In danger of failing, advice needed...

[AWorriedStudent]

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I received a letter in the mail yesterday stating that I am in danger of failing one of my 2nd year courses - It turns out that I did really poorly on the last exam and that brought my cumulative average to below the passing threshold. We have our last exam in a few days and I am extremely worried as I need to do extremely well to avoid failing. I was planning on taking a LOA after this year for medical/ personal reasons but if I don't ace this last test and fail the course, i have to repeat the entire year. I don't know what to do - I wish I would have found out earlier. Any advice that can be offered would be really helpful (I have search previous threads and read them for those who may bring this up...)

 

[da8s0859q]

I received a letter in the mail yesterday stating that I am in danger of failing one of my 2nd year courses - It turns out that I did really poorly on the last exam and that brought my cumulative average to below the passing threshold. We have our last exam in a few days and I am extremely worried as I need to do extremely well to avoid failing. I was planning on taking a LOA after this year for medical/ personal reasons but if I don't ace this last test and fail the course, i have to repeat the entire year. I don't know what to do - I wish I would have found out earlier. Any advice that can be offered would be really helpful (I have search previous threads and read them for those who may bring this up...)

I feel for you, I really do, but I think the writing's on the wall. Bust your ass to make it through that test / course, and then take care of yourself and do whatever it is you need to do. Not sure what other avenues there are.

 

[VoiceofReason]

Advice? I don't want to sound harsh but you know what you have to do.

 

[plauto]

why do some schools do this? For the tuition we pay I'd expect one of the deans to personally give you a heads-up and help you figure out a strategy before things got to this point. Good luck and take care of yourself.

 

[njbmd]

I received a letter in the mail yesterday stating that I am in danger of failing one of my 2nd year courses - It turns out that I did really poorly on the last exam and that brought my cumulative average to below the passing threshold. We have our last exam in a few days and I am extremely worried as I need to do extremely well to avoid failing. I was planning on taking a LOA after this year for medical/ personal reasons but if I don't ace this last test and fail the course, i have to repeat the entire year. I don't know what to do - I wish I would have found out earlier. Any advice that can be offered would be really helpful (I have search previous threads and read them for those who may bring this up...)

Have you spoken with your Dean of Student Affairs? If not, this person needs to know your plans and thoughts in terms of your LOA and the things that have been interfering with your studies up to this point.

The next thing that you need to know - the dean can provide this info to you- is your option (s) after your LOA and what you need to be doing while you are on LOA to keep your studies intact. If you manage to complete Year 2 without failing this course, you will have to take Boards at some point. The longer you are away from your studies,the more difficult that board exam.You also need to know if you need to take boards before you go on LOA if you successfully complete year 2.

Don't dwell on the failure aspect of what is in front of you. Your attention needs to be on mastery of the material that you need to pass this course. See your instructor and get any tutoring that is available. Go to every tutoring session even if you feel that you understand the material.

You don't want to find yourself in the position that you fail but when your records are reviewed, you didn't take advantage of any of the tutoring sessions or you never contacted the instructor for help. It's not a sign of weakness to ask for help but a sign that you are willing to do everything possible to get your studies mastered.

Finally, if you fail and do repeat year 2, it's not the end of the world. Your school is asking you to repeat this material because you need to do this in order to become a good and safe physician. It's often that students feel that they are somehow inferior when they wind up repeating but actually, repeating a year is much better in the long run (outside side of finances) than barely scraping by but failing your board exam because you don't have enough knowledge base.

Do everything that you can do so that you don't fail but if the worst happens, make sure that you put yourself in the best position to take care fo your personal affairs, come back to school and do good work. In the end, none of your patients will ask you if you took an LOA or repeated a year of medical school. They will only want to know if you can solve their clinical problems.

The important thing for you right now is to keep in close contact with your school administration so that they are well aware that you are working on your problems to get them solved so that you can do your best in medical school after your LOA.

You know what's happening for you now (because of the letter) so don't beat yourself because you didn't know earlier. Get that help right now and keep getting help through this process. There are programs and procedures in place to help you get back on track and stay on track.

Remember that medical school is professional school and not undergraduate school. Your administration is there to help you do your best to get through school and onto your career. Don't try to deal with these kinds of things in isolation but ask for help and keep asking until your career is on track.

 

[ar2388]

study your balls off for this exam .. i was in a similar situation. had an awful week week before an exam where i spent it in the hospital due to family issues and essentially feel behind by a week in neuro.. the 5 days before the exam, i busted my as* and got through my notes 3-4 times.. if i would have failed then my summer plans would be radically different right now.. 🙁

 

[del taco]

Make sure you also consult a lawyer. Trying harder and harder can only take you so far. You've already been pegged as the weak one and depending on what the atmosphere of your school is, they will kick you out.

 

[CBG23]

...

 

[AWorriedStudent]

njbmd, thanks for your informative post. I took advantage of tutoring of my own avail (no professors told me to) early on in the year and found it somewhat helpful, but I wasn't given enough heads up between the time I received the letter and my exams this afternoon to make any substantive changes...I have been keeping in touch with the admin about my plans, but had no idea my grades were at risk until until I received the letter...There are no more exams left - at this point, I am just hoping for the best.

 

[Christeca]

If this fail is your first you'll probably have to just make up the class (remediate). You should also consult your student handbook in order to know your rights as a student. Because some advancement committees have faculty that are on the fence with decisions and if you know what you are entitled to as a student then you can make a case for yourself.

 

[Stark]

Several of my classmates had to repeat first or second year (some twice). They all ended up graduating. Keep that in mind.

Good Luck

 

[JeffLebowski]

why do some schools do this? For the tuition we pay I'd expect one of the deans to personally give you a heads-up and help you figure out a strategy before things got to this point. Good luck and take care of yourself.

Make sure you also consult a lawyer. Trying harder and harder can only take you so far. You've already been pegged as the weak one and depending on what the atmosphere of your school is, they will kick you out.

Only the entitlement generation would expect to have their hand held in medical school (from which already 97% of people graduate), have their dean bend over backwards to keep a failing student, and get a lawyer as if they're the victim of some great injustice.

 

[RED88]

Its not only in the student's best interest but in the medical school's best interest to keep the student as well. They make an investment in you when they pick you to be in their class and they want you to stay and do well.

 

[phospho]

Only the entitlement generation would expect to have their hand held in medical school (from which already 97% of people graduate), have their dean bend over backwards to keep a failing student, and get a lawyer as if they're the victim of some great injustice.

You gotta admit that your post is off (or you're being a bit cocky maybe?)

We're not an "entitlement" generation. We busted our asses to get into med school. For some of us, we've literally spent half our lives trying to get to where we are. I was lucky enough and got in the first time. I can't even begin to imagine how I would have felt if I knew I had to apply over (and maybe even over) again... Or worse: get kicked out of med school and start from square 1...

I failed my first anatomy exam (59%), got a phone call from the dean of student affairs asking me if there's anything I needed. He hooked me up with multiple tutors, and it meant the world to me. Ended up doing amazing in that class. After anatomy was over, I essentially nailed every class ever since on my own.

It's a great feeling to know that your school has your back.

 

[da8s0859q]

It's a great feeling to know that your school has your back.

This. I agree that the lawyer comment is ridiculous, but there's a lot to be said for a supportive school.

 

[aggie08]

You gotta admit that your post is off (or you're being a bit cocky maybe?)

We're not an "entitlement" generation. We busted our asses to get into med school. For some of us, we've literally spent half our lives trying to get to where we are. I was lucky enough and got in the first time. I can't even begin to imagine how I would have felt if I knew I had to apply over (and maybe even over) again... Or worse: get kicked out of med school and start from square 1...

I failed my first anatomy exam (59%), got a phone call from the dean of student affairs asking me if there's anything I needed. He hooked me up with multiple tutors, and it meant the world to me. Ended up doing amazing in that class. After anatomy was over, I essentially nailed every class ever since on my own.

It's a great feeling to know that your school has your back.

I agree. Our school is incredibly supportive. Although I haven't been in the position to have to talk to the dean or anyone, I know several students who had a much easier time adapting after discussing their situation with someone in charge. They make anyone who "marginally passes" the first exam of a block (or who marginally passes 2+ that block) speak with the block director and in some cases other people. I think it's a good system and helps keep from putting people in the position of the OP where they suddenly find out their enrollment is in jeopardy.

It's not an entitlement problem, medical school is a big adjustment and some people need a little help figuring out which way to turn with so many resources around.

I feel sorry for those who don't go to schools with great support systems.

 

[phospho]

Sorry, I didn't even notice the lawyer comment... definitely ridiculous to even think about hiring a lawyer... I think that's where Lebowski was coming from...

 

[CBG23]

Yeah, getting a lawyer seems a bit on the extreme side...

 

[Instatewaiter]

It's a great feeling to know that your school has your back.

I agree. Perhaps it is easier at my school since we have tests every 3-4 weeks, but at my schools the administration IDs students in danger after each test and we have a tutoring service delivered by 4th years for free (pretty sure it's free) to the students.

Every student that I have had the pleasure of tutoring is smart enough but needs to be redirected toward what is important. They tend to lose the forest for the trees and get bogged down on minutia. Having someone guide you toward the impt material is all these kids need. They have all passed their subsequent tests.

Yeah, getting a lawyer seems a bit on the extreme side...

For anyone in danger of failing, it is a better idea NOT to be antagonistic until they have already kicked you out. The committees have a lot of leeway and if you become antagonistic it is not going to get you that leeway.

Showing you are being proactive, are trying hard etc goes very far in their eyes. However, not taking responsibility and then getting a lawyer looks really bad. The only time you should get a lawyer in this circumstance is when they have kicked you out for a real injustice and you think that you should not have been asked to leave.

 

[plauto]

Only the entitlement generation would expect to have their hand held in medical school (from which already 97% of people graduate), have their dean bend over backwards to keep a failing student, and get a lawyer as if they're the victim of some great injustice.

well, I think that the absurd tuition many people pay does kinda entitle you to receive some sort of help from your school if things hit a bump. I guess you never had to work hard for your money...since some of us did, we want to make sure we get every cent worth.

 

[JeffLebowski]

well, I think that the absurd tuition many people pay does kinda entitle you to receive some sort of help from your school if things hit a bump. I guess you never had to work hard for your money...since some of us did, we want to make sure we get every cent worth.

Yes, I've worked hard in a lot of menial jobs to make money, and I can pretty much guarantee you I owe more in student loans. And therefore I know how important it is not to waste tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars on blown tuition because I couldn't hack it. Give it your all, seek out the help you need, and GET THE JOB DONE. You are entitled to nothing in this world, your investments (whether it's the stock market, mutual fund, a house, or an overpriced education) are not pay-for-services, they're investments. You're not buying a Honda, you're paying for the education and the degree. The expectations to get both are well understood, and frankly, the bar is pretty frickin' low (passing). But if it is a stretch for you, fine, make extra efforts and give it your all, but by no means should a chronically and intractably sub-par medical student be entitled to graduation, regardless of what crazy tuition you pay. And I agree, tuition is out of control and unreasonable. But the dollar amount isn't important, the principle is.

But if you're just saying that in general the school should reach out to its struggling students - I agree, they should.

 

[plauto]

Yes, I've worked hard in a lot of menial jobs to make money, and I can pretty much guarantee you I owe more in student loans. And therefore I know how important it is not to waste tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars on blown tuition because I couldn't hack it. Give it your all, seek out the help you need, and GET THE JOB DONE. You are entitled to nothing in this world, your investments (whether it's the stock market, mutual fund, a house, or an overpriced education) are not pay-for-services, they're investments. You're not buying a Honda, you're paying for the education and the degree. The expectations to get both are well understood, and frankly, the bar is pretty frickin' low (passing). But if it is a stretch for you, fine, make extra efforts and give it your all, but by no means should a chronically and intractably sub-par medical student be entitled to graduation, regardless of what crazy tuition you pay. And I agree, tuition is out of control and unreasonable. But the dollar amount isn't important, the principle is.

But if you're just saying that in general the school should reach out to its struggling students - I agree, they should.

yeah, that's all I was saying. I agree with everything else you wrote.

 

[username456789]

We're not an "entitlement" generation.

We most certainly are.

However, the clarification to what was being discussed has already been fleshed out in this thread.

But to say we're not an "entitlement" generation is pretty off-base.

 

[JeffLebowski]

yeah, that's all I was saying. I agree with everything else you wrote.

Oh........ok.

 

[g squared 23]

Yes, I've worked hard in a lot of menial jobs to make money, and I can pretty much guarantee you I owe more in student loans. And therefore I know how important it is not to waste tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars on blown tuition because I couldn't hack it. Give it your all, seek out the help you need, and GET THE JOB DONE. You are entitled to nothing in this world, your investments (whether it's the stock market, mutual fund, a house, or an overpriced education) are not pay-for-services, they're investments. You're not buying a Honda, you're paying for the education and the degree. The expectations to get both are well understood, and frankly, the bar is pretty frickin' low (passing). But if it is a stretch for you, fine, make extra efforts and give it your all, but by no means should a chronically and intractably sub-par medical student be entitled to graduation, regardless of what crazy tuition you pay. And I agree, tuition is out of control and unreasonable. But the dollar amount isn't important, the principle is.

But if you're just saying that in general the school should reach out to its struggling students - I agree, they should.

I have to agree with The Dude on this one. Paying a buttload of tuition doesn't entitle you to anything but an increasing amount of debt. The struggling student needs to really determine the source of their problems and determine if there are viable solutions. Otherwise, the student is not only wasting tons of money but years of their life as well that could be spent developing themselves in another career or field that is perhaps more suitable to their talents. I'm not suggesting a school should abandone all students that struggle, but they should definitely sit down and discuss if perhaps the student has made a career choice that isn't compatible with their abilities. (Was that PC enough?)