I'm sick and I worried about college exams

TheBiz

I'm 21 and currently a repeat 2nd year student..
Long story short - Studying a business degree, went to change after 2nd year (having not completed all my exams) hated the course I changed to and made a last ditch attempt to get back in as a repeat in my old course.
Somehow I managed to get back in, I've 2 subjects to repeat for Xmas exams and I joined with 4 weeks left (including study week).

Now I've come down with something.
Started with a sore throat, dry cough etc etc.. I'm asthmatic so I was given prednisone steroids for a week, didn't help. Went back down and I'm now on antibiotics.
They're not helping, I feel wrecked when I just spend the day lying around at home.
I am constantly yawning or starting to fall asleep, I've a pounding headache.. I've felt out of breath after getting the turf or carrying in shopping - to the point where I can't talk and I have to catch my breath.
I come out in a sweat all of a sudden and I either feel really hot or really cold.

Docs not too sure if it's Glandular Fever, I had a friend with it last year and he had to defer the year with it.
I haven't had a test yet but the process seems to be antibiotics and then if they don't help, blood test.
My sister might have it too (she's always taking my water bottles)

---- I am not asking for medical advice! ----

I know it'd be with good intentions but my post is about college.

I've just over a week till exams I'm not fully prepared for (given I joined very late)..
I'm dosed and even if I could sit my exams I don't know if I'd just be shooting myself in the foot.

But what's the alternative? Defer the year? Or more than likely just these 2 exams until next summer?
But then I'm caught if I have to repeat (which I might, and if I'm sitting them for the first time in Summer, there's no chance of a repeat)

It would be my luck that I fall sick 2 weeks after starting back college and 2 weeks before exams..

I've been on the antibiotics for 3 days, apparently I should be feeling something now.
What should I do?
Do I go back down to the doctor (not my own GP, he's out)? College Doctor?
Could I get a deferral - see how I am and sit the exams if I feel up to it?
I don't know how it works given I'm repeating too.

hawley

What percentage of the year's total do they count for? I presume that it is a repetition of the previous syllabus, so you should already have a good grasp of it. With only two subjects to repeat, there should be no excuse for not passing the exams, even if you haven't been at your best for the last while.

Pelvis

You're a repeat student so you've covered all the material already, and presumably studied for the previous exams even if you didn't sit them. So it shouldn't be that much of an ordeal to study for 2 exams now? All you need to do is pass.

Honestly, it sounds like you're looking for a way out here...

TheBiz

Pelvis wrote: »

You're a repeat student so you've covered all the material already, and presumably studied for the previous exams even if you didn't sit them. So it shouldn't be that much of an ordeal to study for 2 exams now? All you need to do is pass.

Honestly, it sounds like you're looking for a way out here...

I've studied them this time last year and failed.
I've been going to lectures and additional grinds (outside of college), completed the continuous assessment and what not.

I have a midterm to make up for during the other exams too.

They're both maths related subjects, not something I'm fond of or necessarily good at.

I can see why you would think I'm looking for a way out.

But at the same time I am not well, I'm sleeping 16 hours a day, on prescription painkillers for my headaches and now my throat.
I'm either sleeping in my clothes with an extra duvet or I'm on the leather couch because I'm too hot and it's colder.

I've been doing fine up until now, no issues with grinds, getting through CA (that was originally suppose to take an hour per test and one per week) over the course of a week and a half.
I've been in and out to lectures each week - only 6 hours a week but 1 1/2 hour bus journey each way, and then 3 - 4 hours of grinds a week.

I've plans to go work abroad this summer, I don't want to defer because then I can't go but at the same time I'm just wrecked, haven't shaved, showered, can't even play my xbox, I'm just curled up on the couch or asleep.

I'm already in for an up hill struggle with the exams, each lecture, department head, tutor, admin and whoever else has told me I really need to work if I want to get a pass..

TheBiz

hawley wrote: »

What percentage of the year's total do they count for? I presume that it is a repetition of the previous syllabus, so you should already have a good grasp of it. With only two subjects to repeat, there should be no excuse for not passing the exams, even if you haven't been at your best for the last while.

They're equal, I've passed the other modules, so I've 2 out of a total 5 to pass this semester and a 1.5 hour midterm during that same week.
Plus an in hospital appointment for chronic headaches and a driving test (which is on the same day as an exam) in the same week.

They're worth 30% of my overall degree together with the rest of the years exams.
They're also maths based, so I'm not looking forward to them.

Kitty6277

I’m not sure what college you go to, but at my college you can apply for an I grade in circumstances like this. I think (and I could be wrong because I’ve never had to look into it too much) this allows you to repeat your exams at a later stage. Maybe see if your college has something like this?

retro:electro

Have you passed your assignments? If so then you’re half way there. Can you get a doctors cert and ask to sit in a sick bay? I had to do this a few times and they allocate you an extra ten mins per hour (college depending)
I’m not sure how maths exams work but surely if you’ve the method and application correct you’ll get some marks even if the answer is wrong? Nobody looks forward to doing exams. Everyone dreads them and the option to defer is a tempting one but you’re only offloading the burden til next year.

TheBiz

Kitty6277 wrote: »

I’m not sure what college you go to, but at my college you can apply for an I grade in circumstances like this. I think (and I could be wrong because I’ve never had to look into it too much) this allows you to repeat your exams at a later stage. Maybe see if your college has something like this?

They do, that's what I've been looking at instead of just deferring the whole college year.
It would mean sitting the exams at the end of the summer, when others are repeating, but there's no cap on results if you've deferred.

TheBiz

retro:electro wrote: »

Have you passed your assignments? If so then you’re half way there. Can you get a doctors cert and ask to sit in a sick bay? I had to do this a few times and they allocate you an extra ten mins per hour (college depending)
I’m not sure how maths exams work but surely if you’ve the method and application correct you’ll get some marks even if the answer is wrong? Nobody looks forward to doing exams. Everyone dreads them and the option to defer is a tempting one but you’re only offloading the burden til next year.

They're worth like 20% or something around that.

That's a good point I don't want to just offload the burden but it would be until the end of Summer instead of an entire year.
So it would just be deferring these exams at Christmas, I would go into 2nd semester as normal and sit the exams.. but I would have exams when the repeats are going on.

The maths exams are usually solve x, y and z so you can follow the formula for the answer, so they're testing your overall ability rather than just your ability to assign p hat, x bar and a z score to something and follow a formula.

.......

You joined back in with 4 weeks to go until exams but they are exams you already covered the material for and sat but failed in the past. So this is your second chance?

And now because you are sick you want to defer the exams and have a third chance?

No offence, but you need to man up. This is life. People get sick.

I sat a timed exam last year with gasteroenteritis, a massive dehydration headache, dizziness and having to violently vomit every 20 minutes or so. Such is life.

So in answer to What Should I do - carry on studying and sit your exams and dont think that because you have a bit of a dose 2 weeks before some exams that you should defer things until the summer.

Kitty6277

TheBiz wrote: »

They do, that's what I've been looking at instead of just deferring the whole college year.
It would mean sitting the exams at the end of the summer, when others are repeating, but there's no cap on results if you've deferred.

If you defer the year doesn’t that mean you have to repeat again? If so then imo I’d rather get an I grade and do the exams at the end of the summer, but that’s just my opinion. And that’s also if you’re sure you’re definitely too unwell to do the exams in 2 weeks or whenever it is

TheBiz

....... wrote: »

You joined back in with 4 weeks to go until exams but they are exams you already covered the material for and sat but failed in the past. So this is your second chance?

And now because you are sick you want to defer the exams and have a third chance?

No offence, but you need to man up. This is life. People get sick.

I sat a timed exam last year with gasteroenteritis, a massive dehydration headache, dizziness and having to violently vomit every 20 minutes or so. Such is life.

So in answer to What Should I do - carry on studying and sit your exams and dont think that because you have a bit of a dose 2 weeks before some exams that you should defer things until the summer.

It's not for the sake of a third chance, I'd be giving up the chance of repeating if I was to fail.. but I would save the cost of repeat fees (as opposed to sitting the exam, failing and then paying €300 or so for a repeat because I was sick)..

I'm well aware people get sick, people also work longer hours under harder conditions - that's not a justification for it.
If you're sick and you (and your doctor) feel you should defer, then you've got the option there.

You wouldn't say someone with depression who doesn't get help is better than the person who does, if you're sick and put your head down to struggle through it that doesn't make you any better than the person who avails of the help.
They have these supports in college so it's fair.

From what I can see in my Uni, you're not suppose to sit an exam even in a sick bay if it's contagious which would include Gastroenteritis.. My brother had that it's a nasty dose.

The doctor has said it's a good chance I've got glandular fever but he gave me antibiotics just in case it's something else that the antibiotics will clear (and I haven't been on antibiotics in years)..

Next step is to finish the course of drugs, study as I have been, see if I get better, if not - go back to the doc, have a blood test done and see what comes back.

TheBiz

Kitty6277 wrote: »

If you defer the year doesn’t that mean you have to repeat again? If so then imo I’d rather get an I grade and do the exams at the end of the summer, but that’s just my opinion. And that’s also if you’re sure you’re definitely too unwell to do the exams in 2 weeks or whenever it is

I'd 100% want to avoid repeating the year, even though it would be free.
I just don't want to have to do that at all.

I was looking at even a sickbay/room, apparently you don't qualify if you've something that's contagious.. there's no guarantee I have it but the Drs fairly confident all the same.

Rubberchikken

re read your original post op. its full of excuses, reasons to not continue, not take the exams etc.
do you really want to do this course? do you really want to be in college?

TheBiz

Rubberchikken wrote: »

re read your original post op. its full of excuses, reasons to not continue, not take the exams etc.
do you really want to do this course? do you really want to be in college?

But I am talking about not doing my exams because I am sick, so naturally it's going to be about how I am sick and how I don't know if I can do the exams.

retro:electro

I feel like you’ve posted here to get validation your reasons and you seem to have an excuse and a rebuff for every suggestion put forward to you.
While you’ve been posting on this thread about it you could have had a few hours of study done.

Sardonicat

OP, your don't know yet if you'll be well enough to do the exams on the day. My advice would be to try and prepare as best you can and show up and sit the exams. You may pass one or both and not have to repeat. I know you plan to work abroad in the summer but you've been thrown a curve ball and you have to deal with it now. These things happen and we have to adjust our plans.

In relation to the driving test; if you're dosed up on painkillers you probably aren't safe (or legal) to drive so if, (if) you do have glandular fever or are still ill with flu you should look into postponing that. At least that will take some pressure off on exam day.

Bottom line, if you're not contagious show up and sit your exams. If you've got to repeat then so be it. You won't be the first or the last and it's not the end of the world.

I don't mean to be preachy here, at all, I think you've got yourself into a pre exam panic. It's awful, I know, but it's also part and parcel of exams. I think you could do more prep for the exams than you think. You're able to post on here coherently so you CAN do a little bit of work.

Best of luck and hope you're feeling better soon.

never_mind

Op you need a good kick up the bum. Put the head down and get the exams done. You’re making excuses and want strangers on a forum to encourage you to self destruct. Get on with it!

Big Bag of Chips

TheBiz, it sounds like you are not cut out for this course. Maybe you're not cut out for college. It's not for everyone. Yet schools seem to concentrate on encouraging students to apply to go to college. You're already talking about deferring these exams until the summer, and then the possibility of needing to repeat them in the summer.

Maybe get yourself a job, a trade, a clerical job whatever.

It sounds like college isn't for you.

wiggle16

With respect OP: get off Boards and start studying. Stop wasting time. As a previous poster correctly said, the time you spent writing that could have been time better spent revising.

If you need advice on deferring/repeating exams and the provisions made for that in your particular university, you must speak to the exams office of the university and the head of department of your course. Posters here cannot provide relevant input on how deferral or repeating works in your college when you have not even checked that yourself.

If you are unwell, your GP is the same as any other doctor and any doctor can examine you and request your records to the same level of competency and duty of care as any other. If you are concerned a course of medication is not working, you should consult your GP or pharmacist.

wiggle16

As I have previously advised you, OP, I am closing this thread.

Based upon your previous threads in relation to college and your ambivalent and capricious attitude towards it, I would second the advice to consider whether you should be in college in the first place. No one is going to excuse you from doing what you need to do in life and no one can help you to abdicate your responsibilities.

Exam results are a far better assessment of your position in college than a Boards thread. Stop wasting time. Stop sabotaging yourself. Stop catastrophising.

I strongly suggest you get off Boards until your exams are over and use that time to study.

Thread locked.