Should You Ask Your Professor for an Incomplete?

We are coming to the end of the semester during one of the roughest school years any of us can remember.  So I thought I would take a moment to talk about incompletes.

What is an Incomplete?

An incomplete is where you make an agreement with your professor to turn in your work, or amended work, at a later date, in an effort to get a higher grade in the class.

Incompletes exist because life happens.  Sometimes we sign up for courses with the best intentions and then life makes the course impossible.  Taking an incomplete in a class you would otherwise fail is a great way to safeguard your GPA.

When you should not seek an incomplete:

Incompletes are a big ask of your professors.  They have to grade all of your work separately from your peers and keep track of assignments past when the semester ends.  Most are happy to work with you if you really need one but make sure you aren’t asking for one when you shouldn’t.

You should not ask for an incomplete if:

• You are still in the add/ drop period of the course
• You have enough time to conceivably catch up in the class and really just need an extension on one or two assignments
• The conditions that caused you to fall behind are within your control
• You could drop the class with minimal impact
• The class is not necessary for you to progress in your field of study
• You are graduating this semester

For any of the above reasons, consider just dropping the class.  If you can’t drop the class, make an appointment with your professor and see if you can’t work something out together that would get you caught up without needing the incomplete.

When you should ask for an incomplete

Consider asking for an incomplete if:

• You are so far behind that it is unlikely you will be caught up before the final
• The reason you are behind is out of your control (such as hardships due to a global pandemic, a sick relative, or long-term personal illness)
• You need the course to graduate
• Failing the course will add significant time to your study plan
• Failing the course will significantly drop your GPA
• You cannot drop the course

If all of these hold true, consider asking your professor for an incomplete.

How to ask for an incomplete

Asking for an incomplete should be done face to face.  Usually, I would recommend in person, but a zoom call may be your only option.

Start by asking your professor for a meeting outside of the office hour times.  Once the meeting is scheduled, you need to be prepared to plead your case.

Make sure you have: 

• A sample of work you did for this class
• A sample of work you did for a similar class that is representative of the usual quality of your work
• Documentation confirming the hardship causing your decreased work quality/ efficiency
• Proof that failing this class will significantly impact your plans
• A well thought out written plan for getting the remaining work of the class done
• A final “due” date for your adjusted end of the semester

Assembling these documents will help you form the argument you want to make to your professor.

Your argument needs to be both logical and anecdotal.  If you approach a professor with just a logical argument and don’t include any story as to how things got this way, you will likely be denied.  But if you only have an anecdotal/ emotional argument and no logical framework then you will be seen as unreliable and will also be denied.

For example:

An incomplete argument:

“My mother is in the hospital with cancer and I don’t have time to do any work right now.  Can I have an incomplete so I can complete the work after she leaves the hospital?”

A complete argument:

“My mother is in the hospital with cancer and I have to watch my younger siblings and drive her to chemo treatments.  I’ve also had to take on a second job to help my family with bills.  I am really struggling to stay on top of my work right now, but I expect things to free up a bit over the summer so I can finish the work for this class before next semester starts.

“Is there any way I could get an incomplete for this semester? I have set new dates on the syllabus that I think are doable for me. I could probably take the final the second week of July.”

Getting an incomplete is your professor doing you a favor.

They don’t have to help you.  They could just say “tough luck” and make you retake the class.  If you get that incomplete, make sure you thank them. 

Have you ever needed an incomplete?  What happened? Let me know in the comments!