Hardship Withdrawal?

Parents Forum
1

<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>I've posted here in the past and received great advice from you guys. I was hoping you might be able to help me with another decision I have.</p>

<p>I am currently a senior at our state flagship. I have an okay GPA (3.7), participate in research 20 hours a week, and am enrolled in 18 credits this quarter (two graduate level classes plus a physiology class). The grad classes are no problem. I love them both; the material is fascinating and the instructors are nice.</p>

<p>I'm having a problem with the physiology class though. The class meets twice a week for a 2.5 hour lecture both evenings. The grade is composed entirely of test scores (one every two weeks, the lowest of which is dropped) and the class is curved. </p>

<p>I was doing a little below average on the first two tests and was surprised, as I previously thought I was quite strong in physiology. My main interest in health psychology and I am interested in physiology, as well. I have, in the past, looked up physiological processes and such, purely out of interest. I thought maybe it was just a fluke and I would be able to drop one of the first two tests.</p>

<p>When I walked in for the third test last week though, I noticed everyone around me had copies of the test before class. Apparently, all the Greeks have "test files" and they can study the exact questions/answers instead of actually putting the effort in to learn the material! I was so frustrated and shocked and still am. I did horrible on the third test (last week).</p>

<p>I don't really know what to do now. I only have four weeks left and am thinking I will just continue to study hard. I'm worried though about the grade on my transcript. I have done well in most of my other classes and was planning on applying to graduate school in the fall (master's of public health programs, mostly). I'm worried it's going to look really bad if I get a low grade in this physiology class and I don't want to come off as somebody just making excuses. I really do know this material, but the tests are full of really tricky questions and I second-guess myself a lot.</p>

<p>I have thought of dropping that class, but I'm afraid that might look even worse? I dropped a calc-based physics class in the Fall after my best friend fell 20-25 feet and nearly died, I had a really bad reaction to OCD medication (severe depression), and other stuff. I have an incomplete from a volunteer class I took in the winter, where logistically I couldn't get things worked out. Now, it's spring and I would have to apply for a hardship withdrawal in order to drop the class. </p>

<p>I'm not sure if my circumstances even qualify as "hardship?" I think I might talk to an advisor, but I feel like I'll be seen as just making excuses for not doing well in this class? I have a torn tendon in my knee that requires physical therapy twice a week and makes sitting through the physiology lecture excruciatingly painful. Anytime I sit for more than an hour or so, it feels like horrible, extreme frostbite on the anterior portion of my knee. I also am having a hard time with some psychological stuff, as I've given up trying meds (due to very dangerous reactions before). This takes up additional time and effort.</p>

<p>I feel like I should probably stick it out, as I don't want my withdrawals to turn into a pattern. But, I was hoping you guys might have input too?</p>

2

<p>I commend your perserverence and think that if you can make a C or better, stay in the course. It will look better than an additional withdrawl and require less explanation on a grad school application. </p>

<p>I'm not sure whether the Greeks are cheating, based on what you say. If they are, should you mention it to the prof? If not, then can you become friends with one of them to participate in their review after your studying?</p>

3

<p>I think that you should tell the prof about how other students have copies of the exam. If the professor is serious about teaching, the professor will start creating new exams. </p>

<p>When I was a professor, to avoid the situation that you describe, I always gave completely different exams each semester and to each section of the classes that I taught.</p>

<p>I agree that if you can make at least a "C", stay in the class.</p>

4

<p>Thank you pipmom and Northstarmom. </p>

<p>The class starts in an hour or so and I think I will stick with it. I'm icing my knee now to prepare ;) I'm really going to try hard to devote myself to this class for the next four weeks. I have A's in the other classes and already finished the term papers (they were fun to write!), so I should have time. I guess I can try to look at this as a challenge. I want to try to get above average on at least on of the remaining two tests. I still am having a little bit of a hard time accepting that this grade will likely have a very negative effect on my GPA and not be representative of the work effort I have put in, but I guess that's life. I have a feeling the department knows about the practice tests being circulated, as the Greek's don't keep their "test file" all that secret. I do plan to write on the anonymous class evaluation form about the problems I have with the structure of the class, in hopes that this will prevent the problem in future quarters.</p>

<p>Thanks again for the advice. I'll try hard to get a "C."</p>

<p>I have thought of maybe repeating the class this summer with my own tests from this quarter, but that still seems like cheating. I have also thought of taking it at a different college, but I'm not sure a grade in a community college course would be seen as equivalent. Do either of these ideas sound good? Or, I should just work hard and take the grade I receive?</p>

5

<p>Just a thought. Are you sure the tests that others have are not available to everyone at the library? I know some state univ professors here put all their old exams in the library. It is perfectly acceptable and expected for students to copy them, solve the problems, and use for study.</p>

<p>I see you have decided to stick with the class. I wish you well.</p>

6

<p>Absolutely ask the prof if there are old exams available to study from. Many profs release their exams and college study centers, college libraries and yes, even frats, have them on file for their lucky members</p>

7

<p>I agree you should check whether old tests are available to everyone. My daughter's chem teacher last semester makes old problem sets and tests available to all his students as study and prep material which is very useful. He writes new tests every semester. </p>

<p>You could just straight out ask - him "I noticed a lot of students have old tests to study from - where can I find them?"</p>

8

<p>Lots of professors have copies of old exams available. Some distribute them to students automatically.</p>

<p>I think it started out as a way to thwart the Greeks, but it's turned into a routine way of reviewing for tests at many universities.</p>

9

<p>Well, I went today and had a completely different attitude! I got a new pencil, new notebook, etc. Really am trying to put all my effort from now until the end of the quarter into studying for this class. I'm trying to see the tricky tests as just an extra challenge that will make it more rewarding to earn a (hopefully) good grade. </p>

<p>I do like your ideas of emailing the professor. I have studied from old tests in the past, but only when the teacher has made them available. I definitely found it helpful and if this professor does that, it would be a good resource, I suppose. I don't think he has made the tests public, as they're not on the website, but I suppose it never hurts to ask!</p>

<p>Thanks again for all of the advice :)</p>

10

<p>Thought I'd just update you guys real quickly about my situation.</p>

<p>I have talked to the professor and unfortunately, he doesn't give out practice exams. I was disappointed at first, but still studied hard.</p>

<p>I scored 7 points above the mean on our second to last exam! I am now one point above average for our three best exams :) I'm so excited. I studied really hard for this recent test and even though I didn't have the practice test, I still managed to do okay. I'm going to try to keep up this strategy for the last exam as well ;)</p>

<p>I have three more lectures (about 8 hours of class) worth of material to study by the last exam (Monday, 6/9). I'm going to try really hard. I've got two more 15-20 page term papers to finish and then all my energy can pretty much be devoted to this class. Hopefully it pays off again :)</p>

11

<p>:)</p>

<p>Congratulations! And thank you for sharing your good news!</p>

<p>:)</p>