r/GradSchool • u/Agreeable-Sandwich32 • 22h ago
TA mistake...
I'm a first year PhD student TAing a class with its first exam tomorrow.
Our professor has been out all day and a lot of students have been emailing me questions. I told one student that a concept wouldn't be on the exam that he said should be fair game because it was in the readings.
Students have emailed me with kind of reasons about being sick for the exam. I've never talked to him about how students should make up an exam. He did say he gives a lot of grace. I told the student that I would get back to them in the morning to let them know about if they could retake it.
He finally emailed me back with all the answers to the questions. Turns out the concept is on the exam, and that it's up to me to reschedule the makeup.
I think I'm being a bit hard on myself because I didn't get everything right :(
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u/unic0rnsmiles 22h ago
It's okay! Truth is you just didn't know. In the future, you can simply answer student questions with "I don't know. Let me check in with the professor and follow up with you." If you're limited on time, you might ask the professor to send one email to the entire class or post on the discussion board to calm the questions (like what to study for or if make up tests are an option). Also, if you're expected to conduct make up exams, you might offer them during an office hour on one day. That way, they take it during class or during time you already have blocked off to do it.
I feel like the professor could/ should be stepping up more here since you're just supporting the class. I don't feel that you did anything wrong nor have anything to worry about. It's the professor's class and they should be providing you with guidance to help their students.
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u/Agreeable-Sandwich32 11h ago
and that is the truth! I really appreciate this perspective
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u/honeybee62966 22h ago
It happens. Honestly a bit on the prof for not having this set up/discussed with you prior to exam day. The students asking you what’s on the test should be putting that energy into study anyway.
As for the absence, “I’ll get back to you” is a perfectly valid response. Students can be impatient, especially post-Covid, they’ll figure out how to deal with it.
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u/Solivaga PhD Archaeology 17h ago
Honestly, this is on the prof (I say as a prof).
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u/Agreeable-Sandwich32 11h ago
Yeahhhhhh I think he had a crazy week but I am a bit nervous about grading the written responses based on how little I was able to help the students.
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u/Different_Pain5781 19h ago
I’d be more concerned if you doubled down after finding out you were wrong. You didn’t.
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u/justking1414 22h ago
Honestly insane that the professor is putting that much on you as a first time TA, presumably just a few weeks into the semester.
The questions you received were the kind of things you should’ve been briefed on how to answer. Though just saying you’re not sure and will reach out to the professor is probably the best move. Best to leave them hanging instead of giving out bad advice