Being on Acamdemic Probation

[lollygagger]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hello,

I'm new to the forum! Quick introduction, I attend Community College with a 3.8 GPA, I love chemistry, and I'm almost about to graduate and receive my Associates of Science. I then plan on transferring to a 4 year university (starting off as a junior) to receive my Bachelor degree in Chemistry, and after that I will take the PCAT and hopefully get into Pharmacy School.



So...this is my worst semester yet. In my science major curriculum I have to take many science courses. There is an option, however, to take Calculus 2 in replace of one science class. I liked the idea of one less science course and figured "Hey, I got an A in Calc 1 what could be so hard in Calc 2?" Well...everything.


I am miserably failing Calc 2 that if I were to get a perfect score on my final exam it would only bring me up to a 70.1 (which would also be my first C). The reason I'm not dropping it yet is because if I do so, I will be placed on Academic Probation because this is a 4 credit class and I am not completing the necessary percentage of classes I have signed up for.

So basically...if I fail this course, I will get on Academic Probation, and if I drop this course, I will get on Academic Probation. I decided that I'm going to take a dive and drop it in sake of my GPA, seeing as though this class was actually optional.

However, after doing this, I feel like my chances will fall GREATLY. It's my first W, and it placed me on Academic Probation. I just would like to see other peoples view of this. I'm afraid of how Pharm Schools will see a W on Calc 2 and that I never retook it again (because I never will after experiencing that class!).


Thanks so much for reading. 🙂

 

[Skrumpy]

Hello,

I'm new to the forum! Quick introduction, I attend Community College with a 3.8 GPA, I love chemistry, and I'm almost about to graduate and receive my Associates of Science. I then plan on transferring to a 4 year university (starting off as a junior) to receive my Bachelor degree in Chemistry, and after that I will take the PCAT and hopefully get into Pharmacy School.



So...this is my worst semester yet. In my science major curriculum I have to take many science courses. There is an option, however, to take Calculus 2 in replace of one science class. I liked the idea of one less science course and figured "Hey, I got an A in Calc 1 what could be so hard in Calc 2?" Well...everything.


I am miserably failing Calc 2 that if I were to get a perfect score on my final exam it would only bring me up to a 70.1 (which would also be my first C). The reason I'm not dropping it yet is because if I do so, I will be placed on Academic Probation because this is a 4 credit class and I am not completing the necessary percentage of classes I have signed up for.

So basically...if I fail this course, I will get on Academic Probation, and if I drop this course, I will get on Academic Probation. I decided that I'm going to take a dive and drop it in sake of my GPA, seeing as though this class was actually optional.

However, after doing this, I feel like my chances will fall GREATLY. It's my first W, and it placed me on Academic Probation. I just would like to see other peoples view of this. I'm afraid of how Pharm Schools will see a W on Calc 2 and that I never retook it (because I never will after experiencing that class!).


Thanks so much for reading. 🙂

Are you absolutely sure that there is no way you can pass the course? Did you try talking to the professor? Sometimes they are willing to be a bit flexible if you have been showing up and putting in the effort (took all the exams, did all the HW, etc). If you have to take a W it isn't the end of the world. Remember how you feel right now and use that feeling to fuel you so that you aren't in this type of position again. If it was up to me I would retake the Calc 2 class and do what was necessary to ace it. That would likely be the best thing in the eyes of the admissions committee. It would show that you overcame your struggles and didn't give up. You'll have to identify what went wrong with Calc 2; did you put enough effort into studying? Did you have bad study habits? Did you have problems with understanding the professor? Did you seek out helpful resources (tutoring, math help center, study groups, etc)? Use this as an experience to better yourself and improve upon your shortcomings. You can be assured that there are going to be courses along your path to becoming a pharmacist that mirror your experiences in Calc 2 and some you may even find more difficult. That is what the ad com will be thinking about when they see that W. Don't stress out over it though. It isn't the end of the world, you can recover from it and IMO most of the good schools like applicants that are a bit "flawed" as it shows they are human and can overcome adversity.

 

[useruseruser]

Since when does dropping 1 class in 1 semester put you on academic probation? Are you sure that's the terms that qualify you for academic probation at your community college? Isn't it usually cumulative GPA < 2.00 for consecutive semesters?

Anyway, if what you're saying is true, then just drop and take the W. It's just your first W and pharmacy schools won't really care. It's not even a prereq at most schools.

 

[AlPacino]

Hello,

I'm new to the forum! Quick introduction, I attend Community College with a 3.8 GPA, I love chemistry, and I'm almost about to graduate and receive my Associates of Science. I then plan on transferring to a 4 year university (starting off as a junior) to receive my Bachelor degree in Chemistry, and after that I will take the PCAT and hopefully get into Pharmacy School.



So...this is my worst semester yet. In my science major curriculum I have to take many science courses. There is an option, however, to take Calculus 2 in replace of one science class. I liked the idea of one less science course and figured "Hey, I got an A in Calc 1 what could be so hard in Calc 2?" Well...everything.


I am miserably failing Calc 2 that if I were to get a perfect score on my final exam it would only bring me up to a 70.1 (which would also be my first C). The reason I'm not dropping it yet is because if I do so, I will be placed on Academic Probation because this is a 4 credit class and I am not completing the necessary percentage of classes I have signed up for.

So basically...if I fail this course, I will get on Academic Probation, and if I drop this course, I will get on Academic Probation. I decided that I'm going to take a dive and drop it in sake of my GPA, seeing as though this class was actually optional.

However, after doing this, I feel like my chances will fall GREATLY. It's my first W, and it placed me on Academic Probation. I just would like to see other peoples view of this. I'm afraid of how Pharm Schools will see a W on Calc 2 and that I never retook it again (because I never will after experiencing that class!).


Thanks so much for reading. 🙂

This would be your first W? No question, drop the class and take it again or take another science to replace it. One W on your transcript does not look bad compared to an F.

 

[riggylou]

Since when does dropping 1 class in 1 semester put you on academic probation? Are you sure that's the terms that qualify you for academic probation at your community college? Isn't it usually cumulative GPA < 2.00 for consecutive semesters?

Yeah, I don't understand the academic probation? I can see it affecting your financial aid....but...? Pharm schools don't really care about a W or even a few W's for that matter.. Academic probation is another matter..but as the above poster said, that usually means you have a LOW gpa in which case you don't. Try to consult with an academic advisor to see if you are really on probation..

 

[lollygagger]

Yes 🙁

Before I dropped the class, since it would be my first W, I spoke to a counselor to see how this would affect my financial aid because I know that if I were to drop the class, then it turns me into a part time student instead of a full time student. That's when she told me I will be placed on Academic Probation because I am not completing a large percentage of credits that I originally signed up for.

I don't know, I feel like I can't talk to my professor. There's always something about foreign professors that I can't talk to them haha! 😛
I just feel like I know that I'm failing and that it's right in my face so what could I talk to her about, you know? The syllabus states no extra credit, I did tutoring every week, and I did my homework, but when it came to the tests...the problems were just too different and I couldn't do it.


Thanks for the advices though everyone! I may consider taking it again, but I fear for a similar experience lol.

 

[y0ssarian87]

Yes 🙁

Before I dropped the class, since it would be my first W, I spoke to a counselor to see how this would affect my financial aid because I know that if I were to drop the class, then it turns me into a part time student instead of a full time student. That's when she told me I will be placed on Academic Probation because I am not completing a large percentage of credits that I originally signed up for.

I don't know, I feel like I can't talk to my professor. There's always something about foreign professors that I can't talk to them haha! 😛
I just feel like I know that I'm failing and that it's right in my face so what could I talk to her about, you know? The syllabus states no extra credit, I did tutoring every week, and I did my homework, but when it came to the tests...the problems were just too different and I couldn't do it.


Thanks for the advices though everyone! I may consider taking it again, but I fear for a similar experience lol.

I know you said that you checked with the counselor, but are you sure she didn't mean that you wouldn't be maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress? At my undergraduate institution SAP and Academic Probation were distinct. SAP requires certain degree progress requirements like GPA and units taken. It is used mainly for financial aid purposes, and you can file an SAP appeal to challenge an SAP status. Academic Probation, however, is when your cumulative GPA drops below a 2.00. The number of units you take any semester doesn't matter. That cannot be appealed, and you must raise your GPA to not become academically disqualified.

Did you counselor perhaps mean SAP? Look at your school's student handbook for definitions of these terms.

 

[lollygagger]

After I read your post, I decided to talk to another counselor for a second opinion and he told me I would not be placed on academic probation after dropping this class. What a relief!

Thanks everyone for your inputs 🙂

 

[y0ssarian87]

After I read your post, I decided to talk to another counselor for a second opinion and he told me I would not be placed on academic probation after dropping this class. What a relief!

Thanks everyone for your inputs 🙂

Glad to hear all is well. Best of luck!

 

[powerful me]

I am in a similar situation here. I completed my pre-requisites at a community college and I did okay. I then move on and enrolled myself in a postbacc pre-health program to take additional upper division science classes. It is when I started to take all the upper division science courses that hurt my gpa. I tried to retake few courses that I didn't do well on my second and third quarter, I just couldn't handle them well and ended up in the position of academic disqualification. I am technically still in the postbacc program, but the university won't let me enroll to classes. I am very frustrated now and do not know what to do. Is it possible to not use my postbacc transcript for pharmacy school admission? I'm kind of regret of doing the postbacc program because it is pushing me away from applying. Should I appeal for reinstatement and retake those classes again with a higher grade? Any kind of advise would be appreciated.

 

[rxtech2012]

I am in a similar situation here. I completed my pre-requisites at a community college and I did okay. I then move on and enrolled myself in a postbacc pre-health program to take additional upper division science classes. It is when I started to take all the upper division science courses that hurt my gpa. I tried to retake few courses that I didn't do well on my second and third quarter, I just couldn't handle them well and ended up in the position of academic disqualification. I am technically still in the postbacc program, but the university won't let me enroll to classes. I am very frustrated now and do not know what to do. Is it possible to not use my postbacc transcript for pharmacy school admission? I'm kind of regret of doing the postbacc program because it is pushing me away from applying. Should I appeal for reinstatement and retake those classes again with a higher grade? Any kind of advise would be appreciated.

Not trying to bring you down, but if you're not doing well in upper div sciences, aren't you concerned about how you would fare in pharm school?

 

[rxtech2012]

I am in a similar situation here. I completed my pre-requisites at a community college and I did okay. I then move on and enrolled myself in a postbacc pre-health program to take additional upper division science classes. It is when I started to take all the upper division science courses that hurt my gpa. I tried to retake few courses that I didn't do well on my second and third quarter, I just couldn't handle them well and ended up in the position of academic disqualification. I am technically still in the postbacc program, but the university won't let me enroll to classes. I am very frustrated now and do not know what to do. Is it possible to not use my postbacc transcript for pharmacy school admission? I'm kind of regret of doing the postbacc program because it is pushing me away from applying. Should I appeal for reinstatement and retake those classes again with a higher grade? Any kind of advise would be appreciated.

If this is still something you want, go back to the Drawing board and figure out why you're not doing well and adjust accordingly.

 

[Skrumpy]

I am in a similar situation here. I completed my pre-requisites at a community college and I did okay. I then move on and enrolled myself in a postbacc pre-health program to take additional upper division science classes. It is when I started to take all the upper division science courses that hurt my gpa. I tried to retake few courses that I didn't do well on my second and third quarter, I just couldn't handle them well and ended up in the position of academic disqualification. I am technically still in the postbacc program, but the university won't let me enroll to classes. I am very frustrated now and do not know what to do. Is it possible to not use my postbacc transcript for pharmacy school admission? I'm kind of regret of doing the postbacc program because it is pushing me away from applying. Should I appeal for reinstatement and retake those classes again with a higher grade? Any kind of advise would be appreciated.

Pretty much rephrasing what was already suggested.. but yea you need to evaluate why you are having so much difficulty. Are you taking a heavier than normal class load? Are you devoting enough time to studying? Are you seeking out help in your studies (tutoring/professor's office hours/etc? Something is wrong there and you need to fix it. If you can't figure that out you are throwing money away. Not only will you not get into pharmacy school but you will end up with a worthless postbacc education that is getting you further into debt with nothing to show for it. Also as mentioned, if you think it is difficult now wait until you get into pharmacy school.. it gets much more difficult. You need to really look at what the issue is and try to resolve it. Luckily, it is still salvageable at this point. You can still get into a school if you really start to turn things around. So you can do a couple of things; 1) you can become dismayed and just say screw it all or 2) you can hunker down, get back in and get it done the way it needs to be. If you select option #2 you actually will be helping yourself having a conversation piece for your pharmacy interviews when you get that far. They can ask you about what happened that semester and you can then go into detail about your struggles and how you learned to overcome adversity and figured out what works for you academically. Good luck to you.