Microbiology

[mmrox92]

So I am trying to get into a really competitive program, so I am trying to get an a in all my science prerequisites. I asked my professor if he curves the grade at all and he said no! So my average is around 91 and I need a 93 for an a. He says no one gets an a in micro and his goal is to help the people who are trying to get a B and not me who is trying to get an A. Does really no one get an A in micro?? I'm really discouraged and feel like since I am the top of the class I should get an A? Does anyone have any advice?

[VivaLaVespaGirl, BSN, MSN]

I've actually heard from many people in the college that going to the department head you can go from a b to an a... They aren't very strict about changing the grades... Maybe I will do that if I don't get the a...

...Are you serious? What on earth makes you think that you are entitled to a grade you did not earn? Get over yourself, grow up, quit complaining, and work harder. The grade you EARN is the grade you DESERVE.

[ixchel]

I just know that the professor of the other class curves and I don't think that is fair... Just because I took him and not the other I am going to get a lower grade... I tried going to the tutor but I ended up correcting him on several things and then I felt it wasn't worth all the time... Just so stressed out over it... In nursing school UR already in the program not trying to get into a program. As long as you maintain ur grades your okay. It's not as competitive...

On behalf of us who put in hours EARNING the As we got, you really need to get this attitude out of your head. If you really feel you're being dealt an injustice here, you need to withdraw and take the W. You are NOT a victim, and anyone you say, "I got a B because the other professor grades on a curve and mine did not," they're going to politely ask you to come back when you realize grades are supposed to be EARNED.

Good grief. Just wait until you start seeing care plan grades.

[dorkypanda]

On behalf of us who put in hours EARNING the As we got, you really need to get this attitude out of your head. If you really feel you're being dealt an injustice here, you need to withdraw and take the W. You are NOT a victim, and anyone you say, "I got a B because the other professor grades on a curve and mine did not," they're going to politely ask you to come back when you realize grades are supposed to be EARNED.

Good grief. Just wait until you start seeing care plan grades.

how bad are care plan grades? Do profs grade them that strictly??!

[AmyRN303, BSN, RN]

I never once had a grade curved in my program, whether that be a pre requisite or a nursing course. And no rounding at all, so if one was one tenth of a point under passing, they failed. It was laid out each semester in the handbook and class policies/syllabus. Certain things, tests, final exam, were weighted differently for each course, but there absolutely was NO rounding or curving. As I used to tell my kids when they were little: you get what you get, and don't be upset. I'd say that having a class like this really would drive me to push myself beyond my usual work effort for the next class.

To be entirely forthcoming, pre-reqs are a jog in the park compared to the workload in nursing classes. I didn't find nursing school terribly difficult so much as I found it to be the heaviest workload I'd taken to this point. Getting into a study schedule that works for your learning style is really the only way to make it work well for YOU. Bring your best to the table, ask questions for clarification, spend time with a tutor, whatever works to optimize your learning experience.

[ixchel]

how bad are care plan grades? Do profs grade them that strictly??!

It's not the strictness that's the issue with care plans. It's that there is such a huge grey space of subjectivity to how they might be graded. Every professor has a different grading style and expectation, so when you have 80 students in 10 different clinical groups, some will get the easy ones, others the hard ones. Some will require more detail, others less. Then there is the fact that no two students will produce the same work and same prioritization with the same rationales. Two people can pick the same top priority, but one be considered wrong because they had the wrong reasons. Two can pick totally different priorities, but both get it right because they can adequately back themselves up. Across a class of nursing students, care plan grades will feel anything but consistent, and no, not one single person will ever see a curve. You'd be lucky to argue points back if you disagree on a grade.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

My "trick" in micro was to read each chapter 3-4 times. No joke!! I also used flash cards, led study groups before each test, met with. Study buddy weekly for 4-6 hrs at a diner weekly, went to campus tutoring, went to office hrs to ask the instructor for help and to let her know I'm motivated, I also made study booklets to carry with me everywhere. I earned As in all my science prereqs. Once I found out at least 1 other person had earned an A, I told myself I could do it, too!!

[LPN709]

I've actually heard from many people in the college that going to the department head you can go from a b to an a... They aren't very strict about changing the grades... Maybe I will do that if I don't get the a...

Wow....you have a very poor attitude about this whole situation, OP. You seem to be under the impression that your teacher should give you an A when you didn't earn it and if he doesn't, you will go over his head to his superior and tattle on him. All I can say is what a poor attitude. If you truly expect to be handed a good grade, I would seriously reconsider nursing school. Assuming you even got accepted, those nursing instructors would never allow you to get away with that kind of disrespectful behavior. Expect a target on your back, as you will have made enemies of your instructors and probably your classmates as well. Its time to grow up and earn your grade whether that be an A or not.