I'm a newbie here. I'm currently still in MT Module I. I've always been a great student in school (I made honors), but I feel like I'm doing terrible here. I recieved a C on my first assessment and I just failed my second. Fear and doubt are starting to creep into my mind. Am I the only one who began this course struggling so badly? My overall grade grade is currently a 92. I know that I need to at least keep a C average to stay in this course, but if I keep doing so horrible on the assessments I don't know how long I can keep my grade up. Honestly, should I reconsider doing all of this?
Pep talk anyone?
Hi Tiffany,
I'm doing the Coding program, but completely understand your frustrations. I too have always done very well in school, and in my current profession, and sometimes feel like I'm not as smart as I think I am when I get things wrong on my exercises or exams in this program. Don't doubt your intelligence! We have to remember that we are learning specialized skills and it IS going to be a challenge to master them. We need to realize that we aren't going to completely understand everything right off the bat, and our instructors will tell us time and time again, that the most important thing is to learn from our mistakes!
Don't give up! At the very least, you should go all the way through the module before making a decision to stop. Keep giving it your best, and it will click for you. In the end, you'll be that much more proud of yourself when you've proven that you can do it!
Best of luck to you! Keep your chin up! :)
Lauren
Hi Tiffany! I completely understand how you feel! I was there too in Module I and I've just completed Module IV! Yay! You can do it too. I was also an honors student in high school and passed my college classes with A's also. I also received horrible grades on the first couple of assessments. I think it is part of the program to help you understand that you must, ABSOLUTELY MUST, look everything up that you put on paper. Even if you think it is a real word, you must verify it. It takes time.
My advice to you:
1. Go ahead and work on your final exam during the module (find the handout in section 5). As in, after the instructor has given you your feedback, go through it and look at each and every single error that cost you points (and the ones that didn't because they matter too) and find out what you did wrong, how you should have known it was wrong, and what you have learned from making that mistake already. Then transfer it to paper because you have begun on your final for the first module.
2. Read everything that they give you as a handout. Read it again. Then read it again partway through each section. This will help keep it fresh in your mind until it sticks there.
I also agree to give it the first module. I remember telling my husband that I didn't think I could handle it, but I've passed the course with a 97.5% cumulative grade. You can do it!
Rachel
Hi Tiffany,
If the transcription modules are anything like the coding modules, you are getting the best of the best training. It really does help to take a step back, take a deep breath, regroup, and proceed again. It helps me to go through the discussion forums and read the overcoming stories of victories, struggles, and encouragement. There is a post somewhat that someone Lani ? ) states "Never Give Up and Never Give In!" Also ask your instructors for tips...and Glenda. Glenda has wonderful advice to help with management of time, tips for studying, handling "snooze-worthy" chapters :) Also, a big part of learning for me was take the criticism and use it to learn where I needed to improve which we already know most of the time exactly what it is we are doing wrong; but overcoming it can appear insurmountable. Or I should say it would appear insurmountable, but in reality, you are being taught how to climb the mountain and when the finals are over and you have that certification, you will realize you have reach the top of the mountain and the next mountain is not so intimidating.
Hi Tiffany! I finished up with the MT courses in December. I can honestly tell you that you need to stay tough. Hang in there. I have always been a pretty good student plus I came into this program with over 17 years of experience of working in a physical therapy clinic/hospital setting and it was hard for me as well. Look at every error you make. Figure out why you made that error. Write it down. Write down how you can keep from making that error again. Repitition is the key. Just keep doing and doing. It will click. It honestly will.
I did supplemental work during my time here. At first, I was kind of embarrassed about it. Let me just tell you how awesome it was. It helped me get on track with a lot of things.
I have had a job with Paragon Medical Transcription since mid-February. They are tough evaluators. They want consistent accuracy of 98% or better with each audit. Thankfully I have been in the mid 99 percentile each time so far. Their mentoring program has been awesome too. Coming from the Andrews School made me SO MUCH MORE ready to do this job. I can say for certain that I would not have had as fine an education anywhere else.
Hang in there! You can do it!
Abbie
This was exactly what I needed! Thank you all so much!
I'm right there with you, Tiffany. I'm in MT Module II right now (taking a break to do some Supplemental) and I'm so frustrated with myself. I did so well in school, Dean's List in college consistently. I even took a different MT course before this one, and I thought I would be flying through it and do awesome. Yeah... not so much. I'll have a great grade, then a miserable one. It has me wondering if I'm even cut out for this, if I should just quit. I'm just now getting into some of the discussion forums, so hopefully I can find tips and encouragement as well. Nothing like feeling like I suck!
Best of luck to you! I guess this probably wasn't a helpful post, just trying to let you know that you are not alone.
Sheri
Sheri, I am also in the same boat as you. Did great in college came out with a teaching degree and this course is handing it to me. From what I have been told it gets better and we are still learning. Not to expect perfection when we don't know all the ends and outs yet.
I have also seen that Andrews really does give out the best education in this field so that is why it is so hard. Keep your chin up and know that there are others beside you who are thinking that they suck too!!
I am going to step in here an offer all of you some encouragement. First, I don't want you getting overly concerned about your grades; doing so will only hinder your progress. Also, don't compare what you did in previous learning situations to what you are experiencing here. What I want you to be concerned with is that you are learning.
I want you to all understand that the way in which this course is set up is very different from anything you have probably experienced in the past. A lot of courses are set up so that students memorize new content, which cannot be done here. It just isn't practical to memorize everything regarding medical transcription or coding. Also, I seriously doubt that other courses you may have taken required the amount of attention to detail that is required here. The only way to become a successful as an MT or coder is by making mistakes and learning from those mistakes. Unfortunately, the learning from them is the hard part and there is no right or wrong way in which to do so.
The secret to learning from your mistakes is to find a system that works best for you. We all learn differently so, again, there is no right or wrong way to do this. Some students find it best to make a separate list of the errors they have made previously and use that list for review. Other students find it easier to just simply review previous practices and graded assessment separately.
One thing I think many transcription students fail to recognize is that the majority of your learning should be taking place when you are completing your practices. When you finish transcribing a report and are comparing it to the key, you need to make certain you fully understand why your report differs from the key, which it will. If and/or when you encounter a situation where you do not fully understand a difference, that is when you should be asking questions. I can only assume that much the same process is true for coding students as well.
Finally, most of us learn from a very young age that making mistakes is a bad thing; however, nothing could be further from the truth! If one doesn't make mistakes one cannot learn.