Failed last class needed to receive my associates from local com. college. What next?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by patrickm213, Apr 2, 2015.

Loading...
  1. patrickm213

    patrickm213 New Member

    I am failing the last course, comp II, for my associates of science at a community college. The degree is a general studies/transfer degree. I have applied for graduation this semester.

    I can repeat the course, but it will cost double($350).

    I am a working adult in my 30s. Generally work 120+ hours a week and typically do not have much time for things such as writing papers. Courses which are mostly test based I excel at. When I started the degree, I had much more time for writing. My GPA was 4.0 until last semester.

    I've been looking at Patten, WGU and Capella for either a bachelors in IT or criminal justice. My interest in the criminal justice degree lies in the fact that such a degree would allow me to obtain a private investigator manager license in my state. I have IT experience.

    My goal for the degree is mostly so I can no longer be turned down or passed over because I do not have a degree.

    Could use some ideas on what to do next. Repeat the comp course so I can receive the AS from the community college? Transfer into another associates program? Transfer directly into bachelors program?

    Have I killed my options with my tanking GPA?

    Sorry I am kind of all over the place here.
     
  2. airtorn

    airtorn Moderator

    My initial thought is to redo the class and finish the degree at the cc.

    If you repeat the class, do both grades get factored into the GPA? Different schools have different policies on this.
     
  3. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    If they'll accept it, and you're referring to English Composition II, you could try taking a CLEP test. Ask your academic advisor there about this option.
     
  4. Afterhours

    Afterhours Member

    Rather than start from scratch at a new college, I would retake the class, pass it; get your associate degree and go on for your BA/S.

    In my experience both grades will be featured on the poster's transcript.

    In order to obtain an associate degree anywhere, English Comp I and II are pretty standard. What part of the class gave you trouble? Perhaps you could enlist the services of a tutor to help you though the class.

    If I were you, I'd walk in graduation and take the class online or at the college this summer. Before signing up for an online class, make sure your college will accept the credit from another college.
     
  5. Afterhours

    Afterhours Member

    PS. As long as your grades in other classes are decent, you have not killed your possibility of attending a four year college.
     
  6. patrickm213

    patrickm213 New Member

    School does not accept CLEP for composition classes.

    It's not that the course gave me difficulty that a tutor would be able to help with. Multi page essays with required reading and only 3 days to finish them gave me difficulty plus other assignments which I missed. There is another class that begins in April, but I am concerned I will run into the same issue. When I took comp I, I was not working as much and the assignments were not as time consuming.
     
  7. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    Different schools have different policies. I failed two courses at CTU originally (I just stopped submitting assignments because of work). So my transcript had two very bold "F"s that I had to explain when I transferred to a local B&M school. I still got in, but I missed out on a merit scholarship for my first semester because they don't typically give merit money to people with two failing grades.

    After my time at the B&M, I transferred back to CTU. First order of business was retaking those courses. My transcript now shows the former "F"'s as "R" (because I retook the classes). It is very clear that I took the classes a total of three times (first time I failed, second time I withdrew and third time I aced them). But it still spares me the indignity of having failing grades on my transcript.

    I think you should retake the courses before you move on. Even if your school lets the old fail stand, having the same class showing say, a B+ will put it in a different context. Besides, you've come this far, get your piece of paper and THEN move on. (Also, I know TESC requires Comp II, I can't speak for the others but the course couldn't hurt. Just knock it out on the cheap and move on)
     
  8. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    That's definitely a consideration. But I would try to push through. If you feel you absolutely cannot do it in April, then I would plan to do it the following semester and give yourself time to try to adjust your life accordingly by then.

    Patten, WGU and Capella (assuming Flexpath) are going to require a fair amount of work. While you have the illusion of endless time the more time you take the more expensive your degree becomes. And if you go to a school that doesn't use the competency based courses you are likely going to be doing quite a few writing intensive courses in an equally constrained time period.

    I know how you feel. I was working on my degree at CTU while I was on active duty. Two courses at a time. A writing intensive assignment and a discussion assignment due every week PER COURSE(and on unlucky weeks, two writing intensive assignments for both courses during the same week). Lots of reading. Lots of research. Writing until my fingers felt like they were going to fall off. It was hard. There were many nights were I was writing and researching instead of sleeping. While other people were eating lunch in the galley I was eating powerbars and reading books. I earned my Masters just after my wife had our second child. The baby would wake up at 1 and 3. I would take those two wakeups and study and write in between. It sucked. I was a zombie. But now it is done.

    Sometimes you just have to make it work.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 3, 2015
  9. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    "I understand. So... do you have any demerit scholarships?"

    Just kidding. I'm sympathetic, as the semester that was supposed to be my last at GW was an epic implosion. I was enrolled for three courses and had to retake two of them afterwards. Like with Patrick, it was just a lot of work and not enough time to complete it.
     
  10. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    That's really what led me to withdrawing from CTU initially. I had two courses and my girlfriend just broke up with me. To top things off, I was preparing for a deployment. Weeks just slipped away. I have distinct memories of staying up the night before due dates trying, in vain, to write something to turn in. It was pretty horrific.

    Took a break when I realized it just wasn't going to happen. Did a semester at a B&M school. And when I went back to CTU, I was able to plow through my last 12 months. It surely wasn't easy. A few differences from there to here:

    1. Mine was a bachelors program I was trying to complete. Here, with an associates, I can understand the temptation to scrap the last class and just go for a B.S.
    2. I had an associates degree going into my bachelors program. But it was an A.A. and I was going for a B.S.B.A. So my associates only knocked off so much.
    3. That one semester at the B&M was enough to knock a few months off of my online studies. 12 months was a lot easier to face than the 15 or so I was facing when I withdrew.

    If I were the OP, I would try to balance my future goals against what is practical. If this one course isn't doable for the next semester, what are the odds that the coursework for the bachelors degree is going to be more manageable? If you need to take a one or two semester break, consider that it might be helpful to know that you are only one class away from getting the associates upon your return. If you get back to school and are staring down the barrel of another 60 (or so) credits it might be disheartening.

    An associates degree can be one of two things, a stepping stone toward a bachelors or enough training for certain jobs. Either way, when you earn one, it is cause to celebrate and congratulate yourself. If you only need one course to have a moment where you smile as you reflect on your achievement, I say go for it. It's good for the spirit.
     
  11. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    Most schools require that you complete a minimum number of courses in residence. So transferring to another school may not be cost effective.
     
  12. sanantone

    sanantone Well-Known Member

    The obvious solution, in my opinion, is to take the course at another school and transfer it in. Several universities offer self-paced, independent study courses that are generally affordable: Louisiana State University, University of Idaho, Adams State University, Colorado State University - Pueblo, Brigham Young University, etc. You should see which ones offer English Comp II.
     
  13. patrickm213

    patrickm213 New Member

    Thanks everyone. There is still a small chance I might squeeze by with a D. Some grades have not been posted yet.

    "If this one course isn't doable for the next semester, what are the odds that the coursework for the bachelors degree is going to be more manageable?"

    An understandable question. Keep in mind that I passed 7 other courses this year. My grades were not as high as last year, but still passed. The main reason for the drop in grades was incompatible time tables.

    For example an essay with only a few days available to write complete it, or a test only available on 1 day. Many of the classes were mainly test based with a full week available or just a requirement to finish all the work before the end of the class. I can knock out a test in an hour, which is more than doable even with my schedule. Researching and writing a 5 page paper with a minimum of 5 outside sources and only 3 days to complete it though?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 4, 2015
  14. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    WITHDRAW from this class (not college). TODAY. Seriously, 99% of the community colleges allow you to take a "W" instead of an "F" up until the last week of the semester. This will preserve your GPA. Do it immediately.

    Then, think of a plan to take this course and graduate.

    No, you don't transfer, you'll end up spending more time and money in multiple ways, that's a disastrous plan.

    Don't sign up for April- you're too stressed. Once you get your W, you can take a breather for a couple weeks and take the session that follows the April session. Maybe even take the course in the summer. Cut your hours at work, take a few sick days, take a few vacation days, get a tutor, do what it takes- but break through the tape and FINISH this thing!

    EDIT: even if your college accepted CLEP for this class, you would have had to do it before now- you can't go back and replace an F or W with exam credit.

    It's like having a baby- and now it's time to push.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 4, 2015
  15. patrickm213

    patrickm213 New Member

    Well, the good news is that I received a 70 on the essay I thought I totally failed. I now have a 65% average with 1 essay that is worth 25% of the grade left.

    I just might get by.
     
  16. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Good luck to you - hope you get by.
     
  17. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    you'll need an 85% or better to earn 70% in this class. Good luck!
     
  18. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    oh . . . it's that math again.:mischievous:
     
  19. patrickm213

    patrickm213 New Member

    I'll get credit for a D. Need a 2.0 to graduate. Current gpa is 3.0 something so I should be ok there.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 6, 2015
  20. Afterhours

    Afterhours Member

    Good for you! As long as the "D" counts towards your degree, there is no reason to withdraw.
    We are pulling for you!

    Please know that upper division classes, in most majors do require a good amount of reading and writing. That's why the first two years of an associate degree require comp I and II.

    Do you have any idea of where you will continue? I'd look into those self paced colleges that were mentioned by another poster up-thread.
     

Share This Page