Missed getting an "A" by 4 points...

Jolie, BSN · May 14, 2007

4 lousy little points! I had an A all semester in Pathophysiology and only needed a 78 on the final to get an A-- and I got a 74 on the final! I can't believe I did so poorly, first off. Also, to go all semester getting A's on all my tests and case studies-- then to wind up with a B in the class!! I e-mailed the professor to see if there is anything I can do to get those 4 points, but don't expect that she'll let me.... I'm so dissappointed in myself! Now I have to re-take the whole class for those 4 stupid points!!! URGH!

Why do you need to retake a class in which you earned a B?

sarani · May 14, 2007

Because the nursing program that I am applying to just raised their standard for acceptance on GPA to a 3.0 from a 2.5--- and when I was in college 7 years ago, I didn't do very well.... So I had to get a B in Food & Nutrition, and an A in both Patho & Pharm this semester to make that cutoff...

barbaratruth, RN · May 14, 2007

I'm trying to figure out how you only needed a 78 on the final to get an A.

I went into my final with a 93 average, got a 93 on the final and got an A- for the course.

In my nursing program, a 74 on the final is a considered a failing grade, and there were students who were kicked out of our program because the final exam (which was 1/3 of their grade), and the failing grade dropped their grade/GPA significantly.

I would be concerned more about getting 26 questions wrong, rather than challenging the grade.

I also don't understand why you have to take the course over. In many programs, the B you got would still be calculated into your GPA, whether you repeated the course or not. In my program, you have to wait one year before you would be able to repeat the course before you could move to the next level.

I would suggest taking the B grade and reviewing the material before the next semester.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · May 14, 2007

4 points is 4 points - which means you did not earn an "A".

In my nursing school, you had to have a higher GPA. And anything below 80 was failing, with no rounding up. Which meant if you had 79.9999%, you failed.

These policies are to prepare you for nursing school and for nursing life. If one only does 79.999% of the work right, and someone dies because of the other missed part -then one has seriously "failed".

CuriousMe · May 14, 2007

Wait a second here.....the OP isn't saying she didn't deserve her grade; she's venting that she got it (I think we've all had moments that we didn't do as well as we know we could and should have).

She also mentioned that she's APPLYING to nursing school. While I know a lot of nursing school's have stricter grading scales than prereq work, the OP is speaking about prereq work.

Barbaratruth - In my school, a 93 is an A-. So if you had a 93 average and then got a 93.....no matter how it was weighted, you wouldn't get any higher than a 93 as a final grade. What is the grading scale at your school?

Sarani - I'm sorry you didn't do as well as you wanted to on your exam. The only good part about taking it again is that the material will really stick in your brain.

Peace,

Cathie

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · May 14, 2007

Actually they required the same scale for all nursing prereqs invoving math or science.

And these days, because of competition for spots, even if a 3.0 is required, many of those on the lower end may not be accepted because of too many apps.

My regrets to Sarani - perhaps s/he will get the extra credit.

luvmy3kids · May 14, 2007

I'm sorry you have to go through this. 4 points is a small amount to miss an A by. My school doesn't give A-'s either... I hate that because if you get a 90.000% you recieve an A (not an A-) and if you get 89.999% you get a B.. not a B+... and you are only hundreths of % pts from each grade..

Anyway... I wanted to say I feel for you! Good luck!

Jennifer

luvmy3kids · May 14, 2007

I'm trying to figure out how you only needed a 78 on the final to get an A.
I went into my final with a 93 average, got a 93 on the final and got an A- for the course.
In my nursing program, a 74 on the final is a considered a failing grade, and there were students who were kicked out of our program because the final exam (which was 1/3 of their grade), and the failing grade dropped their grade/GPA significantly.
I would be concerned more about getting 26 questions wrong, rather than challenging the grade.
I also don't understand why you have to take the course over. In many programs, the B you got would still be calculated into your GPA, whether you repeated the course or not. In my program, you have to wait one year before you would be able to repeat the course before you could move to the next level.
I would suggest taking the B grade and reviewing the material before the next semester.

My guess is that her other scores were very high during the semester and she only needed 78 on the final to keep her at the 90% for an A... I'm at 89.6% right now... hoping for a good grade on my final tonight... but if I don't get an A... I would need lower than a 47% to not get a B....

It's very possible that she only needed 78 for the A... it depends on how many points she has earned so far.

Jennifer

DreamyEyes · May 14, 2007

Sorry you didn't get the A. I know how frustrated you must feel. I was sure that I was going to get an A in Statistics this semester--- did ALL the homework assignments, never missed class, got A's on all of my tests/quizzes...but I just found out today that I got a B. I must have done pretty bad on the final. :uhoh21:

justme1972 · May 14, 2007

Most schools won't allow you to retake a class if you got a B, only if you got a C or less.

I'm so sorry...see, this is why I am wondering if I need to go into education. I just couldn't stand to see a student miss getting a higher grade by a few points.

My professor for Psychology gave a participation grade...several times throughout the semester he said it was 25% of the grade...same weight as the final. On the last day, before he gave out the final, he said, "Some of you haven't spoken in class all semester...that isn't a good thing and that will reflect on your final grade"

You could hear the gasps throughout the room. The way I run my mouth in class, I knew I had an A on that section :)

krenee · May 14, 2007

and when I was in college 7 years ago, I didn't do very well....

Have you looked into "academic renewal"? My school has a deal where if it's been awhile, they will take the bad grades off your record. I have the same problem with my GPA but I'm getting the bad ones taken off. It still shows on the transcripts, I think, but not in the cumulative GPA.

Kelly