Take optional Final to improve A-?

[Kthanksbye]

Let's say you were in a Dev Bio class, which is a ß1τ¢H of a class involving the memorization of an enormous number of genes and processes for frog and chicken and nematode and fly embryology, and you now have an A- going into the final. Let's say the final is optional, but you just finished about 6 in a row, and have about 18 hours to study the entire semester worth of stuff. Let's say that you are also one point away from the cut off between an A and an A-. Would you do it? I'm leaning toward no, because I'm just that burnt out right now. I already feel the professor was being generous to give me an A-. What ya'll think?

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[decafplease]

Let's say you were in a Dev Bio class, which is a ß1τ¢H of a class involving the memorization of an enormous number of genes and processes for frog and chicken and nematode and fly embryology, and you now have an A- going into the final. Let's say the final is optional, but you just finished about 6 in a row, and have about 18 hours to study the entire semester worth of stuff. Let's say that you are also one point away from the cut off between an A and an A-. Would you do it? I'm leaning toward no, because I'm just that burnt out right now. I already feel the professor was being generous to give me an A-. What ya'll think?

You can always push yourself harder. It's not like you're going to get ill or something. BUT - the risk is lowing your grade. If you don't pull off a A- or better, will your score be lowered, or will he just drop it and give you the A- since the final is optional?

If you think that you are seriously risking your grade by walking into this final unprepared, then don't do it. If you've got little to lose, do it.

 

[carwreck]

If the final can be dropped (to prevent lowering your grade), just skim over the material quickly and try taking it. It can't hurt.

I had a similar situation my sophomore year in Cell Bio. I hit the low range for an A- and had the option to take the final. I wasn't going to take it, but my roommate convinced me to try it anyway. I studied 45 minutes the night before and thank god it was one of the easiest tests. All the other tests throughout the semester had an average around 60% but the average on the final was an 85% or something. Did well and pushed it to an A.

It's worth a shot if you've got some time to kill. What a weird way to kill time, huh? On second thought, maybe you should just go out for a beer instead. Much more fun!😀

 

[Kthanksbye]

If I fail, I keep the A-. Also, I have an interview in a week that I'd like to prepare some for, a girlfriend who is tired of me studying all the time, and a severe case of the fukits, which is why I'm leaning toward no. I would have to get a better score on the final than one of my previous tests for it to change the grade to an A, which is a feat that I am doubtful I can do in one afternoon of studying at this point. It's A LOT of information. Probably more than any class I've taken so far. And the final is all essay, so no helpful multiple guess points. You either know it cold or you don't. This semester has just beat all the gunner out of me.

 

[carwreck]

If I fail, I keep the A-. Also, I have an interview in a week that I'd like to prepare some for, a girlfriend who is tired of me studying all the time, and a severe case of the fukits, which is why I'm leaning toward no. I would have to get a better score on the final than one of my previous tests for it to change the grade to an A, which is a feat that I am doubtful I can do in one afternoon of studying at this point. It's A LOT of information. Probably more than any class I've taken so far. And the final is all essay, so no helpful multiple guess points. You either know it cold or you don't. This semester has just beat all the gunner out of me.

Hmmm. In that case, I would say prepare for the interview and give your girlfriend the deserved attention. Those two things are definitely way more important. An A- is great too!

And don't forget that beer.

 

[Kthanksbye]

Hmmm. In that case, I would say prepare for the interview and give your girlfriend the deserved attention. Those two things are definitely way more important. An A- is great too!

And don't forget that beer.

Mmmm...Beer. It's been a long time. Too bad beer and studying don't usually go together well.

 

[carwreck]

Mmmm...Beer. It's been a long time. Too bad beer and studying don't usually go together well.

666 posts on that last one for you. Nice.

And who says beer and studying can't mix? Totally doable.

 

[decafplease]

If I fail, I keep the A-. Also, I have an interview in a week that I'd like to prepare some for, a girlfriend who is tired of me studying all the time, and a severe case of the fukits, which is why I'm leaning toward no. I would have to get a better score on the final than one of my previous tests for it to change the grade to an A, which is a feat that I am doubtful I can do in one afternoon of studying at this point. It's A LOT of information. Probably more than any class I've taken so far. And the final is all essay, so no helpful multiple guess points. You either know it cold or you don't. This semester has just beat all the gunner out of me.

Ok, I'm giving you a pep talk here.

Go to the damn final. Stop making excuses. Clearly, you're not objective. You're tired and want to give up. Well, I won't let you! It's not going to kill you, your girlfriend will still be there tomorrow and you will have plenty of time for that interview prep. Come on, if you have a case of the fukits, you aren't going to skip the final to get ready for the interview, anyway. You're probably going to sit around and veg out with a sick feeling in your stomach because you know you could have done more and aced that stupid embryology class. If you have ANY gunner in you, someday you'll be looking at your GPA and realizing it could have been __ higher if you had only gotten an A in that embryology class.

It's totally worth a shot, you have nothing to lose. Pull yourself together and buckle down. It might feel worth it not to go now, but it isn't. That beer will taste better after you've got a bit of sweat on that brow. GO!

*straightens up* Wow. I think that helped me a bit too. Ok, I'm leaving SDN and going back to studying for MY final. 🙂

Good luck, OP.

 

[SStorm]

If you feel that burned out and are that doubtful of improving your grade..... I would say that you just screw the final and go enjoy yourself and do something fun with your girlfriend. No AdCom is really going to question an A- in an upper level bio class anyway. Of course the A would look good, but you sound like you don't think you can do it and you don't have any more motivation to do it. Just skip it and get drunk .

 

[Kthanksbye]

My sister said that an A- is better cause it looks like you challenged yourself. 😀

 

[Bacchus]

Kthanksbye, I had this happened to me for Calc II. The final was nixed if you had an A-, A, or A+. It turns out, the Calc II class was four credits. I had a 92.4. If I wouldn't have forgotten one lonely coefficient in a problem on my last exam I would have had the .5. What did I do? You better believe I took the final. I know, sounds insane, but it was worth it. That being said, you probably can't equate calculus to biology and I probably typed this whole post to prance around with my feathers spread open instead of giving any good advice. I'm guessing that the ice storm caused school to be cancelled school, eh?

If you're going to need the A to bring up your semester GPA (you have interviews already so why would you?) then do it. If the 0.9 or 1.2 points isn't going to harm anything, get ready for the interview.

 

[kastle6797]

I was in the exact same situation in college. Dev. bio, 92 average, optional final. I decided to take my A-, study for all my other tests, go home a few days early, and enjoy the break. Unless you're hellbent on being magna/summa cum laude, an A- isn't going to kill your gpa.

 

[harlanpepper]

I think you're nuts if you take the final.

 

[thoffen]

If you were anything but a pre-med you'd be out drinking and partying. I suggest you do that anyway.

 

[Kthanksbye]

I half expected most people to tell me I was being a wuss for not taking the final. But it seems that only a few have said that. Anyway, I'm so tired right now, I haven't done anything since I got back from my micro final. Looks like A- it is! Unless the ice storm cancels school, then they move that final to sunday. I'd have to reconsider all over again.

 

[Kandy2012]

Is this a real question? Dude relax and enjoy your winter break.....That is all...

 

[bwonger06]

Go in taking it without studying. Look at the whole exam before you actually start to answer the questions. If you believe you can do well, then finish the test. If you cannot leave give the test back to the teacher and leave.

 

[Chuckwalla]

I was in a similar situation. Chances are you will have to ace the exam to bring your grade up. Probably not worth it, especially if you have another exam you need to study for.