So long story short, I just finished my first semester of college getting 2 D’s 1 B and 1 A and my gpa is a 1.86 and I have no idea what to do with myself now. I got into most of the colleges I applied to in high school and had the choice to go away to a university, but I chose to go to a local college and commute there for the first year, and it has been my worst decision I have ever made. I just don’t like it there, not interested in anything etc. After this, am I even going to be able to transfer anywhere next fall??? Even if I get a 3.0 next semester I don’t know what will happen. The school I want to transfer to says I need to have between a 2.5-3.0 to be considered, but if I submit my app with my first semester saying I got a 1.86 are they even going to look at me??? Please I just need some help on what to do, next semester I will do everything it takes to get in the 3.0 range
Thanks
Read the books.
Go to classes.
Do the assignments and projects, starting early.
If you want to transfer anywhere, you are going to have to dig in and do better, you are going to have to bring that GPA up to the range that the receiving schools require and there is no way around that. The schools you want to go to won’t care that you don’t like your current school, are bored, uninterested or whatever. All they care about is whether or not you are capable of performing at an acceptable level at their institution and whether or not you will contribute in a positive way to their institution. So if your goal is to transfer, you need to focus, find the resources you need to help you do better at your current school, and do better. There is no magic, just hard work based on the motivation that goes with wanting something.
A 1.9 in college is not as bad as it is in high school. A 3.0 next semester will give you a 2.5. A 3.5 will give you a 2.7. Try to get the highest grades you can. The first two years are the easiest, believe it or not. Maybe it took you a semester to learn to study the ways of college. Do better and take advantage of writing labs and any free tutoring your school offers.
Why did you get those 2 D’s?
Was the material too hard? Did you apply yourself? Did you attend class regularly and keep up with the reading and the assignments?
I think this is the critical piece of the puzzle in terms of what happens next.
I know it’s hard to look at it this way, but it could be a gift. (An ugly one, but valuable!) I’m speaking from experience 
Granted, this was a thousand years ago, but I got a terrible GPA first semester, too – including a D, which I’d never seen in my life – and it really woke me up. I’d coasted through high school getting A’s without much work, and surprise surprise, I couldn’t do that in college. The rotten grades probably taught me more than the other classes combined! (Like, “do the reading.” And “pay attention to any comments the prof writes in the margins.” Those are major clues to doing better!) Ultimately I graduated Magna Cum Laude, so it worked out. You can pull it up, as long as you figure out what the universe (and your professor) is trying to teach you with those grades.
The 2 D’s were a language and a physics class, both which are not my strong point, but in my language class I had a 0 in a category worth 20% of my grade, which was the oral test because apparently there was a deadline on doing it that no one knew about…70% of the class got a 0 in that category, so if I did that I would have at least a C and my gpa would be around 2.2, still not good but… and The A was economics and the B was history. But I think I learned my lesson now and will have to shoot for above a 3.0 to transfer in the fall
Listen, they are not going to not consider you just because you had a bad gpa in one semester. All they’re going to care about is whether you have the appropriate GPA when you apply. If by the time you apply for transfer you have a 2.5-3.0 gpa, that’s all that matters to them.
@Vucinic9 70% of the class got a 0 on an assignment that is worth 20% of the grade?
Am I reading this correctly? Seems like an additional problem there.
Go and see your academic advisor as soon as possible and the counseling center at your university. If it was a matter of organization, ask if they could provide a way for you to meet with someone every once in awhile and discuss organizational issues/keep you accountable. See if you can retake the classes you didn’t pass next semester for replacement grades. Go to class, read, do the homework…pick blocks of time during each day to study, and make the days that you don’t have as many classes the days when you study the most (for example: Study Psych and Biology on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2-5 and English and Stats on Monday and Friday from 1-3). Take one day a week that you use just for organizing your binders and folders. Then once you raise your GPA up a bit, think about transferring somewhere else if you really don’t enjoy where you’re at. It’s hard to do well when you’re in a major/school that isn’t a good fit. Good luck to you!
I agree with getting assistance. I agree wtih Lilybelle22. Take her advice. I disagree with OspreyCV22. the first two years are not usually the easiest. It depends upon your program of study but students often have to take a lot of requirements and even the courses in their major may be very large lecture based survey classes that require student to memorize great amounts of information and regurgitate it. And, they often cover the basic/fundamental material that isn’t as interesting to students. Upper level classes tend to be smaller, more focused on a narrower range of material and in areas that students find interesting. Student grades tend to get better because, quite frankly, the tasks are usually easier and more interesting (although students often believe they have gotten better at studying, etc). So 1st year classes may require students to essentially memorize a 500 page textbook and regurgitate into multiple choice tests whereas classes in the later 2 years may require a paper, presentation and more thought. So, get help so you can raise your GPA!
Wait, 70% of the class got a C on an assignment that no one knew about… so the other 30% of the class knew? How did they know?
And that’s a C on an assignment worth 20% of your grade… where did the rest go?
Here’s my point: Some classes are just naturally harder to different people. Even as a math teacher, personally I agree with you on the Physics.
But I see nothing in you post about the actions you took to prevent those D’s. If you know language isn’t your strong point, did you attend office hours for extra help? Were you extra vigilant about keeping up with the assignments, knowing where and when they were and what was on them?
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Make sure you read the chapters /do the homework.
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Go to Professor’s office hours early in the semester. Ask this question: “I know this is a really difficult class-- what are some of the common mistakes students make and how can I avoid them?”
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If you have problems with the homework, go to Prof’s office hours. If they have any “help sessions” or “study sessions” or “recitations” or any thing extra, go to them.
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Form a study group with other kids in your dorm/class.
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Don’t do the minimum…for STEM classes do extra problems. You can buy books that just have problems for calculus or physics or whatever. Watch videos on line about the topic you are studying.
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Go to the writing center if you need help with papers/math center for math problems (if they have them)
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If things still are not going well, get a tutor.
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Read this book: How to Become a Straight-A Student: The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use to Score High While Studying Less by Cal Newport. It helps you with things like time management and how to figure out what to write about for a paper, etc.
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Withdraw from a class (probably too late now) and focus on classes that you can do well in (while staying full time)
Thank you all for your input and help, but I just have one more concern. If Where I am applying requires at least a 2.5 gpa to transfer, and I have this 1.9 gpa from first semester, and I send in my application, will they even consider to look at my 2nd semester grades? Even if I got around a 3.0 second semester will they wait for me to send in 2nd semester grades and see that and then accept me, or will they just deny me based off my first semester gpa because its low?
Or should I just wait until my 2nd semester grades come out to apply? But then I’m worried that might be too late
It seems you brought over your “poor” high school habits to college. You had a low GPA and SAT score (1250/2400???) while attending high school.
Is your current college a 4-year institution or a Community College (CC)? What about the College you want to transfer to? I know you don’t want to go to a CC, but that might be the best option for you to bridge some of the gaps in your academics and develop good studying habits.
A college degree is not for everyone, especially if you do not try.
My current college is a branch of a 4 year college, I am confident I will get a 3.0 next semester to average my gpa around a 2.5. My only concern is Will they even look at me if I send in my first semester grades first and see I have a 1.9? Even if i send my 2nd semester grades that are much improved
You are likely on academic probation at this point. If you received a C- or below in a course that would be important for your intended major, you need to repeat them. It is in your best interest to get a grade of A in any course that gets repeated.
Based on what you think, how did you put yourself in that position? Did you just go out too much and not do your school work?
I think you need to wait until your GPA comes up before you apply for a transfer. That might mean you will have to complete fall '16 before transfer. The average GPA for transfers to your target college should be listed in the Common Data Set. Google the school’s name + Common Data Set and look at the data for transfers.