Going for the A???

Achoo!, LPN · Nov 7, 2004

I think it depends on who you ask. I too struggle for the A, but I know that will not be the case when I start the nursing program. 2 classes I can handle, but lectures, care plans etc.. I will have to spread my study time more thin. Your opinion of doing your best is all that matters :) They always say C= RN.

klone, MSN, RN · Nov 7, 2004

We don't have B+ (or any +/- grades) at our school. If it's not an A, then it's a B.

Some people have different priorities. If you're okay with a B or C, then that's all that should matter to you. Some people want an A, and that's okay too.

A lot of people have aspirations to pursue graduate work, and that undergrad A might mean the difference between acceptance and not.

maire, ASN, RN · Nov 7, 2004

Everyone is different. I always shoot for the "A" but if and when I get the "B" I certainly don't cry in my cornflakes about it. :)

mitchsmom · Nov 7, 2004

So the question I ask, is does everyone always shoot for an A? Isn't a B or B+ okay? And when it's a hard class (or life gets in the way), isn't just passing enough?

I always shoot for A's. Before I started school I knew I wanted A's (just wanted to, plus I am going to be going to grad school). That's one reason that I am just going part-time. I have gotten one B out of about 10 classes so far and I wasn't thrilled even though I know it's ok. The hard class excuse only works for me if it's impossibly hard or a really screwed up class that was unavoidable to take in the first place.

Personally, if I was 'just passing' I would adjust something in my life because I'd know something wasn't right. I know I am capable of learning a lot & getting good grades and I have a definite long-term goal that I need good grades to acheive so that's what I expect from myself. Plus, I know that I suck at the GRE so I want my grades to be as good as possible to offset that come grad school time! If I were in a different situation, like a single mom trying to get food on the table and hurrying to get into a decent paying job, then I would probably have to lower my standards. You gotta do what ya gotta do.

But the whole thing is very personal - everyone has to set their own goals.

KatrinaPM · Nov 7, 2004

. i feel like my colleagues (who also have these other commitments) are much more dedicated than i am. they all seemed to be satisfied with nothing less than an a. they nit-pick every tenth of a point!!

just because they are not satisfied with less than an a and are nitpicky doesn't not mean that they are more dedicated. it just means that they have high expectations and are nitpicky.

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i'm not an a student (i do get some a's, just not in all my classes). i don't see myself failing, but when you work in groups, it's hard to express that "i can't put in as much time as you can". i'm really not a slacker, but everyone's situation is different.

well, during group work it is important to lay out on the table how much time and effort you expect said project to take. it's the pain in the butt about group work, your goals may be different and that is something that you have to work together as a group to figure out. just make it known your life situation and your goals and expectations. i'm sure they'll tell you theirs. plus, your job in school is to reach your goals, not to be everybody's best friend. i would think that everyone generally does shoot for an a. but that doesn't mean that they are willing or able to put in that kind of effort.

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so the question i ask, is does everyone always shoot for an a? isn't a b or b+ okay? and when it's a hard class (or life gets in the way), isn't just passing enough?

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[color=#4b0082]this is just my opinion, but the energy it takes to get a b is significantly less than the energy it takes to go the extra mile to get the a. personally, just passing isn't acceptable for me, but a bs and as on my transcript is good enough, and my happiness and balance in life is important enough for me to be comfortable with that.

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Nov 7, 2004

Don't be too hard on yourself! You're doing just fine!

I get As, BUT I don't have nearly all the commitments that you do. I don't have kids, I don't work full time, etc. I can spend more time focusing on school work.

Remember, if you get straight A's through nursing school, straight Bs, or straight Cs ...... in the end we'll all have RN after our name. It won't make any difference whether 1 student got straight As compared to a student that got straight Cs, they will both be RNs. And IMO, after graduating with that nursing degree..... that's when the learning really begins, during your orientation in your desired field.

Good luck!

HappyNurse2005, RN · Nov 7, 2004

an A is passing

a B is passing

a C is passing

thats what matters. you dont get bonus points onthe nclex for passing with an A.

i have 2 kids. i bust my butt in nursing school, and have to work super hard for a B. out of 60 people in our class, only 1 has an A. so its not that im not working hard enough, studying enough, etc. i try hard.

if i try my best, and i get a B or a C, i may not like it, but i have to accept it, and think, im passing, thats what matters. i used to be caught up in the grades thing, now im just studying as hard as i can, and taking what comes from that.

love, rose

nursecompassion · Nov 7, 2004

i shoot for an a, in our program a c- is failing. you must have a c average or you don't pass. there is no rounding up. say you have a 76.9, it does not matter you fail. we have to maintain a 77 or higher. so the farther away from that the better. i don't do my reading like i should though. with three sons (7weeks, 2years, and 5yrs) and a husband and working part-time i let things go with studying more than i should. sometimes i feel like i'm 80, because i'm so tired i fall asleep at 8pm when i should be reading! :rolleyes:

Imafloat, BSN, RN · Nov 7, 2004

so the question i ask, is does everyone always shoot for an a? isn't a b or b+ okay? and when it's a hard class (or life gets in the way), isn't just passing enough?

i try for a's but if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. i have a close friend in the program and she has all a's (i have one b). our lives are so different, i enjoy mine she beats herself up over low a's. if she doesn't think she can pull off straight a's she cries for hours about dropping out. i am not kidding or exaggerating. if she makes a 93 on a test (which is an a here) she gets upset and says she is going to have to work harder. to me an a is an a, if it is a 90 or a 99. i don't want to sound like a slacker, good grades are important to me (i have a 3.9 and i am a senior) but not at the cost of my mental health or my family. i have four children and i still need to spend time with them. going back to college is setting a good example for your kids if you show them balance. i don't think some parents make college very attractive looking to their kids when they are all stressed out all the time. i plan on going to graduate school so i do try to do well in my classes.

Imafloat, BSN, RN · Nov 7, 2004

an A is passing
a B is passing
a C is passing

Where I go to school we say C means continue....

RedSox33RN · Nov 8, 2004

In our program, a "c" is failing. No grades lower than an 80 are allowed. You must repeat any course you did not get a least an 80 in, and cannot continue on with the nursing program until you get an 80, in say, A&P 1 or 2.

So, yes, I always strive for 100%. I feel like a failure when I get anything less - truly. I know that's not a healthy attitude, but it's done well for me for the past couple of years, and has worked so far in nursing school (my first semester). I look at a 95 as "only" 15 points above passing, not 5 points below perfection. I got a 90 on my med math exam last week because I forgot how many ml were in an ounce, and because of that, got 2 questions wrong. I wanted to cry right there in class, but didn't.

I know many people do not put as much into their grades as I do, and if that works well for them, I say more power to them! Different people have different priorities during school, and if you have a system that works for you, stick with it. If it doesn't, or you want to change it, find out why. To suit yourself, or suit others? Don't do anything because OTHERS (ie classmates) think you should. Make any changes for YOU.

Good luck! :)