Failed TWO science pre reqs.. Any hope?

broughden · Jul 23, 2018

My uncle was diagnosed with cancer and in the middle of the semester he was taken off chemo. I decided to leave work, my internship, and my two science classes to tend to him and my mom who is also sick with copd. The professors said that they would honor a grade change to a W and unfortunately they didn't follow through and my request were denied so i received an F in micro and in physio. I feel betrayed and hurt but nothing to be done. Am I totally screwed? Is there any nursing program that will allow two repeats? I am retaking the courses whether there is a chance or not but just for my pride. I'd even be willing to relocate states.

If the story about your uncle and mother is true, and can be documented through medical records, I would contact your college's ombudsman's office to file a request for a post dated medical/emergency withdrawal. Emergency/Medical withdrawal policies exist for just these type of circumstances.

HOWEVER, withdrawing from a class is NEVER the responsibility of your professor and you should have stopped the registration office and filed the proper paperwork for a withdrawal in the first place.

As for whether or not a future random unknown college or university will accept two repeats, that is completely up to the individual school. Every single one is different. You will need to call and ask their application staff person.

jillykahn · Jul 23, 2018

Yes I definitely agree that it is my responsibility, but the issue was that it was past the withdraw date by a week. Both professors talked to each other and agreed to a grade change which I have in an email and yes I can definitely provide medical records. I've researched high and low and cannot find a school that admits with two repeats. But there are schools out there that exist?

TheDudeWithTheBigDog, ADN, RN · Jul 23, 2018

No failing grade is ever the end of your potential nursing career. People even fail out of nursing school, then go back and pass. If you were in a 4 year program, talk to them. If they won't work with you, talk to a community college, you learn the same nursing either way, and they tend to be more lenient. If you don't get in, just keep taking classes. The more you have done outside of your core nursing classes, or the closer you are to other degrees, a lot of schools give you a better chance of getting in.

broughden · Jul 23, 2018

Yes I definitely agree that it is my responsibility, but the issue was that it was past the withdraw date by a week. Both professors talked to each other and agreed to a grade change which I have in an email and yes I can definitely provide medical records. I've researched high and low and cannot find a school that admits with two repeats. But there are schools out there that exist?

1. Contact your ombudsman office to see about postdated emergency/medical withdrawal, as I said. Even if you retake the class the F remains on your transcript and effects your cumulative GPA unless you get it changed to a WP.

2. There are schools that will take multiple repeats. USF will allow you to repeat any prereq as long as you receive at least a minimum of C for application. But FSU, in the same state, only allows one repeat. You need to check each and every school.

caliotter3 · Jul 23, 2018

You said your request was denied, then you received the F's. Did you take this up the chain, one step above the instructors, one step above the department chair, to the division honcho? As far as you could go? I had a problem one time and made an appointment to speak to the division honcho, (want to say College of Letters and Science where School of Nursing reported to, or whatever). It happened that this individual used to be an instructor in the School of Nursing and he was easy to talk to. My problem was resolved at that level. Until you have exhausted your avenues of appeal at every level available to you, you are giving up way too easily.

st96, ADN, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2018

Hi! I had to retake two prereq (microbio and anatomy) due to personal reasons as well. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to get into a program at a local community college. A lot of cc's are merritt-based meaning it's based on points. Also, there are private schools that are very holistic in their admission decisions, so any experience and/or your personal statement would help a lot!

Mergirlc, MSN, APRN, NP · Jul 24, 2018

Many, many, years ago, I had to withdrawal from classes due to a medical issue. It was past the regular withdrawal deadline and they only permitted this in special circumstances. I got my documentation and went to the register's office, filled out paperwork and handed it in. Approved. It's my understanding, the instructors have no say in the matter UNLESS you're filing/petitioning for an INCOMPLETE. Then with an "INC" they gotta write out what you need to do to get a grade.

At least it was this way at the community college I attended.

I did see where an instructor did have the authority to drop/withdraw somebody, but it was only a 3 day window after the official "W" date. After that, "F" city.

So either both of your instructors really forgot to drop you OR you needed to submit paperwork to your registrar's/admissions office to get this "W." Either way, you can try to check w/ admissions/registrar office to see if they can help you in any way.

blenderbottle · Aug 4, 2018

Check out Bladen community college (in north carolina state ) , they have great a p classes, if you do the work you will get good grade, I got A +

you have to report all your colleges, but if you forget to report one, oh well

Wiggly Litchi · Aug 4, 2018

Check out Bladen community college (in north carolina state ) , they have great a p classes, if you do the work you will get good grade, I got A +
you have to report all your colleges, but if you forget to report one, oh well

If you 'forget' and they find out, it's academic dishonesty and could see you in a worse spot.

Claralee · Aug 4, 2018

I agree that you should definitely pursue getting those Ws. I got a late w (years after the fact) with very little documentation. As others have said it wasn't up to the professors but a specific department that deals with this. I went through our registration department. Given all your documentation I think there's a very strong chance you can change your Fs to Ws.