Re: I did poorly, got an A instead of A+ as I bombed the final
Don’t do it!! Ever!
Recently finished reading a book by Donald Asher, the graduates/job-seekers guru. He gave real life examples of 3 graduates who included little gifts with their applications for grad school. One included a large homemade cookie and the note stated “Please take a break to enjoy this cookie as you review my application.” The other included a handwritten note from the applicant’s baby sister that stated “Please accept by big sister’s application”. I forget what the third one did. But yeah all these applications were refused.
“Bribing” or emotionally blackmailing or whatever you may wanna call it, isn’t going to work with any sane professor.