Barely pulling a 'C' in Micro, and need some advice please

Published

I just found out I have a 73 in the class (and I have been pulling my HAIR out trying to do well in the class). Talking to the professor does nothing (he's a bit of a prick) and I'm not sure what to do. The end of the semester is getting close, and I'm worried. Should I drop? What do I do? Please help!!

Also, is there anyone here that got into nursing school with a "C" in any of their prereq's?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CNA, MedTech, Phlebotomy.

I too am taking Micro. Just relax, try to think of what you are learning and turn it into something that you use in your life. We all know how to fight off diseases and infections. When it comes to Gm-, Gm+, just try to remember it all. If you fail, try to take it online. I am and it's easier than A&P. I have 1 C in my prereq's and I will know tomorrow if I got in or not at one school.

Good Luck

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What part of micro are having a hard time with? Lecture? Lab? Any particular subject areas?

What helps me to remember is to make up mnemonics and phrases for EVERYTHING. For instance, I remember that CD4s are helper T-cells, because "help" has "4" letters in it.

There is also a great micro forum here where you can post questions and get tips from other students that are in it right now:

https://allnurses.com/pre-nursing-student/microbiology-spring-2010-a-447685.html

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I already took Micro and am in A&P 1 now.

Its hard to give advice, you need to check with people who had your teacher.

A&P is harder for me. Its not the material that is difficult to understand as much, but the exams are so impossible. Thats where Micro got me too. We just have no freaking clue what is going to be on the exam, so its all about trying to cram as much information in as possible.

I honestly think they do this on purpose so that the threshold for an A is far above the "doable" B.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Is this the lecture part or the lab part or does your school combine the two?

What are you graded on? Is it all tests?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Is this the lecture part or the lab part or does your school combine the two?

What are you graded on? Is it all tests?

The lecture and lab grades are combined. We are graded on exams and labs only.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

YES, I have gotten in. That reminds me, I have to re-take my micro class sometime in the summer! I can't re-take it in the fall with my favorite pre-req instructor. Unfortunately, she doesn't teach micro in the summer. Micro is not as hard as A & P and I liked working with microscopes. I wish I studied when I first took it! Oh, and our lab classes were fun. My fav instructor was a science geek but she tried not to show it -- I dunno why? lol.

Anyway, do as much reading as you can and memorize his lectures. Ask him anything that you don't understand. The lectures actually help you remember stuff while taking your test. For a concept, an instructor can attach a 'story' to go with it. Make note of the story in your notes. You'll be suprised on how many stories I remember from my Micro. prof. !

In lab classes, do and remember the steps exactly the way he says (even if you don't like him). If he uses powerpoints, make sure you print them out and do your lecture notes directly on them. Hey, if it helps your grades right? Goodluck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would have to tell you that you should be mindful of the last date to drop. A 73 could easily get worse much more than a 79. You might not want to take the chance. Perhaps if you dropped, you could get with a better teacher next time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Before planning a strategy to fix this, you have to figure out specifically what the problem is.

Some possibilities:

Do you know the material and just get tripped up by the wording of the questions? Do you have great confidence after a test or filling out a lab report and then find you missed questions you thought you knew for sure? Do you study only material presented in class and there are also questions from the book? Do you know most of it in general and then find the questions are on picky little details? Do you do well on multiple choice but not on matching or T/F? Do you do get the right results from your experiements but get marked down for how you report them? Do you basically know the material but make a lot of stupid mistakes (like circling the answer you didn't intend or missing the "except for" in the question)?

Have you looked through your tests/reports focusing on finding these patterns? There are ways to improve any of these if you can figure out which you need to work on.

Other things that might help no matter what the problem is:

Studying what is in the syllabus and/or list of objectives for the class regardless of what the professor is teaching.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oh, yeah, and another aspect is whether a drop shows up on your record and if so how they look at that. It can be better to realize you are over your head than to take a bad grade or it could worth risking a C to try for the higher grade - if you can change what you are doing enough to have a good chance at the higher grade.

Well, first figure out what is mathematically possible... how many grades are in and how many are still to come.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey Saysfaa,

I wish I was as detailed as you. I need to work on how I study, that's for sure. Thanks for including pointers on your post, that I have to think about now. :bugeyes:

Now, I have to think more, and it's not even summer yet!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

ah, vegas, I'm actually not that detailed, at least not by nature. I'm just experienced at it. I was stretched to do a lot of this with my kids. One had a terrible time in math, for another it was time management, for another it was writing, for another it was science, for another... hm, actually, the youngest has his problem areas with life skills but not with school work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion