I’m a freshman at Marquette university, majoring in education and English with a minor in history. It’s required that all freshman take one science class, as per the core curriculum. I was worried about this from the very beginning because I am and always have been AWFUL in science. I went a bad high school so I knew I didn’t really learn much from my science teachers but I still got A’s. Anyway, I chose to take Meteorology because it sounded interesting and someone told me it was the easiest science class. I got a 40% on the midterm and pretty much get a D or an F on every quiz. I am trying so hard but this class is very conceptual and I’m struggling a lot. Should I drop it or keep going and hope I get a D?
Are you sure that your grade is a D? There might be a curve. Go talk to the professor and see where you stand.
If you can still drop, do that rather than take the D, but if there is any way to get a C, go for that.
@twoinanddone My grade is a low F. We have about a month left in the semester and I understand almost nothing I’ve learned (hence the F I guess.) We have quizzes every week and I study really hard from everything he gives us and it usually helps with a few questions but not most of them. I really doubt that I can get even a D in the class.
You must speak with your professor ASAP. Some classes don’t curve until all grades are posted. Read the syllabus about the grading policy. Go to office hours every week for help.
@chercheur I am going to office hours this week and speaking with him
Also, he said that the course is just NOW going to start to get more difficult and more conceptual. Concepts are literally everything that I’m having trouble with! I can memorize terms and all that jazz but when it comes to science I can’t put it all together. Since I’m already very confused, I am worried that things will only get worse from here.
Then drop the class if you can. Maybe you can take a science class at a college near your home over the summer (be sure to get the class approved in advance). Also at some colleges psychology (with a lab component) counts as a science so look into that as well.
@happy1 Thanks, I will look into if psych counts as a science
@leafconeybearismart Just be sure if you drop the class you will still have enough credits to be considered a full time student at the school. Otherwise there could be an impact on financial aid, housing etc. You should check with your academic advisor.
@happy1 That’s part of the problem, I contacted my advisor right after the midterm and she gave me an appointment date that’s after the date we are allowed to withdraw from a class. I keep emailing her about it but she hasn’t responded.
Withdrawal
Things to consider when thinking about Withdrawing from a class:
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**TALK TO YOUR ADVISER ** before you make any decisions
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** Will taking a W move you from full time to part time? ** Full time is usually 12 credits (check your college). If you are part time you are not eligible for financial aid or living in dorms.
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** Is this class needed for your major? ** If you don’t take it now, will you have to take it again? Will it cause you to fall behind in keeping up with your major classes?
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**Why are you getting a C/D/F? ** What happens the next time you get a C? W again? One W is okay, but a pattern shows that you have difficulty with college.
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**Will Withdrawing from a course make it difficult to graduate on time? ** Will you need to make it up in summer $$ or do you have extra credits from HS?
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**Can you raise your grade? ** Check this post for ideas
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/1920853-college-is-a-step-up-from-hs-16-tips-on-doing-well-in-college.html -
If this course is in your major, is this the right major for you? If you are pre-med but are getting a C in Biology, maybe this is not the major for you. If you are getting a C in an elective, that is another story.
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**Sometimes W’s are necessary. ** My daughter was in the hospital for a week early in the semester…she Withdrew from a course because she would not be able to catch up on all her courses if she kept all the classes. A W here or there is no problem, but a pattern of them looks like you have trouble with college work.
If you can’t get in with your advisor before the withdrawal date, then find out from the bursar and from financial aid if there are any financial repercussions to you withdrawing from this class at this point in the term. If there are not, or if you can handle them, then withdraw. If the financial penalties are too large for you to deal with, stay in the class and take the F - your financial aid will cover this F.
When you retake a science class, do a lot of research into those you look at. Don’t trust what one student tells you. Their strengths are not your strengths - it may be easy for him because he’s great at conceptual, while he’d fail a class that’s all about memorization. Find a class that is set up to suit your strengths (memorizing terms, for example). Get a tutor as of week one, and work with that person regularly for the entire term.
As you do your research for a class, see if there are any professors teaching these science classes who are known as amazing teachers. If you can find one, you may want to try very hard to get into one of their classes, even if normally, the subject wouldn’t be something you’d pick out of interest.
Since you’ll be doing this research now, consider sitting in on one of each of the classes that interests you. Get a copy of the syllabus as well, so you know what’s involved. Have a look at the textbook in the bookstore. Really check each one out.
And consider avoiding anything related to physics - so no astronomy, no meteorology, etc. But if your college offers something related to life and that requires a lot of memorization - so maybe anatomy? Maybe botany? Avoid any classes that are major pre-reqs for programs (so maybe not biology, for example.) Again, check these classes out quite thoroughly first. And check to see if your school considers any non-science classes to actually be science. You and someone else mentioned psych. Also look at anthropology.