Grades in ADN class

At my orientation last week, my instructors said that a 77 (our lowest passing grade) is our new A.... kind of scary lol

8 hours ago, caliotter3 said:

As long as you progress to graduation you should have no problem. However, as you can guess, you probably would not be competitive for graduate level programs. Anecdotally, I do not think a C average is normal. As I recall, most of my classmates maintained a solid B to A minus average.

Yeah I know what you mean.. I was really stressed out during the program. and I didn't know how to study the science either. Don't even know how they even let me in. It think it might be that it was a lottery system...

Whatever happened I learned how to study and how to be an independent thinker for that first year

It's not normal in my program. People that get C's wash out. Why are you doing so poorly? Have you taken any steps to improve your study habits?

At the program I am in we have to get an 80% or higher to pass the course.

In myy program you need a 77 to pass and those who barely pass one class usually do worse in the next. A 76.9 or lower you fail and repeat that class, do it again and you're out of the program. So no, Cs aren't usual at all in my program. Cs in pre-reqs would likely not even get you a spot to begin with.

55 minutes ago, rnhopeful82 said:

In myy program you need a 77 to pass and those who barely pass one class usually do worse in the next. A 76.9 or lower you fail and repeat that class, do it again and you're out of the program. So no, Cs aren't usual at all in my program. Cs in pre-reqs would likely not even get you a spot to begin with.

Exactly. Same in my program. We had several students that were at a 77 and 76 going into the final exam. No wiggle room. No cushion. They're both gone. One got a 76 on the final and one got a 75. Adios.

If I was the OP I would seriously evaluate what I am doing and take steps to fix things. Students that are always one test away from flunking out simply don't make it.

Because of how minimal most nursing programs are on grading, without all the fluff to bring your grade up, you're pretty much always 1 test away from failing, even if you currently have an A. If something happens and you have to miss a test and the reason doesn't allow makeups with your school's policy, you failed.

Anyway:

Cs ARE common in nursing schools. There's been threads about it on this site, and a ton of nurses talking about them getting Cs in school. Getting C's in prereqs also isn't necessarily a death sentence. I got a C in some of mine, I'm in a program that has a relatively low acceptance rate with a very high first time NCLEX pass rate. Don't rely on anecdotal stories to decide your chances. But also, don't be comfortable with a C. If you tried to get an A but only got a C, you'll be fine through school. But if your goal was to only get that minimum grade to pass, you'll fail somewhere.

7 hours ago, tonyl1234 said:

Because of how minimal most nursing programs are on grading, without all the fluff to bring your grade up, you're pretty much always 1 test away from failing, even if you currently have an A. If something happens and you have to miss a test and the reason doesn't allow makeups with your school's policy, you failed.

Anyway:

Cs ARE common in nursing schools. There's been threads about it on this site, and a ton of nurses talking about them getting Cs in school. Getting C's in prereqs also isn't necessarily a death sentence. I got a C in some of mine, I'm in a program that has a relatively low acceptance rate with a very high first time NCLEX pass rate. Don't rely on anecdotal stories to decide your chances. But also, don't be comfortable with a C. If you tried to get an A but only got a C, you'll be fine through school. But if your goal was to only get that minimum grade to pass, you'll fail somewhere.

You're right-- we are always one test of flunking out. But I would have had to get a 52% on the final to flunk out. I wasn't worried at all.

I couldn't imagine going through an RN program always 1--3% from flunking out.

I wouldn't consider a C "normal" by any stretch. I finished my first semester with a high B and two mid-As. That's with working full-time and being a single parent. Others in my cohort finished with As and Bs for the most part, too. It is doable; you simply have to be willing to seriously put in the work for it.

My high B could have been an A if I had studied just a bit harder for that first exam (I ended up with an 84 on that one). Once I didn't make an A on my first exam, I shifted my study habits and note taking into high gear. Practice questions, practice questions, practice questions! ACTIVELY listen in lecture, whether you decide to record the lectures or not. If you aren't actively listening, there is a high chance of missing something your instructor has highlighted...meaning there is a high chance of missing some information that has about a 97.8% chance of being on your exam.

I just had day 4 of my second semester last night; our first exam is on Tuesday (day 5, after our ten hour clinicals Sat and Sun). So it seems the content only gets meatier and the pace only gets quicker, so I would personally be quite worried if a "C" were my new normal. I understand "Cs get degrees," but I feel like it's far more stressful to make those Cs than to really hit the books and pass with flying colors. I truly feel it's all a matter of how much you're willing to put into it. I would figure out why you're only getting those Cs (is it your study habits, your work habits, a lack of critical thinking, etc) and try to bang it out for the next year, especially if you're hoping to further your education. Good luck!