Grading - FREAKING OUT!

[nokings]

Hi, all!

I've recently enrolled at a local tech school. I just started yesterday after not being in school for several years. I took some general college courses in 2010, and then a very long "hiatus" followed that.

After thinking long and hard about what I wanted to go back to school for, I decided on enrolling in the Certified Medical Assistant Program.

The director of the program suggested I start with two classes for now, as I had expressed to her I wanted to proceed with this at a slow and steady pace. She recommended I take Medical Terminology and Anatomy and Physiology - she said those are great intro courses to take to give me an idea about what's to come in the program.

I chose to take both courses online, it just worked better for me this way for a lot of different reasons.

I was reading the class syllabus for both courses and the grading scale has me worried. Here is the scale:

94-100 A

87-93 B

80-86 C

75-79 D

74 and below F

Does that seem pretty strict to anyone else? Do any of you have courses graded like that? I emailed my instructor and asked her about how she sets the grading, and she says she uses the grading set by the school for allied health classes. I should mention I have to maintain a C average to remain in my program and well as continuing to be eligible for financial aid.

The grades are measured by 30% quizzes, 30% assignments, 40% exams. I can take quizzes an unlimited amount of times to ensure I get 100%. Some of the assignments are based on completion, not by score. The other assignments for this semester are to answer study guide questions, which you can find in the book. So, it doesn't seem so scary once I think about it like that, but I feel like I have to ace every single quiz and assignment, as well as the exams.

I'm nervous. I have an old high school friend who is also in the CMA program, but at a different school, and she says her grading is like this, but says not to worry too much because it's not as bad as it seems. That's slightly reassuring, but I'm still paranoid! I had to take out a loan to go back to school, which raises the stakes even higher for me.

I guess I'm asking if anyone else has experience with grading like this and if they've completed Med Term/A&P successfully? If so, any helpful tips? As I mentioned above, prior to applying to the program and taking these courses, my college experience has been very limited.

I apologize for the length of this, and I thank those of you for reading if you've made it to this point! I would greatly appreciate any suggestions/feedback. Thanks in advance.

[Missingyou, CNA]

You will be FINE!

I think you are just nervous about being back at school.

Just keep up with assignments and required reading.

I remember when I went back to school after years of being out. The thing I remember that scared me the most was the amount of work and the pace. It took some time getting use to it but I was able to keep up but, it took effort.

You got this!!!

[nokings]

Thanks for the response and the reassurance. I'm feeling a bit better after the first week. We get just a handful of things due within a few weeks time. Since I'm just taking two courses this semester, that gives me a lot of time to focus on each class equally. I guess I was initially thrown off by the grading scale. I talked to the director of the program and she shared with me that the instructors of all health classes have to use the school's set grading scale for allied health courses. But I've found it helpful to be able to take quizzes as many times as I need, and I can resubmit assignments if I need to change anything. Feeling a lot more positive. I'm just hoping this semester flies by. Thanks again!

[Middleburg08]

You will be just fine. Keep up in the reading, and overprepare for exams by going through the module and powerpoints, etc. Participate in class.

And most important; ask for help when you need it. If you don't understand it, find someone who can make you understand it.

[nokings]

You will be just fine. Keep up in the reading, and overprepare for exams by going through the module and powerpoints, etc. Participate in class.

And most important; ask for help when you need it. If you don't understand it, find someone who can make you understand it.

Thank you for the reply and advice! Everyday I'm feeling a little bit better! I write down weekly goals that I want to get done which really helps me visualize what I need to accomplish.