<p>Hi, I'm in serious need of some thoughts from my fellow CCers! I've gotten myself into a terrible position as I'm likely to get a C in major pre-requisite this fall.</p>
<p>To give some background on myself, I'm an Electrical Engineering major and so far have maintained a good GPA (only one "B' and the rest all A's with a 3.93 gpa). However, I work more than 40 hours a week, and while this in itself is a major hurdle to getting good grades, this semester I was faced with yet another emergency situation (my Aunt, who I live with - she's like a second Mom to me - had breast cancer and I needed to help her out - she has no one here in LA, except me). </p>
<p>This caused me to miss a deadline for an assignment as well as a lab report (and they're super strict here on deadlines). So I now have a ZERO on those and have lost a whopping number of points in the course! More than likely this will end up causing me to get a C - and the worst part of this is, the course is Physics - ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM. I'm likely to get an A in the other physics course I'm taking - Optics & Modern Physics. </p>
<p>While I will still have a reasonably good gpa (3.80 after the hit from the C), I'm wondering if this looks terribly bad because, not only is this a major pre-req, but it is E&M, and I'm planning on majoring in EE?? (btw, I've applied to UCB, UCLA and UCSD)</p>
<p>Also when the Jan update takes place and we report our fall grades is there a place (like a comment box) where I can explain the situation??</p>
<p>Thanks for your thoughts on this!</p>
<p>you will have to get the highest possible grade even if it is C since you cannot drop with W at this point. if this fall hadn’t been the semester in which you apply i would have suggested getting D or F and retaking it later. i dont know whether you can explain your situation in the Jan update. btw, 3.80 is a competetive gpa for LA and SD.
i understand how worried you are. like you, i have one C in one of my major courses as i missed one test due to my fault. that one C droped my gpa from 4.0 to 3.8. because of the C, i kinda gave up hope for UCB since im doing ME, but hoping for LA and SD.</p>
<p>Thanks for your response passwordis123. I was thinking the same thing (intentionally getting a D or F, then retaking), but as you said, it’s the fall semester and I’m out of options. This could not have happened in a worse semester!! I cannot drop at this point and cannot even retake the course because this is the last semester that they see our grades!! Not only that, but even if I could, by now the Physics E&M class is fully waitlisted here. Also, I had the same thoughts that I’m now toast as far as UCB is concerned. EECS is one of THE most competitive majors at UCB. Hopefully I can still be reasonably competitive for LA and SD!</p>
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<li><p>This sucks because you got a C in e&m and you’re major is EE. That doesn’t look good especially to Berkeley and UCLA (they love really good grades in particular the one directly related to your major)</p></li>
<li><p>3.80 GPA is still competitive for all those schools but you will need to explain in depth why the C if you want a legit shot at UCLA and UCB. You might even need to ask for a “Director’s Review” if you can get one (talk to the UC rep that goes to your school or go to the schools personally and sit with an adviser and tell them your story).</p></li>
<li><p>You’re a shoe in for UCSD.</p></li>
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