum is still fizzling, I will add this as a final post:
 
A classmate from this course works in one of the university's professional development centers, and shared what was happening with a boss that works closely with professors. This individual was shocked by the specifics of the class, and believes that there is a strong case against this professor for unprofessional conduct in the form of verbal harassment/abuse for repeated actions since the beginning of the semester. (This happened to a number of other students in this class too, and in past courses as well. I was warned by most everyone in my cohort when I arrived to university.)
 
I'm not interested in pursuing it AT ALL, but that is the one detail I will provide to show that perhaps I am not entirely crazy, paranoid, or grade mongering. (Again, there are others, but this one was the most important.) This course weighed me down all semester and negatively impacted my mental health, and I'm sorry for letting that shine through in the OP without relevant details (and for posting).
 
Mea culpa gradcafe. Thank you for the insights nonetheless!

Since this forum is still fizzling, I will add this as a final post:
 
A classmate from this course works in one of the university's professional development centers, and shared what was happening with a boss that works closely with professors. This individual was shocked by the specifics of the class, and believes that there is a strong case against this professor for unprofessional conduct in the form of verbal harassment/abuse for repeated actions since the beginning of the semester. (This happened to a number of other students in this class too, and in past courses as well. I was warned by most everyone in my cohort when I arrived to university.)
 
I'm not interested in pursuing it AT ALL, but that is the one detail I will provide to show that perhaps I am not entirely crazy, paranoid, or grade mongering. (Again, there are others, but this one was the most important.) This course weighed me down all semester and negatively impacted my mental health, and I'm sorry for letting that shine through in the OP without relevant details (and for posting).
 
Mea culpa gradcafe. Thank you for the insights nonetheless!

Sorry not sorry Cookie, you're just wrong.    Most of us here frequently try to limit or omit details on our programs to maintain an air of professionalism even while dealing with uncomfortable situations.
 
I am just thankful that this professor and I can have that solid professional relationship now that I am out of her class.
It was a lesson learned on my part, and I'm guess I'm happy I learned it early on in my graduate career. Yay learning? Haha

I think it's problematic, though, that people on this forum think it's their job to teach other graduate students how to be proper graduate students. C&C had a moment of panic, came to what C&C thought was a safe space to vent, and has been attacked on a weirdly personal level since. C&C didn't name the professor or the program, didn't email the professor or the chair with accusations. There was no bad behavior exhibited by the OP.  I think the only thing posters here have taught C&C is that this isn't a safe space to vent. 
 
Also, C&C asked a fair question. What does one do if a grad student suspects an unfair grade? This is a legit problem in the humanities, especially when most or even all of our grade is based on one seminar paper turned in at the end of the semester. The conflict between C&C and the professor has been resolved, but this could have been an opportunity to discuss strategies and methods to discuss end-of-semester grades with difficult professors. But rather, people decided to detail how C&C is "unprofessional," paranoid, and overly confident. 

It's easy to come down on people who are stressed when you aren't stressed.

Hey people. We all have freak out moments in grad school. I don't see the reason to pile on C&C. The professor ended up agreeing that C&C did A-level work, C&C ended up with an A. The conflict has been resolved. What's the point of harping on someone who responded to a stressful situation differently than you would have? 

Sorry not sorry Cookie, you're just wrong.    Most of us here frequently try to limit or omit details on our programs to maintain an air of professionalism even while dealing with uncomfortable situations.
 
I am just thankful that this professor and I can have that solid professional relationship now that I am out of her class.
It was a lesson learned on my part, and I'm guess I'm happy I learned it early on in my graduate career. Yay learning? Haha

Sorry not sorry Cookie, you're just wrong.    Most of us here frequently try to limit or omit details on our programs to maintain an air of professionalism even while dealing with uncomfortable situations.
 
I am just thankful that this professor and I can have that solid professional relationship now that I am out of her class.
It was a lesson learned on my part, and I'm guess I'm happy I learned it early on in my graduate career. Yay learning? Haha

Maybe "Cookie" is the professor's online alias!!! 

You have nothing to prove that she graded you unfairly, yet you came here to say horrible things about her. I think it is you that is unprofessional.
Sorry but I am not sorry.

I'm glad everything is resolved! I'm glad there is a space for us to vent and troubleshoot stressful moments in grad student life without judgment. 

I decided to check my grades this morning and saw that one professor (who is unprofessional and has made it clear that she does not like me) is dangling my grade at an [redacted]%. I am in this class with one other graduate student and we taught most of her classes for her (don't get me started on that), led discussions, and the course is in my area of interest...so there is no doubt that I did A work all semester.
 
I know she is doing this to mess with me, but I do not know how to approach her via email. I have scholarships and assistantships on the line so I need straight As. Either I convince her to bump me [up by redacted]% now (which is honestly the very least I earned) or I am most certainly disputing this grade with the department and any deans necessary. I am in such shock at how unprofessional she is and that I was stupid enough to want her to be my adviser. 
 
Any suggestions? (Grades are due tomorrow so I need to contact her ASAP.) 

I decided to check my grades this morning and saw that one professor (who is unprofessional and has made it clear that she does not like me) is dangling my grade at an [redacted]%. I am in this class with one other graduate student and we taught most of her classes for her (don't get me started on that), led discussions, and the course is in my area of interest...so there is no doubt that I did A work all semester.
 
I know she is doing this to mess with me, but I do not know how to approach her via email. I have scholarships and assistantships on the line so I need straight As. Either I convince her to bump me [up by redacted]% now (which is honestly the very least I earned) or I am most certainly disputing this grade with the department and any deans necessary. I am in such shock at how unprofessional she is and that I was stupid enough to want her to be my adviser. 
 
Any suggestions? (Grades are due tomorrow so I need to contact her ASAP.) 

She graded everything last minute even though we turned in all of our assignments much earlier so I know that was her guise to lower my grade based upon her mood. Thankfully, I had the good sense to check my transcript before sending out an email and saw that she bumped it to an A. I'm incredibly happy that my university is on a flat grading system so all As look the same.
 
Thank you both for the quick feedback! I've read in other posts about horrific professors and how political grad school can be. Unfortunately, it turns out my program is no different. 

I decided to check my grades this morning and saw that one professor (who is unprofessional and has made it clear that she does not like me) is dangling my grade at an [redacted]%. I am in this class with one other graduate student and we taught most of her classes for her (don't get me started on that), led discussions, and the course is in my area of interest...so there is no doubt that I did A work all semester.
 
I know she is doing this to mess with me, but I do not know how to approach her via email. I have scholarships and assistantships on the line so I need straight As. Either I convince her to bump me [up by redacted]% now (which is honestly the very least I earned) or I am most certainly disputing this grade with the department and any deans necessary. I am in such shock at how unprofessional she is and that I was stupid enough to want her to be my adviser. 
 
Any suggestions? (Grades are due tomorrow so I need to contact her ASAP.) 

She graded everything last minute even though we turned in all of our assignments much earlier so I know that was her guise to lower my grade based upon her mood. Thankfully, I had the good sense to check my transcript before sending out an email and saw that she bumped it to an A. I'm incredibly happy that my university is on a flat grading system so all As look the same.
 
Thank you both for the quick feedback! I've read in other posts about horrific professors and how political grad school can be. Unfortunately, it turns out my program is no different. 

Honestly, I felt much the same as you my first semester. But, looking back, that's largely because I wasn't working smartly. Let's say I'd designate four hours this afternoon to sit down and read for class. I'd really spend maybe two hours reading and two hours messing around my house or the Internet. I also read almost everything assigned. I eventually stopped reading every page, but it still took me a while to figure out what I should focus on and what I should skim. 
 
My second semester was much better. I set up a schedule to work a strict 40 hour work week. And yes, I really mean work--not mess around the Internet (I'm not saying you do this. I'm saying that I did/do this in a big big way). I also had a better idea of what I wanted to write for my dissertation, which helps me get through assigned coursework faster. I focus on the articles I can see being on my comps or used in my dissertation. For articles that are not useful to me, I skim in twenty minutes and make sure I have something to say in class. I don't feel bad for this practice, as it was my own professors (both at my current program and my former program) who suggested I work like this. After all, coursework and comps won't get you a job; your dissertation will. 
 
I also realized that everyone works at a different pace. One of my colleagues is much more methodical and precise in her coursework than I am; she also tends to be more stressed out and busy with coursework than I am. I'd say we are about equally accomplished in the program: both presenting at conferences, pursuing publications, applying for fellowships, etc. We just have different work schedules, and that's okay. I think lifestyle also may account for some differences among grad students. I'm expecting our first kid in December, so working ten or twelve hour days is just not an option. I also enjoy spending evenings and weekends with my partner. I prioritize my personal life above my work life and have found that my professors are very respectful of my hierarchy of needs. 
 
But, like I said in the beginning, it took me a full semester to figure out how to work efficiently. And I am still tweaking my work schedule! Given my low energy these days (thirty one weeks pregnant), I had to start scheduling almost daily naps and some of my work is now done on weekends. I just can't physically work eight straight hours anymore. So I'm still changing everything around and trying to figure this whole PhD life out. 
 
Here are some articles/blog posts that have been helpful for me when thinking about my schedule:
 
http://getalifephd.blogspot.com/2012/03/whats-matter-with-forty-hour-work-week.html
http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/working-hours-for-graduate-students/43912
http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/expecting-balance-2/56487

Kudos on taking the GRE so early in the application process!
 
While you're spot on about the GRE not being the most important part of your application, I recommend retaking it. Your first scores are strong, but since you're applying to top ten programs and you're a history student I think your verbal should be higher than the quant. However, I don't think you should be troubled by these scores (as I said they're already strong)---you have plenty of time to study, retake, and improve. I think you can easily crack the 160s in both sections!
 
Best of luck!