Not Passing

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rileyroo

rileyroo

Auburn 2014
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  1. Veterinary Student
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I'm terrified that I'm not going to get a C in biochem. The class consists of 2 exams and a cumulative final. The first half of the semester was taught by a great professor. I got a high B on that exam, but the second half has been a nightmare. The second professor is horrible and his tests are impossible. What do I do if I don't get a C? Since I applied this cycle, do I withdrawal my applications, retake biochem next fall, and apply again?
 
Work your butt off to get the best grade you can. I wouldn't withdraw an application. That's admitting defeat. I don't think there is a penalty for not getting selected. Let the ADCOMS do the rejecting; don't do it to yourself.
 
I really don't think you should worry about what to do if you don't get a C. Cross that bridge IF you get to it. But for now, don't psych yourself out. You can do this! Who needs a professor? So far you have a high B. If you just need a C, you could get a low D on all of the second prof's materials and still be fine as long as you do well on the first prof's portion of the final.

But if you really want to think about your options, how about retaking in spring? I had already been accepted before Penn saw my fall grades - perhaps you would get a conditional acceptance hinging on getting a C or better in it in the spring. Oh and if you really think you're having a problem, make sure you're talking to the teacher about it NOW!
 
I would also check with your undergrad school and the vet schools you're applying to. It may be possible that you could retake it in the spring or summer semesters if you had to. Good luck, we'll be rooting for you! What date is the test, or have you already taken it? (just out of curiosity)
 
The final is tomorrow night, it's my last final. I got a B on the first test and a D on the second test. No pressure 🙂 Dgm, that's my plan so far -- try to nail the first prof's material on the final.

As for retaking it, Biochem I isn't offered at any school around me until next fall, so I'd have to take Biochem II in the Spring. Which wouldn't be a problem if I didn't have an already loaded semester of prereqs. I'd be worried that if I didn't get the material well enough to get a C in Biochem I, that I'd be hanging myself out to dry if I took Biochem II in spring with my full schedule.

Trying not to psych myself out 🙂
 
Good luck rileyroo! we're all rooting for ya!

But you know what, if you did well on the first half of the course and the second professor was just awful I think you should be fine!

I'm sure other people didn't do quite so hot either in that second exam (or that prof's part of the final) AND didn't do quite as hot as you did on the first exam. If anything, I'm sure the class will curve so that you will get at least a C.
 
thanks everyone!! i really appreciate it!
 
I'm cheering you on too RileyRoo! Keep studying your ass off. You can do it.
 
Just work your butt of for this grade, good luck!
 
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Biochem does suck. I feel like it's probably interesting with a good prof, but I sure don't have one of those. I was irate when I found out people had been getting As because they had his last 9 years of exams (that most people didn't have access to) and he reused questions from those exams. Same people also had those exams microfiched or on their iPhones and cheated on the tests. Thanks for the bad curve, *******s. Oh well. Stupid class. I'm sure you'll do fine!
 
quantized said:
Biochem does suck. I feel like it's probably interesting with a good prof, but I sure don't have one of those. I was irate when I found out people had been getting As because they had his last 9 years of exams (that most people didn't have access to) and he reused questions from those exams. Same people also had those exams microfiched or on their iPhones and cheated on the tests. Thanks for the bad curve, *******s. Oh well. Stupid class. I'm sure you'll do fine!
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This sounds very similar to my Biochem class......was your Prof Allison?
 
quantized said:
I was irate when I found out people had been getting As because they had his last 9 years of exams (that most people didn't have access to) and he reused questions from those exams. Same people also had those exams microfiched or on their iPhones and cheated on the tests.
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I hate it when people get old tests. That's why profs at my school don't give exams back anymore. You have to go to their office to look over them...as if I have that much extra time. I caught three girls cheating on their finals today while I was proctoring exams. Two were writing on the table even though there were different test forms and the other had stuff programed into her iPhone. idiots! :laugh:.
 
I am going through the same thing right now. I know I will have a D (took my final yesterday) so I have already rearranged my spring schedule to accommodate Biochem. I'm using my grade forgiveness, so I plan on applying it to this class. My semester is officially overloaded but I will suck it up and do my best. I ended up with an 87 in lab but the class was ridiculously difficult (I feel your pain 😳). I hope this doesn't rule me out of interviews, but I'm trying not to worry about that now. Good luck rileyroo, I'm pulling for ya!👍
 
I don't mind people having access to old exams as that's a pretty good way to learn how to do problems - people just need to have the same access. And the prof needs to not be too lazy to rewrite new exams. It's pretty effing lazy to recycle the same questions year after year, and not expect some people to take advantage of that, especially at a state school where cheating is rampant. I've been in school a long time, and I've never seen cheating like at this school. It's quite an eye opener coming from an undergrad with self proctored, self scheduled final exams.

Anyways, I feel like this is a class that people universally learn to hate, even though a lot of the subject matter is interesting. I really wanted to like this class but I'm currently planning on burning my three ring binder after next wednesday.
 
I don't hate Biochemistry, in fact I find the information extremely interesting and I love my teacher more than any other teacher I've had in college! That doesn't mean I think it's easy. My first semester I got a B and was set on getting an A in the second semester of it but it looks as though I will probably have a C. I would have to make a 90 on the final to pull out a B but can make like a 50 and still have a C. AUHopeful, I hope that you have better luck with Dr. Ryals next semester. If you need any help studying for his tests I'd be happy to see if I remember anything from that first semester and help you.

rileyroo, I think that you'll do great on the final and this issue will be a non-issue!
 
OSU offers biochem (without a lab) on line. It isn't easy, the material is poorly presented, so you will need to go by the book. You will need a proctor. But it is doable.
 
I am in a similar situation with Biochem...our professor does not assign letter grades to the points until the very end of the semester and the final is worth half the points. Although I'm not doing terrible, I have no idea where I fall grade wise...I've already registered for Biochem next semester just as a precaution....

Good luck on the final! Mine is 4 days before Christmas....
 
Biochem = Boooooooo

I took a higher level of biochem that was required and I regret it.
 
Thank you all so much for the encouragement, advice, and information for additional classes. I'm sooo nervous for this final, and like others I really like the material, but as far as the class...the second half not so much. 🙂
 
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quantized said:
I don't mind people having access to old exams as that's a pretty good way to learn how to do problems - people just need to have the same access. And the prof needs to not be too lazy to rewrite new exams.
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It is a great way to study and learn how to solve problems.

But unequal access is infuriating. I try not to cry over spilt milk, but it did irk me when I was doing my pre-reqs. My issue was more with the Physics series and one chem class. It seems so unfair that a tutoring center under the auspices of the university but that was open only to specific groups of students filed all the exams (from their members over the years)!!! The Greek system, well, you can bet there was plenty of hand-me-down materials, too.

I kind of wish I had addressed the issue with the Dean of Studies or the departments specifically... I think it really is a problem. Make all the tests available--let people have the learning opportunity and don't carelessly give some, and not others, a leg up.
 
rileyroo said:
The first half of the semester was taught by a great professor. I got a high B on that exam, but the second half has been a nightmare. The second professor is horrible and his tests are impossible.
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Haha, that sounds like the exact opposite of my gen chem class. Terrible professor for the first three quarters, then he had to leave and two other professors took over and I started actually learning something. It was amazing, but the final is cumulative, so I'm terrified haha.

Anyhow, good luck on your final!
 
thanks for all of the encouragement. i studied my ass off for that final and it was painful! i'm not feeling good about it at all, but it's out of my hands now. but i really appreciate all of the support!! it made me feel good. 🙂 definitely looking forward to some free time!!
 
I'm sure you did great, Riley! Now you can start doing all of those things in the "after finals" thread! :laugh:
 
Hope you did better than you think!

I'm sort of in the same boat...not for a pre-req, but somewhat afraid of not passing. It was a dumb studio art class I took pass/fail.

If you have 3 absences, it's an automatic F. I did NOT have 3 absences, but I did get to class late several times (8am and I live off campus...ugh) and I don't trust my TA in the least. I made him check on the last day of class and he said I was fine, but I still worry that he'll have marked me down for absences when I did in fact come in late...he's just a *****, I don't trust him, and I'm neurotic. I don't want a NP to ruin my very last quarter of college grades. I wish grades could already be out!!! I've got at least another week before I can rest at ease (or fight the grade, if necessary)
 
I got a D in organic and am retaking it this spring. I'm actually looking forward to it. I felt like I had learned nothing from the class, and the lab instructor had us all paranoid to not make any mistakes what so ever. The prof called us a bunch of a**es one day because most of the class wasn't doing the homework assignments that weren't being marked (I did all of them and they didn't help me at all with the final) and the lab instructor screamed at me one day in front of the entire lab because she misunderstood my question (we had a very low pecent yield, I asked her where we could have went wrong and she took that as we had no percent yield and screamed "You have to do it all again!" in front of the entire lab 🙁) Tried to get a tutor even before the first midterm but those who are eligable to tutor are A+ students who are too busy with their own affairs.

I was pretty happy that the prof retired, but apparently the new prof is disorganized and all over the place. I'm trying to keep an open mind... hoping that no matter how bad the class is, I'll still come out learning something in the end. I'll have all of my free time to focus on it since it will be the only class I'm taking.

So good luck 🙂
 
hey everyone! i hope all of your finals, interviews, etc. are going well! i just wanted to let you know that I got a B in Biochem!! i have never been so excited to get a B before. 🙂 thank you all for the support and encouragement! good luck to those of you who still have finals to finish.
 
rileyroo said:
hey everyone! i hope all of your finals, interviews, etc. are going well! i just wanted to let you know that I got a B in Biochem!! i have never been so excited to get a B before. 🙂 thank you all for the support and encouragement! good luck to those of you who still have finals to finish.
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Congrats! 😀 That's how I felt about my Organic II grade. I'm more proud of that B than I am of quite a few A's.
 
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Fantastic! You must have whipped that final! 😀
 
Hot damn rileyroo! I'm so proud of you! You must feel like a superstar right now! Congrats, now go enjoy your winter break!👍👍
 
WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO! Good job!! 😀
 
rileyroo said:
hey everyone! i hope all of your finals, interviews, etc. are going well! i just wanted to let you know that I got a B in Biochem!! i have never been so excited to get a B before. 🙂 thank you all for the support and encouragement! good luck to those of you who still have finals to finish.
Click to expand...

Great job hanging in there! Glad it worked out for you! 👍
 
Congrats!! I'm studying for my biochem final at the moment...and I'm PRAYING i'm going to get a B...i'm so nervous because my GPA can't handle a C 🙁
 
Awesome job pulling that B. I just have to do the same this Wednesday.....ugh biochem
 
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WOW!!! Congratulations!!!! Now, you can concentrate on getting those interview invites...
 
yay! when I saw that this was updated I was hoping it had good news! :laugh:
 
WHOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!! That's awesome!!!!:clap:
 
:highfive:
 
rileyroo said:
hey everyone! i hope all of your finals, interviews, etc. are going well! i just wanted to let you know that I got a B in Biochem!! i have never been so excited to get a B before. 🙂 thank you all for the support and encouragement! good luck to those of you who still have finals to finish.
Click to expand...

Yeah!!!!! I think we have all felt your pain, and know the joy and relief of getting that B! :woot: My own crisis was a B in Human Neuroanatomy last year. OK, there was also that A in Physiology 1 by 1/2 a point the semester before. The point is you did it, and it is over now. Well intill you retake biochem again next year when you are a FIRST YEAR!!!!!!! Can't wait for you to be one here.:luck:
 
Caninerepro said:
Yeah!!!!! I think we have all felt your pain, and know the joy and relief of getting that B! :woot: My own crisis was a B in Human Neuroanatomy last year. OK, there was also that A in Physiology 1 by 1/2 a point the semester before. The point is you did it, and it is over now. Well intill you retake biochem again next year when you are a FIRST YEAR!!!!!!! Can't wait for you to be one here.:luck:
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thank you so much!! it is definitely a great feeling, especially at the end of an extremely difficult week. 🙂
 
I've been watching this thread as a source of encouragement and motivation to study for my own biochem final. I've dreaming that I too will get a B after all of the hard work.... however... just took the exam and that seems unlikely... *sigh*
Also, the pre-meds only have to take one semester of biochem... which means next semester will be full of kids who are only taking the class because they enjoy it (and me one of three pre-vets I know of)... Which ultimately means... the mean will be higher and my grade will be lower 👎
 
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