diff --git a/FileHelpers/csvLoaders.py b/FileHelpers/csvLoaders.py
index eba49e1..8dd387e 100644
--- a/FileHelpers/csvLoaders.py
+++ b/FileHelpers/csvLoaders.py
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ def loadGradescope(_filename):
 
     gradescopeDF.rename(columns={'Lateness': 'hours_late'}, inplace=True)
     # All NaN values should be handled at this point
-    gradescopeDF = gradescopeDF.astype({'hours_late': "float"}, copy=False)
+    gradescopeDF = gradescopeDF.astype({'hours_late': "float", 'SID': "string"}, copy=False)
 
     gradescopeDF.rename(columns={'SID': 'multipass'}, inplace=True)
     print("Done.")
diff --git a/Grade/grade.py b/Grade/grade.py
index 6fc0c07..db7d247 100644
--- a/Grade/grade.py
+++ b/Grade/grade.py
@@ -321,6 +321,9 @@ def calculateLatePenalty(_gradescopeDF: pd.DataFrame, _specialCasesDF: pd.DataFr
                 _gradescopeDF.at[i, 'lateness_comment'] = \
                     f"-{(1 - latePenalty[daysLate]) * 100:02.0f}%25: {daysLate} {pluralizedDays} late"
 
+        _gradescopeDF.at[i, 'Total Score'] = max(_gradescopeDF.at[i, 'Total Score'], 0)
+
+
     # the only possible case here is if a student has a special case requested but was not found in gradescope
     if not _specialCasesDF.empty and specialCaseStudents != len(