Academic Difficulties
· If you fail a single exam, study harder and get some help. Rush has some great resources to help you through. This is not like undergrad–your instructors and the school do NOT want you to fail. Your course grade includes both the midterm and final exam scores, and it is often possible to pass a course even though you failed either the midterm or final exam. Failing the midterm, final, and course is what is known as the Unhappy Triad.
· If you fail a midterm, or think that it could happen, get help!!! Do something to preempt failing the class. If you don’t have a tutor, get one. Talk to Dr. Bob Leven if you think you need one-on-one tutoring. This is available in some instances. Also, take a trip to the Counseling Center to talk about study habits and techniques. Try to figure out how to best succeed in medical school. What works for your friends may not work for you.
· If you fail a course, remember that you are not alone and you will not be kicked out of medical school. You are a medical student who deserves to be here. It’s just time to find a better way to adjust, and getting help with how to modify your study skills or schedule by utilizing the resources that have been recommended will help you with this.
· If your final score is less than 2 standard deviations lower than the mean, you will be given a week or two to study for a cumulative “quickie make-up” exam which will have some recycled course elements and some that were not tested on previously. However, you cannot take more than two “quickie make-up” exams in a single quarter.
· On the other hand, if your final score is more than 2 standard deviations lower than the mean, or if you fail the “quickie make-up” exam, you have an “outstanding failure." You will initially speak with the Assistant Dean, Preclinical Programs (Dr. Ada Cole), and then you may have to meet with the Committee on Student Evaluation and Progress (COSEP) to identify the source of the problem and to see how Rush can help you. In most cases, you will be allowed to take a cumulative make-up exam at the end of the summer. Again, most students pass these exams and the worst thing about it will be the blow to your ego.
· In transition to an honest transcript, when you have passed either the “quickie make-up” exam or the cumulative make-up exam at the end of the summer, both of the grades will be reported on your transcript.
· If you fail the make-up exam at the end of the summer, you will need to speak with Dr. Cole again, and she will try to work out something with you. Dr. Cole is your greatest ally in this process. She will take time to work with you and help you find your way through the journey that is medical school.
· If you are having trouble in multiple classes, you may want to consider taking a year off or splitting one academic year into two (i.e., spreading one year's courses over a two-year period). In the latter case, you might repeat some classes in which you experienced significant difficulty. Don't feel stigmatized if you resort to one of the above options; some people need time to resolve personal issues, spend time with family, or take their coursework at a slower pace.
· The teachers at Rush aren’t out to get you, and all of them are here to help and see that you get through this process relatively unscathed. Almost all of them are willing to meet with you to discuss your difficulties and try to find a way to help you pass their classes. The workload can be overwhelming sometimes (“My life is about notecards!”), but you are getting better and smarter as time passes.
Splitting Years
First, let us forewarn you that medical school is tough, and at some point in the first two years everyone worries that they won’t make it. In the end, however, almost everyone does fine with only a few minor hitches here and there. That being said, splitting years is an option that a few students take advantage of each year. They may choose to split years due to family issues, academic difficulties, or taking time to do research, but whatever your reason may be, know that this option exists. Dr. Cole (Assitant Dean, Preclinical Programs) is once again your guide through this process. She can help you determine if this is the correct path for you. Some quick answers about splitting years:
1. You will be charged partial tuition, but also an enrollment fee.
2. You can split your M1 year into two years .
3. You will have to explain your choice to split years when you apply for residencies. Residency directors will ask why–guaranteed. It can be a difficult decision to decide to split your year, and the first response may be to shy away from this option, but after really looking at your whole situation it can make your life much easier in the long run. Take the time to research this option so that you can plan your split schedule to best fit your needs.
A Final Note About Academic Difficulty
This may be one of your first experiences with not doing as well in an academic setting, and that in itself deserves attention. You are not a failure as a person or as a medical student simply because you have not adjusted as quickly as other students to this academic environment. Take a moment or a day to feel sad, angry, guilty or frustrated about the situation. Then move forward. Do not dwell on the situation for the next week before looking into the resources available to help you. There is another exam around the corner that you must be prepared for. Not doing well on one exam does not have to mean a repeat performance on the next exam.