I just finished up a semester and I am really upset with myself because I made a C. I know, C = RN. But I really tried to get an A this semester. I studied extra, I changed up my habits, I even tried teaching others. But I still got a freakin' C.
To help you see this from my perspective, I was the kid everybody hated because I just showed up and got A's. I did my homework in class, I didn't study, and if I made less than a 98 on a test, the teacher made a mistake when writing it. My genetic make-up just allowed me to do well in a school environment. (Sorry if this sounds arrogant, but I was just good at school.)
Fast forward 20ish years and now I feel like an idiot. My grades go up and down. Well, mostly down. I failed a test for the first time in my life. (And that's saying something, considering I've spent over 20 years in school all together.) My self-esteem is mostly based on my intelligence, and that really hurt me. I have tried everything I know how to do to raise my grades. I talked with my teacher, my advisor, my fellow students, changed how I study, and added study time. All of that and I actually got WORSE grades.
So, I guess what I want is to whine a little (which is helping me feel better, BTW). And get some pointers on how to either get better grades or how to accept that I am not going to make A's.
I will take any advice and suggestions at this point. Criticism is welcome, too, if anyone deems it necessary.
There are so many good suggestions here. Thank you all!!
@mandaluz - Thank you for the compare/contrast idea. I haven't tried that yet and it sounds like it will help me.
@arab_rider - Unfortunately, I have a hard time studying in groups. I find other people very distracting. I like the NCLEX review idea very much. I did some Saunders questions before my final exam and I got a high enough grade to raise my average to a C.
@kylee_adns - Thanks for the case study suggestion. We had some in Fundamentals and they did help me. I'm glad of the reminder.
@morte - I've tried some self-hypnosis, but it hasn't stuck yet. I think you are right about my subconscious, though. Sometimes I get mad because I have to study to learn anything these days and I want to learn easily like I used to.
@MidnightAzalea - OMG! I looked up adult ADD and it sounds JUST LIKE ME. You are a lifesaver. I have an appointment with my PCP about something else and I will discuss this with him when I go.
@iluvpatho - I like the practice test idea very much. Like I was telling arab_rider, I did a bunch of NCLEX review questions before my final and I think it helped me.
@DolceVita - You may be right about stress affecting me. I have had a few issues in my home life recently that have been fairly hard to deal with and I think it is taking it's toll on my concentration.
@BabyLady - You are absolutely right that I had it easy in school and never had to develop coping mechanisms. I didn't really have anything handed to me, but I never had to struggle, either. I don't know about my standing in the class, though, we don't have posted grades anymore. I know a few people got A's on tests, but I don't know anyone's final grade except mine. Maybe I'm not doing that badly in comparison. (I hope!) Thank you for all of your input!
That may be a dumb saying but I don't think the op needs to hear that. She sounds like a good student who is or was struggling with one class.
I think you just need to get past this and let it go, so you got a C big deal. You passed so just go on to teh next semester and try to figure out how to study better. One thing I started trying to do because I can't read through all the material, is just try to focus on the many power-points and what I do is make up my own practice questions or tests.
And I agree with you. It's directed towards the ones who get a C and build on it with the mindset of "well it doesn't really matter as long as I get a 42 on the final to get a C in the class, it's ok." Or the ones who say "I don't care about Med/Surg, I'm only working ICU and L&D when I graduate..so a C won't matter.
Thanks to everyone for all of your advice! I finally got an A this semester. By one tenth of a point, LOL!!
To MidnightAzalea, thank you again for suggesting adult ADD. I went to my PCP and he gave me some test. Apparently I scored pretty high, because he put me on meds immediately. Although getting used to taking meds has been hard, I am now able to study and I can focus a lot more while I am taking tests. So, THANK YOU!!!
canigraduate
2,107 Posts
Wow! Thank you so much everyone!
There are so many good suggestions here. Thank you all!!
@mandaluz - Thank you for the compare/contrast idea. I haven't tried that yet and it sounds like it will help me.
@arab_rider - Unfortunately, I have a hard time studying in groups. I find other people very distracting. I like the NCLEX review idea very much. I did some Saunders questions before my final exam and I got a high enough grade to raise my average to a C.
@kylee_adns - Thanks for the case study suggestion. We had some in Fundamentals and they did help me. I'm glad of the reminder.
@morte - I've tried some self-hypnosis, but it hasn't stuck yet. I think you are right about my subconscious, though. Sometimes I get mad because I have to study to learn anything these days and I want to learn easily like I used to.
@MidnightAzalea - OMG! I looked up adult ADD and it sounds JUST LIKE ME. You are a lifesaver. I have an appointment with my PCP about something else and I will discuss this with him when I go.
@iluvpatho - I like the practice test idea very much. Like I was telling arab_rider, I did a bunch of NCLEX review questions before my final and I think it helped me.
@DolceVita - You may be right about stress affecting me. I have had a few issues in my home life recently that have been fairly hard to deal with and I think it is taking it's toll on my concentration.
@BabyLady - You are absolutely right that I had it easy in school and never had to develop coping mechanisms. I didn't really have anything handed to me, but I never had to struggle, either. I don't know about my standing in the class, though, we don't have posted grades anymore. I know a few people got A's on tests, but I don't know anyone's final grade except mine. Maybe I'm not doing that badly in comparison. (I hope!) Thank you for all of your input!