Having a really rough semester. Need advice.

[Finette]

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A couple months ago, I gave up everything to pursue this dream of being a doctor. I gave up a good paying job (still don't regret that one bit), moved 4 hours away from all my friends, family, and my long term boyfriend to attend a university full time that had all the opportunities I need to be a successful applicant.

Nearly everything that could go wrong in the last month has gone wrong. Unexpected financial crap, mix-ups with classes, roommate abandoning their lease without a 30 day notice, etc etc. *cue violins*

Due to a mix up with payment, the chem I class I was signed up for with a supposedly great professor got cancelled, and I had to scramble to find another open class last minute. Big mistake. The only one open was with a brand new professor who has never taught Chem I before, is at a different campus 30 minutes away, and who obviously has a huge chip on his shoulder about being an adjunct.

I've attended every lecture. I studied regularly, and felt totally comfortable with the material we were covering. I got excellent grades on my labs and homework assignments. I took a chemistry class at my old school that covered most of the same material (it was chemistry for health majors or something) and got a 98 in that class. Took the first test for this class a few days ago... 63. There are only 3 exams this semester. Apparently mine wasn't a bad score compared to the average. Over half the class failed (below 40%), and he won't curve the grades. There was no multiple choice, every question required you to write paragraphs of information, and I firmly believe he took off points if he didn't like the way you dotted your i's.

I'm feeling super depressed and demoralized. 🙁 I'm doing well in my other classes, but I know a subpar grade in Chem I will look really, really bad. What's worse, getting a mediocre grade or withdrawing? I have withdrawals on my record already from years ago (5 or so years ago) before I came back to school. Should I stick this out and risk getting a B or a C (and honestly, the B is if I get a perfect score on everything else which doesn't seem possible the way he grades things), or do I withdraw and look like I can't handle the material?

Sigh. Advice Welcome.

PS - Sorry for the super long post.

 

[Zen92]

Sorry to hear you are in this position. Just keep in mind that DO offers grade replacement. I had 2 C's in classes and I retook them and I was just accepted to a DO school this cycle and I have a few more interviews lined up. It wasn't even brought up in the interviews! Do not lose faith in yourself. All my other grades were solid so just keep truckin' and fight the good fight.

 

[oOKawaiiOo]

Sorry to hear you are in this position. Just keep in mind that DO offers grade replacement. I had 2 C's in classes and I retook them and I was just accepted to a DO school this cycle and I have a few more interviews lined up. It wasn't even brought up in the interviews! Do not lose faith in yourself. All my other grades were solid so just keep truckin' and fight the good fight.

stats?

 

[Finette]

Not sure if you're asking for theirs or mine, but my overall GPA right now is 3.7. I'm technically a junior, but I'm going to be doing the super senior thing for a year.

Thanks for your advice @Zen92 ! I am not allowed any more grade replacement though. I'm a non trad student, and this last year I re-took all the F's I got from years ago when I didn't know what the $*#% I was doing. The university I transferred to has told me that since I maxxed out their grade forgiveness allowance at my old school, whatever I receive this time around is what I receive end of story.

 

[Torilynn92]

Not sure if you're asking for theirs or mine, but my overall GPA right now is 3.7. I'm technically a junior, but I'm going to be doing the super senior thing for a year.

Thanks for your advice @Zen92 ! I am not allowed any more grade replacement though. I'm a non trad student, and this last year I re-took all the F's I got from years ago when I didn't know what the $*#% I was doing. The university I transferred to has told me that since I maxxed out their grade forgiveness allowance at my old school, whatever I receive this time around is what I receive end of story.

It doesn't matter what your University says; DO schools automatically re-calculate your GPA with your most recent attempt at a class. You could take chemistry three times, fail the first two but get an A the third time, and the A is all the DO schools would factor into your GPA. I think. Correct me if I'm wrong, somebody!

 

[oOKawaiiOo]

I've attended every lecture. I studied regularly, and felt totally comfortable with the material we were covering. I got excellent grades on my labs and homework assignments. I took a chemistry class at my old school that covered most of the same material (it was chemistry for health majors or something) and got a 98 in that class. Took the first test for this class a few days ago... 63. There are only 3 exams this semester. Apparently mine wasn't a bad score compared to the average. Over half the class failed (below 40%), and he won't curve the grades. There was no multiple choice, every question required you to write paragraphs of information, and I firmly believe he took off points if he didn't like the way you dotted your i's.

I'm feeling super depressed and demoralized. 🙁 I'm doing well in my other classes, but I know a subpar grade in Chem I will look really, really bad. What's worse, getting a mediocre grade or withdrawing? I have withdrawals on my record already from years ago (5 or so years ago) before I came back to school. Should I stick this out and risk getting a B or a C (and honestly, the B is if I get a perfect score on everything else which doesn't seem possible the way he grades things), or do I withdraw and look like I can't handle the material?

If I were you.....

I would stick with the class and make sure I get that 100 on your following exams. Dont let this "63%" get to your head. Let this be a reflecting moment where you need to push yourself harder, stronger, and better. This is only basic chemistry...... Medical school will be 1000x harder. You need to prove that you can handle it.

Despite all the downfalls you have going on outside of school, it's life. You have to look at every bad moment in a good light. For example, I had 2 flat tires within a week and it takes me an hour to get to work. Suck? No, actually I got to learn how to jack up a car, put on tires, and put air in them suckers! REAL LIFE skills you need to know.

If you really want to be a doctor, you can do it. Just a matter how bad you wanted and how hard you push yourself. Goodluck!

 

[Z-Qualizer]

It doesn't matter what your University says; DO schools automatically re-calculate your GPA with your most recent attempt at a class. You could take chemistry three times, fail the first two but get an A the third time, and the A is all the DO schools would factor into your GPA. I think. Correct me if I'm wrong, somebody!

You are correct, but the issue is not with the DO schools, rather her current university. If they don't let her take the course again, then she can't do further grade replacement there. She may be able to find another school where she can retake the course, but that might not be an option. @Finette does that sound about right?

 

[change4med]

I personally think that if you can stick it out and be one of the top students in his class, there's no way he can give you a C... If we're talking like a class size of 30 or something, and you're a top 5 student and you get a C, I'm pretty sure you're able to talk to the chair of chem and appeal your grade by saying that the way the professor was teaching/grading was not at the standard of what you expected. Make sure to keep all your old tests etc, cause for an appeal I believe you have to show them samples of your work that you felt were unfairly graded.

As for your other life difficulties... I'm sorry 🙁 but I do believe it'll all work out in the end, and that's ultimately what matters right? Take deep breaths, stay as happy as you can on working on changing the things you can, and accepting the things you can't, and I'm sure it'll get better!

 

[Finette]

You are correct, but the issue is not with the DO schools, rather her current university. If they don't let her take the course again, then she can't do further grade replacement there. She may be able to find another school where she can retake the course, but that might not be an option. @Finette does that sound about right?

That is correct. They might let me re-take the course if I fail it, and just average in my failing grade with my new grade, but I don't see myself failing the course. Realistically I think I'll probably get a C, but going to work like hell to get a B. I did the averages, and I don't see how I could get an A, short of extra credit he does not offer.

 

[Finette]

I personally think that if you can stick it out and be one of the top students in his class, there's no way he can give you a C... If we're talking like a class size of 30 or something, and you're a top 5 student and you get a C, I'm pretty sure you're able to talk to the chair of chem and appeal your grade by saying that the way the professor was teaching/grading was not at the standard of what you expected. Make sure to keep all your old tests etc, cause for an appeal I believe you have to show them samples of your work that you felt were unfairly graded.

As for your other life difficulties... I'm sorry 🙁 but I do believe it'll all work out in the end, and that's ultimately what matters right? Take deep breaths, stay as happy as you can on working on changing the things you can, and accepting the things you can't, and I'm sure it'll get better!

I hadn't really considered that I could appeal the grade... I know I'm at least 2 standard deviations above the mean right now as far as class average is concerned. I think there were a select few people who got higher than me. As I said before, I felt I understood the matereial very well. His test was just one of a kind. (very vague open ended questions, that were often very misleading)

Also, thank you very much for the support 🙂 *takes deep breath*

 

[change4med]

I hadn't really considered that I could appeal the grade... I know I'm at least 2 standard deviations above the mean right now as far as class average is concerned. I think there were a select few people who got higher than me. As I said before, I felt I understood the matereial very well. His test was just one of a kind. (very vague open ended questions, that were often very misleading)

Look up your school policy on grade appealing; I'm very confident that there's some form of grade appeal for all schools, especially if as you said, it's a first year professor... Keep that test, his syllabus, everything.. Use it as a last resort though!

Don't worry too much about the class average, just do the best you can at all the further tests. It might also help to attend office hours if you haven't? Put a face next to a name when he's inputting grades, so that he'll remember you were one of the more serious students in class, especially when you were doing so much better than a majority of your class... you know questions like "I was wondering what would be a stronger here, so that I can get an idea of what I should focus on next time.." etc.. even if you don't mean it, just so it's more obvious to him that you're making an effort.

 

[IslandStyle808]

This is why essay type exams suck. You are pretty much at the mercy of the professor. I suggest next time you pick a class email the professor and try to get a syllabus ahead of time (if they taught before) and use ratemyprofessor when possible (don't be fooled, the professor with the highest ratings don't always have the easiest class, but they are very fair graders). I'll admit you can't dodge all bad professors, but if you can do.

 

[Finette]

Thank you for all the words of encouragement, tough love responses, and general advice. I'm going to tough this class out, and give this my best shot. I'm not going to let one class, and one terrible professor, stand in the way of my med school dreams.

I will, however, give him a nasty review on ratemyprofessor at the end of semester. *insert copious amounts of passive aggressive rage*

 

[TrueWolverine]

Sounds like this guy won't be teaching for very long if the average is 40ish% and he's not going to curve it. I don't want to get your hopes up because I'm not sure what he'll do but I was in a similar situation a few semesters ago. The professor literally told us he didn't care about us and that he knew he was a bast***. Free response questions, averages in the 35-45% range, no sign of caring at all, the works....he had said he didn't curve but at the end of the semester he ended up curving it. Granted, it wasn't a ton and I still ended up having to retake but some students were pleasantly surprised with their grades. Again....not sure if your prof will do this but a teacher who is failing over half the class is not going to be around for long. Good luck and keep working hard!

 

[edgerock24]

what kind of chem 1 exam requires students to write essays???

 

[oOKawaiiOo]

what kind of chem 1 exam requires students to write essays???

Its 2015. Anything goes.

 

[Finette]

the best was when he criticized the class for taking so long on the exam (it's a 3 hour long class, and nearly everyone took the full 3 hours to finish the test). He said next time he won't be so nice, and will just grab it from us. 😵

I remember walking out after finishing, and there was a girl in the hallway with her head in her hands crying.

He said he'll consider a curve at the end, but only for those who are failing. Anyone who is over 60% will not be considered for a curve.

 

[doit4humanity]

I ran into a professor like that in my junior year of undergrad as well. Brand spanking new professor who's test failed nearly 75% of the class then tried to give out quizzes weekly to make up for the failed test but nearly the entire class fail all the quizzes as well lol. That professor did not know how to explain the material but read it straight off the power point. I missed an exam due to my wife going into labor and have doctor's note but she think it is unfair to let me take the exam because she deemed it "unfair" because she did not make it known to the entire class that you can retake missed exam haha. Anyways, I feel your pain with newbie professors.