<p>So the end of the semester is almost here, and I'm left worried. I've really enjoyed my school socially for the time I've been here. I still don't drink or party, but I'm involved in a ton clubs and have met many kind, friendly people from many background. I have been to lectures on the Maori language, heard from visiting authors, gone to student concerts, etc. I've been impressed with my classes and teachers (well, not so much the Japanese department, but that's a whole other cluster of bees' nests...) and have worked on the huge learning curve of living indepently (admitttedly not without its bumps). So it's been a lot better than I expected socially and academically, but I'm worried about my grades (and as a pre-pharm student they MATTER!).</p>
<p>I'm taking 21 credits (5 pass/fail), so it's a full load and then some, including two foreign languages (Arabic 101 and Japanese 201).
I currently have a B in precalculus (4 credits); I guess there's a slight possibility of bumping it up to a B+, but I'm not counting on it by any means. Provided I show up to class Monday, I'll get an A in my 1-credit Intro to Honors class and unless I totally bomb something in my 3 credit abnormal psych class I should have an A in there, too (current grade is above 100% but I've been in school long enough to know that "never say never" is very TRUE). I never get any assignments back in Japanese, but the teacher says my work is fine; I'm taking it credit/no credit and I've passed everything I've gotten back so far... but this department is kind of bizarre and you never know. My other two classes (5 credit Arabic and a three credit philoshy-ish course) are sitting at "A"'s last I heard, but they both are courses heavily weighted on final assignments, so I don't know for sure... A's are possible but not certain, I guess.</p>
<p>So as it stands now, I figure I'm looking at something in the range of 3.6 to 3.8, with a 3.75 looking like a decent probability currently. I can't help but feel dissappointed in my performance even though I know it could be worse (and may be, who know?). My parents say they're fine with the grades, but I sense they're a bit disappointed as well since I had a 4.0 UW in high school. I'm really hoping to improve next semester with 16 credits, a more realistic grasps on social/EC commitments and the testing accomdations figured out, but I don't know... I'm really worried because I NEED that GPA and only have 3 semesters to get it.</p>
<p>Any other parents/kids dealing with lower tnan desired first semester grades?</p>
<p>I can't decide whether your concern is sincere or not because I honestly cannot believe that you are worried about a B, 4 As, and a "pass." Besides precalc, your grades can't improve. If you're honestly worried about your math grade, go to office hours or get a math tutor.</p>
<p>If you were getting perfect grades in everything while overloading on credits, I'd say you were either at the wrong school or not taking advantage of ways to challenge yourself.</p>
<p>I realize that you want a high GPA for your post-grad plans, but there is nothing at all wrong with a 3.75. College isn't just about the number on your transcript when you graduate. It's about learning cool things from really smart people, exploring interests, and seeing just what you're capable of.</p>
<p>Just to get the right background information -- I haven't read all your previous posts -- do you need a specific GPA to get into the Pharmacy program? And if you are just a first semester freshman, why do you only have 3 more semesters to get the GPA -- are you already admitted to one of those six year programs and you have to keep a certain GPA or have a certain GPA at the end of the first two years?</p>
<p>Also -- why are you taking so many hours per semester? </p>
<p>Sorry to just ask questions -- but I think in order to get good answers, we all need a little more info.</p>
<p>wolfpiper, you are one of the tens of thousands of excellent students who are discovering that it's not possible to recreate a perfect high school GPA in college. Regardless of the circumstances, a 3.6-3.8 is very strong. When you consider that you have a demanding curriculum in your first semester freshman year, and that you've managed the enormous challenge of living on your own and finding your social niche, you have much to be proud of!</p>
<p>It's a very rare student indeed who posts a 4.0 GPA in college, regardless of what you may read on CC or hear in the dining hall or supermarket (folks do like to exaggerate). What exactly do you need for your professional program?</p>
<p>You ask if any parents are dealing with lower than desired first semester grades. I'd say most are, if only because it really, really is harder to earn an A in college than in high school. It's hard to accept at first, but wake-up calls are good things. :)</p>
<p>wp, I expect my D will be in the same boat with you and I'm pretty stoked about it. She is also trying to pull up a B+ or two to A's for that highly elusive first semester 4.0 but you know what? I'm with Beck. If she were to get it without the major (heroic) effort she's putting in she probably shot too low on her course selection or even worse, her college choice. </p>
<p>I'm quite happy things aren't coming easily for her in her writing intensive classes. She's becoming a better writer and that is far more important to her future than the 4.0. </p>
<p>Now, do I root for her to pull it out? Sure. You, betcha. But you high school 4.0UW folks need to realize that you're in the big tent now.</p>
<p>When I was in undergrad, 3.5 was Dean's list. I hope you don't feel you need to give up the interesting out-of-class activities. You will learn just as much from them as you will from your coursework and that's often a great way to make friends. You might even find your career direction will be shaped by EC experiences.</p>
<p>Sounds like you're doing great, though I know nothing of pharmacy school requirements. Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving at home?</p>
<p>Your grades are looking great. Check this out ...</p>
<p>Graduation with Honors or High Honors</p>
<p>Students will be awarded their certificates, associate of applied science, and bachelor degrees with honors if they receive the recommendation of their major department or school and the faculty of The University of Montana-Missoula. At the time of graduation they must have a 3.40 or higher grade average in the following four areas:</p>
<p>1) All work attempted at The University of Montana-Missoula.</p>
<p>2) The combination of all work attempted at The University of Montana-Missoula and all other work, including failing grades, transferred to this University.</p>
<p>3) All work attempted in the major field at The University of Montana-Missoula.</p>
<p>4) The combination of all work attempted in the major field at The University of Montana-Missoula and all other work in the major field, including failing grades, transferred to this University.</p>
<p>Students will be awarded their certificates, associate of applied science, and bachelor degrees with high honors if they have the recommendations mentioned above and, at the time of graduation, have a 3.70 or higher grade average in the four areas listed. </p>
<p>Ha ha!! CC goes to college! This is the equivalent of all those "horrible" SAT scores in the low 1400s and "average" students with 1450 scores we read about on this forum. Great job for first semester, especially if you also enjoyed yourself socially. "Acceptable" 1st semester freshman grades are defined as grades that let you go back for 2nd semester freshman year (and keep your scholarships). Plus you have even left yourself a little room for improvement. :)</p>
<p>Acceptable" 1st semester freshman grades are defined as grades that let you go back for 2nd semester freshman year (and keep your scholarships).>></p>
<p>LOL NJ Res. My daughter, therefore, will have "acceptable" 1st semester grades. </p>
<p>Wolfpiper, please try to learn not to be so hard on yourself. Life will be much easier the sooner you accept the fact that no one is perfect, and, more importantly, no one needs to be. Life is too short to worry so much. Do your best, but don't beat yourself up if you are not perfect.</p>
<p>If your parents are disappointed with a 3.75, you need to send them here for a little parental talking-to :). </p>
<p>My view, as a parent sending off a strong hs student to college, was: "I wonder." I wonder how he will fare in college coursework, when he's on his own, when he can set his own schedule, when this, when that. I didn't expect his college grades to match his hs grades. I hoped they'd be somewhwere in the ballpark. He got a 3.67 in his first term and I was happy and proud. I would have been happy and proud if they'd been somewhat lower. I'll bet your parents will feel just the same.</p>
<p>My own S is in a tougher environment this year, is doing great in some courses (may even exempt out of a final in his major), okay/fine in some. And... he is very worried about one course. Very worried. But I am still proud. He is taking the initiative to try and pull that course through - prof office hours, cooperative study with other students, bought an alternate text he thought would help, putting in a ton of hours on that course. I'm as proud of all of that as I was of his first two term's grades. If he passes ... just passes... the course in question, I'll be proud and celebrating, and he knows it. </p>
<p>There is more to the experience of college than GPA. We parents know that too. Watching our kids blossom, manage, navigate, and as I told my son "not fold under the pressure" - that makes us proud. Those are the skills which they will carry forward in all of their endeavors. Their transcripts will not be engraved on their foreheads.</p>
<p>Thanks or all the replies. I had a long post typed up in response but the computer ate it, so here it goes again.</p>
<p>hsmomstef:
No, I'm not in a guaranteed admit program, though I turned one down to come here (more stress for the sake of better social/cultural fit). The average GPA for admitted pharmacy school applications is usually about a 3.5, and you need about that to be a serious canidate--the acceptance rate is about 33%.</p>
<p>As to why I'm oberloading, it's complicated. I took the equivalent of six years of Japanese in a really incredible HS program and really wanted to continue it in college. However, when I got here, the Japanese department was so insulting, rude, and unaccomdating, I decided to take Arabic instead (with a wonderful, kind professor). I really missed Japanese, however, so I decided to take the class pass/fail just in case they did things like count correct answers as incorrect because my handwriting wasn't good enough (which they did!). I didn't want to drop Arabic, however, and all my other classes are degree/program/honors college requirements, so it wouldn't make much sense to drop them. Thus, I was left taking 21 credits, the maxium allowed. Japanese hasn't exactly been a good experience, but I'm glad I didn't give up without a fight.</p>
<p>I know my GPA could be worse, but I guess I find it dishertening that I lost my 4.0 the first semester-- even before OChem has had a chance to mangle it! I know, too, that some big national scholaships (Rhodes, etc) has average GPAs of 3.9, so I know there are kids out there getting 4.0's.</p>
<p>Is Wolfpiper kidding? Geting a 3.7 for the first semester freshmen year is terrific. In fact, geting over a 3.5 first semester, freshmen year is very good.This must be a joke, right?</p>
<p>Wolfpiper clearly deserves to be commended and has overcome a lot of obstacles while obtaining that great GPA. Worrying a bit in a new situation is normal ... especially for a freshman in college. Everyone can use a little reassurance now and then ... especially when anxious about disappointing one's parents. Hopefully the parents here have alleviated some of Wolfpiper's concerns.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I know, too, that some big national scholaships (Rhodes, etc) has average GPAs of 3.9, so I know there are kids out there getting 4.0's.
[/quote]
I know a Rhodes Scholar (and another guy who was the next choice the same year). He's one of my father's best friends. He is an extremely smart and diligent man who graduated #1 in his class at what is now a top 20 school, but I don't think he had the elusive 4.0. My mother's college boyfriend at a top state school got the highest GPA ever from that school; again, it wasn't a 4.0.</p>
<p>Perfection's tough. If you push for it you will always be disappointed.</p>
<p>FWIW (maybe not much) ... at my child's freshman orientation the speaker quipped, "The only time in your life that you have to be perfect is in high school."</p>