What would you do?

If it means your record is expunged of the F and replaced with a W...I would not hesitate to write him or call him. After all...colleges place a lot of importance on previous marks.

Explain that to him when you call him and tell him that you felt it was important that you contact him...I am pretty confident he will understand and take steps to help you out.

Good luck in all you do.

Hi Tracy,

I don't think this sounds out of line at all. It certainly can't hurt to give it a try!

I withdrew from a class myself and was ultra paranoid to be sure that the withdrawal request was properly processed, for fear of just such a situation as yours! I hope it all works out for you.

Well actually I was sick - it was what I know now to be the cancer that was discovered last year. At the time I was more concentrated on my health then dropping a class.

Oh well - we all make mistakes that we later regret...

Give it a try, like everyone said. However, please understand the point of view of your former Professor if he/she does not wish to revisit the issue after such a long time (I am a professor and I hate revisiting issues after one semester). It is not as simple as dropping and giving you a "W" because it is WAY past the deadline and your grade was already submitted. Therefore, deans, administration, and whomever else gets involved too.

If you do not receive the W, then I would re-take the course (if needed for your current degree). I would also explain in a letter attached to my application to nursing school what happened, assuming other grades are outstanding and in no way a reflection of average or poor academic performance. Good luck.

If you can document the illness then you could take that up to the school and see if they would consider academic forgiveness. Especially if this class was taken a while ago and your grades are up to snuff now. I would contact the professor also. Make sure you call during business hours, sound very professional, are clear/concise, etc. Sob stories will only get you so far--take responsibilty for your actions. That is a good quality to have as a hopeful-nurse.

We all make mistakes (esp. when we are ill or are having major life problems/emergencies/issues). Some people are more understanding than others. I think Daytonite has a point, yet no one is infallible! I think mercy should be extended, yet there are limits (and in nursing school, there isn't much mercy to be had). If your record proves you to be a good student and this is a one time situation, then it's reasonable to hope! If not, you CAN retake the class and replace the F.

Best wishes! :)

Honestly, this was four years ago. If the teacher is no longer at the school I wouldn't contact him at home. If you can retake the class, I would just retake it.

If you do want to contact him though, write him. I wouldn't call him at home.

No, I don't think it would be out of line. But, nursetracy, come on, you had to have been one very sick cookie to have let this slide by and not drop the class. If I were this instructor I would want to be hearing a real heck of a three hankie story to convince me to change your F to a W after all this time. Like, were you in a coma and no one knew who you were? (I didn't ask that looking for an answer. I am just trying to illustrate how seriously this instructor is going to think you should have been in order to change your grade.)

Let me point out another thing. This was a slip in responsibility on your part. This is just the manager side of me rearing it's head, but do you think you are cut out to handle the responsibility of other people's lives? If I were a nursing school dean interviewing you for a spot in nursing school and asked you what you have done to change this kind of behavior, how would you answer me? You need to think about this because some day someone could very well look at your school record and be asking you this.

Day-

Remind me not to apply to work in your department.

Someone not being able to drop a class does not equate lack of responsibility for patient care. Geesh.

Well actually I was sick - it was what I know now to be the cancer that was discovered last year. At the time I was more concentrated on my health then dropping a class.

Oh well - we all make mistakes that we later regret...

I would definitely contact the professor. Additionally, if you ever go to another school...and you retake this class, they may only AVERAGE the two grades rather than replace the new one over the other. So I'm thinking long term for you. Write him/her and if they refuse or don't respond then retake. Trying counts for something. Good luck!!!