Should I withdraw or try not to fail!!!

[durtydeedzgrl]

I'm in my first semester at St.Paul's School of Nursing and I'm confused about A&P. I've taken 3 exams so far with the following scores: 84-58-62. The final is about 4 wks away. I have a very low objective score and in order to pass the class, I'd have to score a high 80 (which to me means 90+) on the final to give me a 78 overall. I can either withdraw from the class and take it again, but that would put me back 1 semester, or try to take the exam and hope I don't fail. For students that's been in my predicament, what do you guys think is my best course of action. Withdraw and take it again, or try to take final and pray that I don't fail?? (Any and all comments are appreciated)

[SierraBravo]

If I were in your shoes, I would try to figure out why you went from getting reasonably good grades to failing. If it's just a matter of not studying enough or not studying the right material, that can be rectified. You have already proven that you can get good grades in the class.

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

It also depends upon where you are chronologically in the class. If you're past the "W" date, then you should figure out your study stuff and try not to fail. If you're not past the "W" date, then you have that option to take the "W" and go at it again next semester. A semester or two "back" isn't all that long in the grand scheme of things.

Ultimately the decision is yours. Just heed that "W" date because if you withdraw after that date, then you'll "earn" the grade you have achieved thus farwith a ZERO for your Final Exam grade which likely guarantees a failing grade.

Hope this makes sense.

[caliotter3]

Make certain you understand your option with regard to the W. Personally, I would advise to play it safe and withdraw, if possible. As said before, a semester behind is not great in the grand scheme of things. It is too much pressure to have to get an A on the final in order to pass. I say this from the perspective of someone who ended up getting a C in a course, falling from an A-/B+, just based on how badly I bombed the final. I never did go back to look over the final to see if the scoring machine was incorrect or if I really was out in left field.

[durtydeedzgrl]

Thanks for your input caliotter3 and Sierra. I think I'm going to withdraw. I'd hate to be the student that barely made it through a&p1 and have to struggle with a&p2. And you're right, in the end it's really not gonna matter whether I stayed in school for an extra semester and trying to bust my bum to pass a final in a class where I didn't understand half of the material is pretty risky (=stupid). So yea. Thanks a bunch ::)

[caliotter3]

Good decision, I think. Now, be wise. Start at the beginning and restudy all the material from now until the time you reenroll in the course and you should be able to pull an A.