Went before progressions committee..Help please?

[doublestufforeo]

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Friday I went before the progressions committee, and I am in SHOCK at what I've been "sentenced" to. I failed a module this smester (its a three part course all rolled in this semester). At the start of this semester (I'm a P2), I was working full time outside of class to support my wife and four kids. Now, my wife just had a baby and wasn't able to step in and help right away but is working now and I quit my job about a month ago because I was not doing well in school. (obviously, as I failed that module). SO, things are better for me, I used to get off school and go straight to work until 11pm and try to study. Anyway, whats done is done, and with my wife being the "breadwinner" now, I have so much more time to get things back in check. Unfortunately, I had to go before PC, and they told me basically, that I couldn't handle it and that having a "family is not an excuse". I understand that, but that's why when things weren't going well in school I made a change, I quit my job and now things will improve. They said that I have to take 12 credits of upper division science courses this next semester, and retake Phys II from my P1 year...which I might add, I got a c-. I went before the committee for the "F" I got in modul, so I was astounded that they were bringing up P1 year. That's not all, I MUST get A's and B's in all of these courses, or I will not be permitted to RETAKE 2nd year...DOUBLE WHAMMY!!!! I clearly recall the Dean reassuring us all in P1 year that "don't worry...c's make pharmD's". So why is my C now under the microscope? This is completely arbitrary. Please, someone offer me some advice. Has anyone else been before progressions committee? I am going to appeal to the Dean on Monday if anyone is in. But, another thing, these upper division courses they are requiring me to take are undergrad and I will have to fork out $3,000 as I have exhausted my undergrad student aid getting my bachelors. This is all so devastating to me and my family, this sucks on so many levels. Please, some direction? some knowledge of how to fight this? Thanks in advance. I'm going out of my mind right now.

*note: The policy is no more than two "D's" in the entire program allowed. A friend of mine in my class went before the committee right before I did, and he has gotten a third D. His penalty is retaking a class over the summer (which he will need to travel all the way accross the states to attend) and repeating second year. I got ONE F, and have to prove myself, and THEN...see if I am "worthy" of being able to repeat second year.

 

[BMBiology]

I am sorry to hear that. I wouldn't repeal if I were you. I am sure your school has policy and procedure about failing. That can't be changed or the school would expose itself to lawsuits.

You are lucky that you are given a second chance. Think about what happened, move on, study hard and do well in those classes.

 

[Caverject]

I am sorry to hear that. I wouldn't repeal if I were you. I am sure your school has policy and procedure about failing. That can't be changed or the school would expose itself to lawsuits.

You are lucky that you are given a second chance. Think about what happened, move on, study hard and do well in those classes.

I agree with bm...don't appeal. The progessions committee is doing their job. You need to do yours now. I've gone before a progessions committee before at my old school and I know what it feels like. It sucks, but it will test how bad you really want to become a pharmacist. I made full use of my chance...Good luck!

 

[doublestufforeo]

Thanks for your comments. Some good reasons why I don't want to appeal? I was thinking of getting a lawyer.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

Thanks for your comments. Some good reasons why I don't want to appeal? I was thinking of getting a lawyer.

Well, I'd say one good reason is that you'd like to continue to go to school there without it being a living hell. Getting a lawyer? What grounds would you have for legal action?

 

[IndustryPharmD]

Thanks for your comments. Some good reasons why I don't want to appeal? I was thinking of getting a lawyer.

Because pharmacy education is not a right, and because if the school has a clear procedure that it is following (which is 99% likely), all you will do, you will waste your money on the lawyer, who in majority of the cases will be perfectly happy to charge you $300/hour just to tell you that you have zero chance of success. There are some who will honestly tell you there is no case for free... but it depends on whether you are lucky enough to get an honest one.

 

[BMBiology]

Thanks for your comments. Some good reasons why I don't want to appeal? I was thinking of getting a lawyer.

Here are a couple:
(1) Cost
(2) Pharmacy is a small profession. Failing is one thing but suing when you don't have a case will hurt your reputation for years to come. Remember, when you sue someone and it goes to trial, it is public record.

Take a few days and think about your situation. You don't have many options.

 

[297point1]

I clearly recall the Dean reassuring us all in P1 year that "don't worry...c's make pharmD's".

What a fantastic role model you've got there...
Why aim high when you can aim to be mediocre?

 

[charfdorn]

That's not all, I MUST get A's and B's in all of these courses, or I will not be permitted to RETAKE 2nd year...DOUBLE WHAMMY!!!! I clearly recall the Dean reassuring us all in P1 year that "don't worry...c's make pharmD's". So why is my C now under the microscope? This is completely arbitrary.

*note: The policy is no more than two "D's" in the entire program allowed. A friend of mine in my class went before the committee right before I did, and he has gotten a third D. His penalty is retaking a class over the summer (which he will need to travel all the way accross the states to attend) and repeating second year. I got ONE F, and have to prove myself, and THEN...see if I am "worthy" of being able to repeat second year.

It sounds like their intention is to make sure that the foundational knowledge you need is in place so that you don't re-fail on the re-take. Personally, I wish my school did this. If you fail here, you get to come back the next year and just take that class again. A girl from my class failed something in the P1 fall and from what I here she is failing the same course again. By making you repeat part of P1 they are making sure you (a) stay in school the whole time (keeping "on top of your game," as it were) and (b) really know what you need to know from P1.

As for why you're being punished for your C's, you aren't. You're being punished for your F. Also, you didn't mention what your GPA looks like. Is it an F in the midst of an otherwise 4.0, or is it more like straight Cs with one F? That makes a difference.

The "don't hire a lawyer" point has been well made already, but I second the opinion. You don't want to sue the school that you're still going to, and you don't want to alienate the entirety of the profession in your location.

 

[Moxxie]

You're not the first person at your school to have gotten this "sentence." At least four people from my class did and they turned into MUCH better students (one was able to stay in my year, the others chose to graduate one year later). Yes, it will cost you extra money and time, but think of the alternative - a lot of schools will kick you out for similar grades. (Look up the stats for some of the 6 year schools). You are correct about the policy - three D's get MUCH more leniency than one F, but I'm sure that the progressions committee takes each person's individual circumstances into consideration.

As for "family not being an excuse" - sadly, this is true. Our class's top student has two kids and is FEMALE - so she really was doing most of the childrearing. One of the top members of Rho Chi worked, lived almost an hour away, and had four kids of her own. Another guy in my class did fairly well and had EIGHT kids by graduation. The culture there is very pro-family - use the resources available to you.

As for the Dean's statement to you about "C's get PharmD's" - he made the same statement to us in 2006 and it was just as inappropriate. Remember, this came from the advisor for Rho Chi. Sends kind of a mixed message, doesn't it?

Anyway, if I were you I would take this as what it is - a second chance to do better, not a punishment. As I mentioned earlier, you knew the policy and the alternative (being expelled) could have been much worse.

 

[spacecowgirl]

anyway, if i were you i would take this as what it is - a second chance to do better, not a punishment. As i mentioned earlier, you knew the policy and the alternative (being expelled) could have been much worse.

qft.