Help! Possibility of academic probation in program

[andgelyo]

Hello all, I am currently a first year OT student ending my first semester of grad school. Although I have studied rigorously and devoted nearly all my time to school, there is a very real possibility that I will be receiving 2 Cs in my courses. As you may or may not know, as a standard in graduate school you are required to have a 3.0 gpa minimum per semester. Failure to do so will result in academic probation. I have never been on probation before, nor have i struggled so much in school. I know i have what it takes to succeed, and i will not give up. However, can anyone clarify what exactly this means?From what i hear, you have about a semester to bring your grades up, if not, it is automatic dismissal. I am anticipating a C in my anatomy class because the class was generally very rigorous, however i was shocked to see my final grade as a C for my other class. I talked to the professor from that class, and she said that i plagiarized in my final because i forgot to cite something, which was entirely my fault( i simply forgot and it was unintended,lucky me huh?).Has anyone been in this position before? I am feeling mixed emotions right now, as the semester just ended( i took my last practical already and I am unsure on how i did). It just seems like nothing but bad luck has happened to me semester......

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Johann00]

The first semester is a killer for everyone. I just got through mine and I don't think my head has stopped spinning yet. You should be able to make a case for the poor grades and, as long as you get them up, I don't see any reason to worry moving forward. I think most programs see the first semester as a learning experience for most students as many of us aren't quite prepared for the rigorous work-load and commitment.

As for the plagiarism claim, I would fight that as hard as you're able to. Especially for first-semester students, writing research papers at the level we're expected to in this program is a new process. You should explain that writing in APA is a skill that is being developed and that expecting perfection in your first semester is a little unfair. A good professor should see something like that as a "teachable opportunity", not as grounds for punishment. Shame on them...

 

[otsomeday]

I'm surprised one of the instructors in your own OT department is not working with you on that C. On the other hand in anatomy....your pretty much stuck with that C. I would talk to your department head.