Whining doesn't work, just for clarification. However, if something (illness, death in the family, etc....) unexpected happens, AND CAN BE DOCUMENTED, then I'm willing to consider an exception.

I've had very angry (also non-attendees, slackers, rolled into one) get mad because of a death in the family a day before the due date, where I said NO extension. "Where were you the two weeks before this happened?" If I can't get a reasonable explanation, then I have no pity, and no mercy.

What really gets me are some of the hard-core, no exceptions for any circumstances professors - "they won't get that kind of consideration in the working world" mindsets. Um, yes they do, because I've BEEN in the working world and seen it, whereas the full-time professor, teaching ever since PhD time, has not been in the "real working world." Ugh.

Asking for an extension never even crossed my mind... i know he'd never do it :)

But version of "mercy" was stoppingh by his office hours and possibly seeing if he'd direct me in the right direction for the final... maybe what he'd focus more of the test on :)

I've crammed before and done well on the tests.. this professor just scares me b/c he's random (it's public opinion) and half of the readings for class are his... great! :(

less procrastinating... more studying

Get those lecture notes lol!

I always found that a great deal of personal charm helped with those one on one situations with proffessors :) .

However, I never faulted one that wouldn't let me have my way, I just cherished the ones that did.

My advice is to literally study at the bar ;o) When I lived half a block from the bar I was at the bar on a regular basis with a text book on 59 cent cheeseburger night . . . it seemed to work for me!

Hit the books, take the exam, do your best, then hit the bar (one way or the other :) )

Good luck!

Hit your chapter's test file. Many professor's recycle test questions from one year to another. GOOD LUCK!!! :)