During law school, there are certain conversations you will be confronted with which you may prefer to dodge or are unsure how to handle. When your friends or acquaintances bring up the topic of grades, it can be a tricky position to be in, especially if the conversation leads to specific questions about your grades and performance in previous classes.

It is understandable to want to keep the results of your hard work quiet, no matter how you ended up doing. There is already enough pressure around exams and “the curve” (if your school grades this way). It can be especially distressing when you feel pressured to share the specifics of your grades.

However, it is important to keep a balanced perspective as hiding from the conversation is not always the best solution and sharing your grades on your own terms may be the right choice for you. For example, if you have a genuine friend on the same page as you wanting to help each other to succeed, then being transparent with them may be what you need!

Here are some things to keep in mind:

Resist Pressure You may have experienced the pressure to share your grades with law school friends or acquaintances. It is always empowering to remember that you are under no obligation to reveal information, especially if you are uncomfortable!

Benefits Ask yourself what can be gained from engaging in the conversation. Will it generate negative emotions? Does it serve you and your ultimate law school goals? For example, sharing a grade could lead you to feel insecure, doubtful, etc. On the other hand, you may feel supported and relieved. Always make the best call for you and on your own terms.

Sharing on Your Terms Given the competitive nature of law school, it’s understandable to want to keep your grades private, at least amongst your peers. This doesn’t mean you are all on your own and can’t get the support you need. It is important to build a social support system consisting of trusted friends, family, and mentors. They can be there for your venting sessions and to offer advice and support.

If the conversation about grades makes you uncomfortable, perhaps because you are not amongst trusted friends or simply want to keep them to yourself no matter who is asking, consider opting out of this conversation. Instead, shift your attention to activities that will benefit your grades in the long-run.

For example:

• Make an appointment to review your exam: professors generally allow you to review your exam, although you likely cannot remove the exam from the location (i.e.,read-only in the professor’s office or secretary’s office). Sometimes there is a sample answer to review alongside your exam. Take mental or actual notes on your observations.
• Make a follow-up appointment with the professor: Don’t underestimate the insights you can gain from one-on-one time with your professor. As students, we are often taught to try to think the way our professor thinks to best prepare for the exam. Lucky for you, now you have results that are revealing to you where you excelled and/or where you missed the mark by your professor’s standards. Now is your chance to ask your professor questions and ask for recommendations to improve moving forward. You may have this same professor again for another class, and you’ll be relieved you took the time to dig deeper, and/or this professor could become a mentor or reference for you in the near future!
• Meet with the academic success department or a professional mentor to discuss your overall grades. For example, if you did not perform as well as you had hoped, are there recommended courses you can take during the upcoming breaks to improve your grades? If you are graduating, and the exam is a heavily bar-tested subject, it is a good time to discuss ways you can prioritize this topic and refresh on it early on in your bar prep process.
• Learn from your successes and failures. If you notice you really enjoy contracts, perhaps there are upper-level courses that you would be enthusiastic to take. Additionally, you may be interested in a law firm where you will get to work on contract review. If there are classes you are struggling with, and you really want to turn this ship around, find community, comradery, and support even outside of law school. One way I sought advice was through my involvement in the American Bar Association student workgroups where I learned the techniques and resources that worked for top law students.
• Remember that each semester provides you an opportunity to do things differently and implement changes based on lessons learned. Set new goals and go for them!

At the end of the day, you are in the driver’s seat of your grades, and who is privy to the information on your transcript. Stay focused on your academic goals and these conversations about grades will be far easier to maneuver through.

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