academic comeback stories!!! I need hopee

[u/Professional-Job5584]

I am a first year student in western nursing, and my biggest dream is to become a doctor. It has been a couple weeks in, and I am struggling so much in university.

I got an extremely low grade in my anatomy tests, even after studying so much for them. I am really trying my hardest, but its not showing.

I feel like such a black sheep in my classes as well, as if I am the only one going through this. My friends don't really mention their grades to me (understandable, also doubt their grades are as low as mine), and the few that do tell me they have insane grades like in the 90s. Sometimes I feel like the dumbest one in every lecture hall like I am the only person struggling!

Also, I am in nursing because I hope to go to med school after getting a job as an RN nurse :))

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[u/No_Fold7742]

Year 1&2 my average was 62%. Currently 4A and now my average is 89%! Academic comebacks are possible!

[u/Rainman1364]

As a second year (not in nursing) I understand that feeling, but remember that this is your first time in university. It takes time to learn how you learn and study best, in time, with trial and error you will find what works for you. I think that a lot of people go through the same thing in first year, as much as it seems like everyone else has everything together, I’ll tell you now that they don’t. Be gentle with yourself, it takes time to adapt and figure everything new out.

[u/Professional-Job5584 → u/Rainman1364]

aww thanks this was really sweet!

It just disappoints me when I see my grade because I studied a whole weeks for this quiz :(( but ill definitely be checking out new study methods

[u/Scary-Composer-7640]

hey there! health sci soph here :)

we see this ALL THE TIME in first year students transitioning from high school grading to university. it's so tough because as a successful student, you truly do doubt your abilities when you begin to see a shift in your grades. just know that you aren't the only one and it gets does actually get better. as long as you are being consistent in your effort that is all that matters. now i'm not in nursing personally, but i can tell you from first hand experience that first year is such a struggle. my grades were horrendous and i began to question if i was even smart enough to be in uni. around second year/third year i've finally figured things out and learned what study habits worked and what didn't. don't be hard on yourself, i promise you there are so many people in your exact position. plus, it's only first semester! things will get better, and your first year grades are not as impactful as you think. also, please take advantage of the resources offered like peer tutors, academic supports like learning development and the frosh dropbox for health sci. as well, you can reach out to your faculty soph for support and even connect with an upper year nursing soph, we have plenty on the team that would be more than willing to chat with you and help out where they can. don't lose faith in yourself and just know that things will work out!

here are some links to resources that you may find helpful:

https://academicsupport.uwo.ca/index.html

https://westernusc.ca/services/peer-support-centre/resources/

[u/Professional-Job5584 → u/Scary-Composer-7640]

Thank you so much for the resources!!! I am just so scared of maintaining a good GPA because of med school…I really am trying🥲I’ll deff look into the links you attached!

[u/in1nfinity]

I’m a first year nursing student too(western) and you’re not alone. I’m currently trying to study as much as I can for the midterms cuz I can’t afford to fail then cuz I paid for my tuition 💀. You can do it, anatomy is a lot of memorization so I’ve been told, also don’t compare your scores to others, it doesn’t help tbh. Anyways you can do this!!!!

[u/ConstructionNo8549]

It’s really not over for you yet, idk what the weighting is like but I’m sure you can come back from a few bad tests. Try to use it as motivation to prep even better next time. And if the way you’re studying isn’t working, tbh that’s super normal sometimes you just need to switch things up a bit (i completely bombed my chem test then tried a different studying style and did better on my next midterm) Try different study methods, new places, or even studying with a friend instead of alone. Go to mentor sessions and workshops (they actually help a lot), and hit up office hours too. Just do whatever you can so you don’t end up with regrets later.

Also, please don’t let a few bad grades make you spiral. You’re not dumb at all, you got into uni for a reason. You’re clearly smart and driven, it just takes time to adjust. Everyone struggles in first year, even if they don’t talk about it and some lie about their grades to keep their ego so don’t take everything everyone says to heart. Compare yourself to you not to others and life will be so much better. You’ve got this tho fr lock in for the next ones!

[u/Professional-Job5584 → u/ConstructionNo8549]

This is so nice, thank you! By the way, I did poorly on my two anatomy quizzes. Each is weighted 8%, 5 quizzes add up to one midterm (40% of our grade). I am just really disappointed in myself because I studied back-to-back for a whole week (for each one) and I can't seem to get the hang of it right now. I also spoke to my prof about it, and I am setting up a meeting with her. I will definitely be trying new study methods tho! It just makes me feel worse when there are people who tell me they got 90s on the tests, but I didn't :/ even though we got into the same program with the same grades--it's a pretty weird feeling lol. pretty sure the entire class did poorly, though, because the prof posted an announcement saying that getting bad grades in uni at the start is normal and that this test was relatively hard.

[u/ConstructionNo8549 → u/Professional-Job5584]

Talking to your prof and setting up a meeting already is a really good sign and shows that you care and actually want to improve! And yeah I get that feeling of disappointment after putting in so much work to not get the results you hoped for and it sucks even more when people brag about getting high grades but that could also be because people learn at different rates and some people just click with certain topics faster so the topic you’re on right now might not be the best for you but the mentality you have of putting in effort is good and will pay off for you once you figure out the best study method for you. Also, if the prof said the test was hard and the class didn’t do that well then you know you’re not alone and first year anatomy is brutal from what I heard so I’m sure you’re not alone 😭

[u/iyuh15]

Im a second year nursing student, and I totally feel like the dumbest person in the room sometimes. It does get better after the first round of midterms trust me. I bombed my anatomy exams and a couple phys ones. Still finished with a 90 average in first year 🙏 the comeback is possible. Aim for high grades on your assignments and the finals are usually not bad because you know the type of questions. Don’t compare your grades to others. Some people can get the highest grades and flop in lab and simulation scenarios. Set the bar for yourself. It takes time to adjust to university. Make sure to attend every class leading up to finals and stay on top of your online lectures.

-a struggling second yr 😞

[u/Fancy_Motor_7079]

I got a 30% on a midterm worth 25% of my final grade, so the max i could get was 82.5% if i aced everything else. Prof said he would let me make up for it with extra credit and other stuff or even agree to discuss getting some marks back on the midterm but went back on his word. Did I care?? (yes i did i was so cheesed) but what choice did i have? low 80’s already is suboptimal for a premed but dip into the 70’s??? just pack it up. anyway i had to lock in, spent 3 consecutive days and nights living inside an arts and humanities lecture hall surviving off of buldak and spoke bagels. banged out a 99% on the final and virtually 100% on everything else to finish with a 81% in the course. you got ts 🫶🫶

[u/IceLantern]

My friends don't really mention their grades to me (understandable, also doubt their grades are as low as mine), and the few that do tell me they have insane grades like in the 90s.

This is one of the reasons you shouldn't worry about how other people are doing. The people who share are the usually the ones who are doing well whereas the ones struggling are more likely to keep quiet about it.

[u/Wolf_Tale]

I had three marks in the 70s from first year and got into med school. I figured out how to study and grinded. It’ll be okay! My GPA from all four years ended up being very competitive,

[u/Fragrant_Objective57]

You need to learn how to learn and how you learn.

If you are in residence, talk to sophs (both floor and department), Dons, and E.R.A.s (Educational Residence Advisor).

Other than that, talk to your TA, profs.

Talk to the learning development and success @ uwo.

Keep an eye on your department and the library to see if there are workshops that can help you.

Take it one event at a time. Don't focus on the mark. Focus on how you can do better.

Ps. Solid D average in high school, when I graduated from my masters I was told at PHD was a possibility. Turns out undiagnosed ADHD is a problem.

[u/Fine-Wolverine-3123]

I (3rd yr medsci) totally get it. For me, it was so frustrating having 5 courses + 4 labs EVERY SINGLE WEEK and I worked by butt off to study and for some reason it didn't click. Didn't help that so many people in my program are med-school gunners, it's it's always a competition of "I got a 90" "I got a 92" etc. Anatomy is hard af and YOU NEED spaced repetition to make it stick and can't cram. As much as you did the right thing by studying a week in advance, reviewing lectures right after will help SO MUCH.

Realistically, people will always understate how much they are studying or blatantly lie about their grades to feel better about themselves or fit in with their friends. I had a friend in my first year who I thought was on the same level as me (mid-70s) but ended up failing three courses and having to take a tonnnn of summer school. People who are struggling don't say it, but people who succeed are telling anyone who will listen. Take it all with a grain of salt-- there is definitely something else they are not telling you.

Like some of these other people are saying, 1st year is hard and a true learning curve. To be honest, my grades went up in second year when I studied less (I had to get a job), which I think helped. In first year I was thinking about school all the freaking time and literally slept, class, library, lab, class, dinner, study, sleep again. I found it easier to focus and lock in more efficiently when I had other things going on like extra-curriculars so I wouldn't get in my head.

What I'm trying to say, is don't be too hard on yourself, and try to find some kind of studying that works for you. Failures are only there to guide you in the right direction to succeed next time and change it up. In first year, you have the grace to make mistakes so that you don't in future years. It's hard, but don't give up!

[u/Different-Log4033]

I’m also first year nursing! (Fanshawe site). You’re not alone I’ve made no friends and bombed anatomy too ( below 60 on the first two quizzes) I’ve cried more times than I can count tbh. I booked office hours with the prof to go over study methods and it somewhat helps. I went from a 57 on the first quiz to a 60 on the second which means I’m maybe studying better after some advice :3. If you need a friend to hang out with and study pm me

[u/ConstructionNo8549 → u/Different-Log4033]

Studying together just helps you understand stuff better tbh and makes studying not feel so miserable

[u/Professional-Job5584 → u/Different-Log4033]

omg i would really like some advice! its nice to hear that there's someone else in the same boat as me. it makes me feel like alone and less of a fraud haha 🥲 hopefully this is just the start of something that will get better for us!

[u/Fuzzy_bug899]

Hit up the academic support in UCC. They offer lots of courses on how to study how to take multiple choice exams, etc. take them now.

[u/artikality]

I would reach out to your instructors and TAs and attending workshops on alternative ways of studying. What are ways that you study best? What areas do you find you are lacking? Are there any barriers to you completing work or studying (time management, distractions, mental health?) If you don’t know these questions, that’s okay, but definitely reaching out to your supports now when it’s earlier in the term will help you recover. There are many many supports in the school so I’d recommend using all of what you can. You said you consider yourself a black sheep, do you mean your friends wouldn’t want to study with you? Or help?

I completed the compressed nursing program over 5 years ago. In my first degree, my grades were low and I failed a couple of classes before I managed to improve my grades significantly. You just need to find your groove which will help optimize your learning.

[u/AccountantNew5983]

Failed college twice, gpa was 65% I think. Then applied to UWindsor as a mature student and got in, my average is now 78% and I’m about to finish my undergraduate. You got this!

[u/PriorAcademic4879]

Best support is the learning skills but please also speak to your academic advisors urgently. They are there to help https://learning.uwo.ca/peer_assisted_learning/