To pass or To be the highest?

steelcityrn, RN · Jan 24, 2009

My goal was to always challenge myself, not another class mate. You can never study or learn enough about anything.

MermiesGreatGig · Jan 24, 2009

There's nothing wrong with either way of thinking. I think accepting how you are is the most important thing. If you are naturally competitive, then embrace it and deal with the consequences of those times you don't happen to make the highest grade. No matter how hard you try, you WILL NOT be able to change your inner tendencies. It's simply impossible!

I, personally, want and usually attain As. I also take pride in those times when I achieve the highest grade. But, the A is my focus. I have trouble accepting Bs and Cs. I don't care what others think of that mode of thinking because it's who I AM! There are pros and cons to both, but what truly matters is that you just accept who you are.

anewday · Jan 24, 2009

I strive to get scores way above the minimum passing score, because number one, the exam is a measure of how much of the information I understand. Number two, I don't ever want to be borderline or barely passing. I would like to have some sort of a cushion. I also plan on furthering my education in nursing so minimum passing scores won't guarantee admission into these programs. My motivation does not come from competing with others. Quite frankly it's none of my business what others are scoring really. As long as I am learning the information and I am passing above the minimum score for reasons previously mentioned, that's all that matters to me. I don't have to have the "highest" score. I also would have no way of really knowing what the "highest score" was on an exam either.

lilo2010 · Jan 24, 2009

Perfectly happy with an A or B!

shrimpchips, LPN · Jan 24, 2009

I just try to do my best, but if I do end up getting the highest grade then that is fine with me, too

NurseJeanB · Jan 24, 2009

I think it is up to every individual what goals they set, and if your goal is to be the highest in the class then I say go for it. (Someone has to be) I set my goal to try to get all A's and I did it all the way until second year when I missed an A in medical by .59. I was really distraught, but I had to realize that 1. I am still on my way to being a nurse 2. That it was a 1 unit class and I still had 10 other units to concentrate on. 3. That grade is not a measure of how successful a nurse I will be. 4. That grade is comprised of only two tests. The first test I got an A, but the second test I had a bad day and it happens.

I know it is hard when you set personal goals and stumble, but I am not going to give up. I will pick myself up and keep going. You set a high goal for yourself and kudos for you when you achieve it and also when you stumble because you are trying. Don't let people talk you out of setting a high bar. Best of luck to you!

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Jan 24, 2009

I care about getting As, and so far that's all I've received in nursing school. That said - I've changed my tune now that I'm near the end. I'm taking twenty-one credits. Due to that load, I just want a mix of As and Bs. I don't care to sacrifice my sanity and health for a perfect transcript. Life is too too short, you know?

GeneralJinjur · Jan 24, 2009

I only like getting the highest grade if I have a friendly rivalry going with someone in the class. You know the type, someone who can be nice outside of class but has no problem doing their absolute best to beat you at every opportunity. Otherwise, I don't really care. Having a 98% average in a class full of happy C students doesn't mean much.

I care about my grades because they show how well I've learned the material that the instructor values. I'm trusting the professors to know what we need to know for real life nursing and structure the tests accordingly. I also don't believe in arguing about test questions after the fact. As far as I'm concerned, if you had to whine your way into the grade, it doesn't count.

avahnel, ASN, RN · Jan 24, 2009

Before nursing courses, I liked knowing that I had the highest grade. However, I knew that having that same goal in the nursing program would just drive me crazy (literally)!!! So, now I just do the best that I can do. I got a B last semester, and still did not feel like I did not completely miss that time with my two girls who are 3, and 4. That was good for me. Nursing school is not my #1 priority. Being a good mom is. Stiking a good balance and being good at both is chalenging, but worth it.

RhodyGirl, RN · Jan 24, 2009

I don't care if I get the highest grades, but getting below a B is completely unacceptable (for me). When I hear the "I don't care as long as I passed" stuff, I cringe. I try my best, and always do well....that's good enough for me. As long as I'm at a B or better I'm a happy girl!

queenjean · Jan 24, 2009

*sigh* this is a really sore subject for me and I swear I'm OCD over it. I'm trying really hard to get over it. I was a 4.0 student and missed an A last semester by 0.34 of a point. I cried. This semester I think I've talked myself out of that state, but I'm still having a hard time not having the highest grade in the class. It kills me to hear people say "Hey, I passed, thats all i wanted" or "C's get degrees". I've always had highest in the class and I feel like its "expected" of me, which is even more pressure. But like I said, i'm trying really really hard to relax and get over it.

I understand what you are saying. I don't ever want to miss *anything*, but it particularly irks me to miss something that I thought I had right. I put in a lot of hard work into studying, and if I think I understand something but then I miss it on a test, it really bothers me.

I don't care if I already got an "A". I want to understand and thoroughly know it, so yes, I will look up the answers after the test and sometimes question an instructor as to why it was wrong. I'm typically not doing it to challenge them; I honestly want to understand. If I think their answer is wrong, I'll just say that and give my reason. Sometimes I'm right, sometimes I'm not. If I missed something because I just didn't know it or couldn't remember it, or didn't study that area thoroughly, I'm not going to challenge the instructor--but I'm probably going to mentally beat myself up over it and over prepare the next unit.

I'm married to a teacher and adjunct university instructor, and I have several friends who are either teachers or professors. I agree, no one likes a student who is tactless *and* has tunnel vision in regards to their work or grade. Things like this should be discussed privately; and that's easy enough to do in my program, since we are exclusively online. But any quality teacher enjoys the challenge of students who push the bounds of their subject matter. They *want* students who aren't just studying to pass, or to memorize the material, who are just phoning it in. They want students who are thinking critically about what they are learning, who are striving to understand it. There is nothing wrong with that.

allnurses Guide · Jan 24, 2009

I have struggled with perfectionism my entire life. It's very difficult, and I find it actually handicaps you. My expectations of myself are so high that you never feel you have done well enough. If I get 95%, I focus on the 5% that I missed.

I would really urge you to investigate why you feel this way. Generally it's a matter of low self esteem, where you feel that you're never good enough unless you're "the" best. As llg said, as you grow up, you realize you'll never be the smartest in the world, so you just gotta cope with what you got. Nowadays, I try to make sure I have truly done all that I can do, so that I don't have any regrets when I get my grades. I try to recall the desiderata poem:

"If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans."