How bad is an "F" for a science course

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Hi everyone. i have come to a stressful time in my college life. i received my first "F" in chemistry because it was actually a "c" and for financial aid reasons in order for me to retake the course next semester i must get an "F" for financial aid to cover the class again. so i re took the class and got a "b". Now again i am just finishing up for anatomy and again because i went to the wrong class same lecture than transfered to the new professor messed me up and now i see a big fat "F" in my transcript again because i will be getting a "c" i am so depressed! ... now the school i attend has a nursing school but my heart is in another university. i really really want to go. lets just say hypothetically i do excellent from now on. How bad do this "F" look in my application is my life as a nurse over?. in the school i attend the director spoke to a group and she said that they do not look at the repeated course you pass. they look at the first grade you got when you first took it. i need serious help please. what can i do?

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It's better to get the c and figure out how to pay to retake the class than to fail it on purpose to get fin aid to pay for it. Alot if schools average your two attempts and getting a c gives you some points. C+B=C.5 where F+B=D.5, by choosing to fail instead of taking the C you are ending up with a worse grade then you would have had if you just let the C stand.

As far as hypothetical goes, it all depends on how your dream school counts up the points. If the sciences are big (micro, A&P, and Chem) the best you can hope for your sci GPA is a 2.5 if you drop that c to an f, and a 2.83 if you don't drop the c. So it's not impossible, but you are going to have to get great grades across the board, great enterance scores, awesome letters of rec and a killer essay.

F's hurt alot, even if you have straight A's everywhere else. Not only for your GPA( the 2 F's and 1 c would drop a 4.0 to a 3.47), but in the eyes of the admissions committee too, so buckle down and take no prisoners.

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Specializes in future OB/L&D nurse(I hope) or hospice.

I also agree, it really depends on the school and their guidlines. The school I attend thank God does "forgive" an "F" if the course is re-taken and a better grade achieved. I actually got a "F" in my A&P I course, took it again and got a B-. So when it is time for me to apply for the nursing program they will take the best grade received. Just don't give up and do your best to get the best grades possible.:)

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Fs in the sciences hurt a lot! Some schools will only except a certain amount of science retakes and some don't accept any if the original grade was fail.

Check with the schools you wish to apply for and make sure you haven't already disqualified yourself from their program, and if not, learn their criteria and make sure you work your butt off to exceed that criteria. All is not lost, but you may have an uphill battle from here on out.

Don't give up..

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I advise discussing your options with a counselor at your school. Can a retake "forgive" or expunge that F from your record? It works that way at my school. (I don't understand the wisdom in continuing to punish someone for a bad grade by insisting they keep that grade on their transcript, despite retaking and mastering the course.)

Good luck, and congrats on the successful retake! :)

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Specializes in Medical Surgical/Addiction/Mental Health.

You have to forgive me, but I am a little confused. Your financial aid will not allow you to retake a course if you received a C? If you don’t mind me asking, who gave you that information? It is to my understanding that so as long as you do not go over 150% of the required credit hours for your degree, you are still eligible for financial aid. In other words, if your degree program is 63 credit hours, you are allowed to attempt 94 credit hours before you are cut off. That number includes retaking courses regardless of the final grade. The only other exception I can think of is if you are receiving a private grant that outlines those requirements as a condition to getting the grant. If you are referring to a Pell Grant and Student Loans, the above mentioned regulation applies.

As far as F’s go, I think it would depend on which school you are applying to. If they only take into account the highest grade received in the course, then I would imagine that you will be fine. If they look at your overall performance, then that might be a problem. Each school is different. You may be asked to explain your transcript. Honestly, I don’t know if telling the admissions board that the reason you retook the course was because you knew you would not receive at least a B. Thererfore, you decided to purposely fail the class so that you could retake it for a higher grade will not, I don't think, be favorable for you. I could be wrong though.

Good luck to you.

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Specializes in Infusion.

Reality is both your dream school and most other schools with a nursing program have a limited number of spaces for nursing students. If their admission process is points or merit based, you are competing with other students. You may need to look at many other options.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

A pair of F's in core science pre-reqs definitely puts you in a hole.

Personally, I'd overcompensate by taking upper division science courses from the biology and chemistry departments in order to prove that those two Fs were flukes.

I'm not sure I'd admit to intentionally quitting on classes because you were "only" getting C's. It's not flattering.

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You guys are right. I can't believe that I messed up so bad and honestly it is now because of that big fat F that I know I want to be a nurse I have never felt so mindless to even pretend it won't harm me. I think you are right I will take upper division bio classes and maybe they see that it was a phase. What appropriate excuse is there for my sitiuation? If you have any more advice please let me know. I must keep my slef motivated. Thanks you guys.

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The policy for my school is if you fail a science class even if you repeat it for a better grade you wont get accepted. Make sure you check with the admissions people at the schools you are applying to...

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^^^ same as with my school. Actually my school is tougher because you cant have ANY F's, only 1 D.

OP: look into the school you wish to attend and review their policies. thats the only way to tell if you have a chance (with that school)

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Specializes in future OB/L&D nurse(I hope) or hospice.
The policy for my school is if you fail a science class even if you repeat it for a better grade you wont get accepted. Make sure you check with the admissions people at the schools you are applying to...

WOW. I am beginning to love my school more and more. That is just rediculous. These people should realize "life happens". Yea, I failed A&P I misserably even though I attended every lecture and lab. I have note books full of notes etc etc. But, at the time my mother was/is in hospice and dying. Of course when the semester began my mother was not doing nearly as badly, otherwise I would have put off taking the class. Unfortunately the cancer spread to her brain and pancreas and we all know what happens next. These health advisement offices really should look at the entire picture before rejecting people. Now, if someone has several bad grades and is showing a pattern, ok. But if someone ends up with one bad grade and excells at the rest, show some compassion!!:mad:

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