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Monday, December 30, 2013

Will bad grades ruin my chance of being an RT?

Your question:  I got c's and d's in chemistry and similar classes in high school.  Will this ruin my chance of getting accepted to respiratory therapy school?

My answer:  I wouldn't worry about past c's and d's in science classes. When I was in high school I flat our failed chemistry and algebra, and got b's and c's in my first four years of college, before being accepted into the respiratory therapy program. The general idea is that most people do better once they get into college, especially when they are in a program they really want to do. Just make sure you take your studies seriously, do not get behind, and take great notes in class. You should do just fine.

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2 comments:

migrainer said...

From my more recent experience (than Rick's-I graduated in 2011), bad grades in High School shouldn't stop you from entering the program, but there are more applicants for fewer spots within the RT programs in my part of the country. I had to interview with both programs I applied for, and was 2nd on the waitlist for my first choice. I'd previously gotten an Elem Ed bachelor's degree that I'd earned Summa cum Laude (with high honors). I'd been a Phi Theta Kappa (honor student 'fraternity') in my undergrad work at my community college, and I graduated high school cum Laude (with honors) and had earned 25 college credit hours my high school senior year.

Rick is right that your high school grades shouldn't hurt your chances at all, but be prepared to really buckle down and work for it if you want to be eligible to enter the RT program in your area. It's not that you can't do it, but prepare for the work that it will require. Get familiar with the student counseling center, and use the tutoring resources that are available in your college, there are even free ones. Also, if you find a good bunch of dedicated students, you should be able to set up a study group.

I was lucky and found another dedicated student in my microbiology and physiology classes, and we studied together after every class. I earned an A in micro and a B in physiology.

I don't know if every community college (CC) does this, but my CC was affiliated with the state school for the deaf, and since the student couldn't see the interpreter and take notes, there was the chance to take notes for both you and the student, and after you'd passed the course you'd get about 85% of your tuition reimbursed. As soon as I saw in interpreter I'd ask if there was a note taker chosen yet. For me, it was instant Karma...I had to show up and take really good notes for them, and since I was doing that I had really good notes, and I rarely missed a class, since I'd have to beg another classmate to cover for me. This meant that I had all the best materials in my notes when I was ready to study.

In fact, the student I studied with was my deaf classmate. They had a cochlear, and could read lips, between the two she could follow a conversation without an interpreter, but needed the notes so she could pay attention in class. She liked studying with me, because I could explain anything in my notes that wasn't crystal clear for her, and she took some notes of her own, which helped fill in the few blanks I missed. Be aware, my average page count for just the micro class was 20 pages per lecture, but the CC provided 'carbon' paper, so I didn't have to write all that out twice.

Sorry for the novel.

John Bottrell said...

Novel appreciated. Thanks.