need some advice! on taking Incompletes

[spillsomepaint]

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Hi guys:
So this semester has been a bit off for me. I'm in the my second semester of my first year and taking three classes. Two seminars and a lecture. The lecture is where I am having difficulty. It's just a history and systems class, but I had to miss the midterm b/c of a huge family emergency. Since I missed the midterm, the highest grade I can achieve in the class is a 91. After missing this midterm, I had to continue to go back to DC on most weekends (I live in NYC). Know it's finals time. I will only have about 2 days to actively study what is on the final. I don't want to get a B in this class, and I want to be able to apply to other Ph.D programs next semester (mostly because of funding issues at my current program). Ok, if your with me this far, here's the problem with this Incomplete. I would have to retake the class this time next spring, when I will be taking Assessment of Individual Differences and Psychopathology 2. They are probably 2 of the more difficult classes in my program, so I don't want to strongly regret taking History at the same time.
The only caveat is that I will have already applied to tother programs by this time so they won't see if I get B's in these classes.
So should I just bite the bullet and try to get the highest B I can get this semester, or should I hold off?
ANY advice is really super appreciated at this point.

 

[Quynh2007]

I would hold off if you can get a higher grade. Getting a B in a grad class isn't anything normally, but if you are re-applying, it wouldn't look very good and would significantly pull down your Grad GPA considering you're only in your first year. You can easily explain an I, I get I's all the time because of conferences around finals and they know I'll complete it at a later time.

 

[PsyDr]

OP,

i would take the B and explain the grade at interview.


p.s. nice sexist remark on your signature line.

 

[WaitingKills]

I would get a note from a doctor or someone who knows what's going on and ask your department to let you defer the exam (eg. take it a couple weeks late but still complete the course). I had to do the same thing this semester and they let me have an extra month.

 

[psybee]

Hi guys:
So this semester has been a bit off for me. I'm in the my second semester of my first year and taking three classes. Two seminars and a lecture. The lecture is where I am having difficulty. It's just a history and systems class, but I had to miss the midterm b/c of a huge family emergency. Since I missed the midterm, the highest grade I can achieve in the class is a 91. After missing this midterm, I had to continue to go back to DC on most weekends (I live in NYC). Know it's finals time. I will only have about 2 days to actively study what is on the final. I don't want to get a B in this class, and I want to be able to apply to other Ph.D programs next semester (mostly because of funding issues at my current program). Ok, if your with me this far, here's the problem with this Incomplete. I would have to retake the class this time next spring, when I will be taking Assessment of Individual Differences and Psychopathology 2. They are probably 2 of the more difficult classes in my program, so I don't want to strongly regret taking History at the same time.
The only caveat is that I will have already applied to tother programs by this time so they won't see if I get B's in these classes.
So should I just bite the bullet and try to get the highest B I can get this semester, or should I hold off?
ANY advice is really super appreciated at this point.

are you working full time? if not, how many classes will you be taking next semester if you also add the incomplete? we take at least 7 classes a semester our 1st year in my program. it is brutal, but you just force yourself to do it, and in the end it really makes you capable of doing a lot of different work at the same time. i guess what i'm saying is, barring continued intense family stuff that will take up lots of your time, i feel like if you have to do a lot of work you just adjust and do it--taking 3 classes can take up all your time just as easily as 4, and with you your extra class will be one that you've mostly done already. if you use the summer to get yourself up to speed, maybe do some reading for your other upcoming classes, it shouldn't be an untenable addition to your courseload. good luck!

 

[spillsomepaint]

I will continue taking three classes a semester, I work 25 hours and week, and I also am part of a lab.

 

[psybee]

I will continue taking three classes a semester, I work 25 hours and week, and I also am part of a lab.

that is a lot of work, but if you think that you would have been able to get an A in this class if you hadn't had the family problems, and things will be better in that arena by next semester, i'd say hold out for the A!