Taking an incomplete

[nymbamd]

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This is my first semester back in school, and I'm taking Orgo 1, Physics 1, and Molecular Bio. I am really struggling in Orgo to the point where I'd be impressed if I pull off a C (with serious prayer). At this point, I have 1 class exam (30% of grade) and a final exam (40%) coming up in the next two weeks. It is too late to drop the course (I missed the drop deadline because I had not received my 2nd course grade yet so I was unaware of how poorly I was doing). How would it reflect if I took and incomplete for this semester and retook the sequence over the summer? Any other options?

 

[njbmd]

This is my first semester back in school, and I'm taking Orgo 1, Physics 1, and Molecular Bio. I am really struggling in Orgo to the point where I'd be impressed if I pull off a C (with serious prayer). At this point, I have 1 class exam (30% of grade) and a final exam (40%) coming up in the next two weeks. It is too late to drop the course (I missed the drop deadline because I had not received my 2nd course grade yet so I was unaware of how poorly I was doing). How would it reflect if I took and incomplete for this semester and retook the sequence over the summer? Any other options?

The first thing that you need to find out is what grade will actually turn up on your transcript. An "I" or Incomplete implies that something prevented you from completing the course. Many times grades of "I" have to be removed by a certain date (you may not have the option of waiting until summer to clear this) or they become "F". If this is the case, then you need to know exactly what you have to do to complete the course. How much extra time will the "Incomplete" grade buy for you and under what kind of timeline?

With the class that I am currently teaching, I can give an "Incomplete" or "I" on the transcript but the student has to clear that "I" by the third week of the next semester or the "I" becomes an "F". Please be sure that this is not the case at your institution.

If you just need that extra time to get "A"s on the last exam and final, then take the "Incomplete", study your rear end off, take the exams and replace the "Incomplete" with the grade that you receive which will be better than the "C".

The huge danger in taking an "Incomplete" is not having enough time to clear that "I" grade before it turns into a failing grade. Make sure that this does not become the case for you. Good luck!

 

[nymbamd]

In the event that I'm not allowed to take an incomplete, would it be looked favorably upon if I retook the class next semester with a strong outcome?

 

[njbmd]

In the event that I'm not allowed to take an incomplete, would it be looked favorably upon if I retook the class next semester with a strong outcome?

The answer to this question depends on what you are trying to do. If you are returning to school to raise your GPA, then that "C" is going to hurt. If it becomes the only "C" that you get, the you are likely to be OK. If that "C" becomes the only "C" that you get from here on out, I wouldn't even bother with a re-take unless you have major GPA issues.

You need to do whatever causes the least amount of damage. If it's take a "C" and then re-take, be sure that retake is an "A". Put this behind you and make sure that everything else is excellent. Good luck.