Medical How do I ask school to allow me to remediate two failed exams?

[Goro]

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I'll try to summarize this the best I can. I'm an M1 who has failed two exams and might be looking at a repeat year.

Failed physiology exam in the beginning of medical school. Was using old study habits from undergrad where I mostly passively read things and wrote them out by hand. Learned the hard way that this was extremely inefficient. Almost 10% of my class failed this exam.

Started to change my study habits, used anki + other resources, did more active recall. Score went up by 15% on next exam.

Was continuing to change study habits from less passive learning to more active learning, then relationship with SO of 4 years started to get really bad. Out of the blue, he brought up the possibility of breaking up. Fought a lot during this time. Barely passed the next exam by 1%.

That exam was on a Wednesday. At this point, I knew things wouldn't work with the SO so I had to travel (long distance, we're apart by 5 hours) over the weekend to break up and for closure. Agreed to cut all ties and contact. That Monday, we had another exam that was supposed to be "easier" (epidemiology).

That Monday, I have a panic attack during the exam. Heart rate went up, breathing got shallow, eyes started tearing, could not remember equations for the life of me suddenly. Never experienced anything like this before, so I didn't know I was able to ask a proctor if I could step out, calm down and come back to the exam. The clock was running out of time and I randomly guess some questions. I fail by 2 questions.

Two failed exams typically means a repeat semester (you leave and then come back next year), but if there are extenuating circumstances, promotions committee will grant you two remediations.

I have met with academic success, am meeting with a counselor to try to nip the anxiety in the bud, and now that the worst of the relationship problems have come to an end, I feel that I can only go up from here. I met with my curriculum Deans and they said that if I could prove that I am being proactive + do well on the last 3 exams of the semester, I may have a good case for two remediations vs re-doing the whole semester.

Any insight, thoughts, comments on this would be much appreciated. I am ashamed and feel like I am living in a nightmare.

Very sorry to hear of this!

If the school's policy states that you can remediate due to extenuating circumstances, then you have to ask the promotions committee for a chance to remediate.

Be proactive and give them your plan for studying for these. Also, what you intend to do if other life events intrude and clobber you.

 

[Goro]

Goro, thank you for the response. I guess I should clarify that it is not exactly written in the policy; it was just something that the deans told me is an option. Not exactly an "under the table" type of deal, but they said a few students with extenuating circumstances (seems like its very rare) have been able to remediate two exams. Should I request the school give me more details on what this procedure looks like? Do you know how extenuating circumstances like this are dealt with at your school?

You need to find out exactly what is the policy, and get somehow get documentation that exceptions, if any have been made to the policy. It can help to meet with a trusted adviser to see if they can help you navigate this.

I believe that exceptions have been made in rare cases at my school. Usually they have to do with the death of family members. I doubt that getting dumped by your SO would rise to this level, but evidence that it triggered mental health issues could move things into than more serious extenuating circumstances.