Failed a math class

I failed a math class and my father has already threatened me to kick me out if I fail one class. I am currently panicking and I cannot sleep, should I lie to them about me failing my math class?

Lying isn’t a good solution for a couple of reasons.

First and foremost, you’re going to get caught. I don’t know how or when, but you will. Do you seriously want to jeopardize your relationship with your dad-- not to mention the funding of your college-- over a lie?

But more than that, you’re better than a lie.

Before you talk to dad, sit down and figure out exactly why you failed-- what did you do to prevent it, what else could you have done? (And, sorry, I don’t buy the “I’m just bad at math” line. That explains why you didn’t get the A. It doesn’t explain the F.) How serious were you about the homework? Did you attend every class? Wide awake? Did you go to the math help center? To the prof’s office hours? Did you go over any tests/ whatever that were returned?

Once you have a handle on what you did and what you could have done, you need a plan. Does your college allow you to retake the class and have the new grade apply to your GPA? Can you retake it this summer and transfer the credits? Either way, before you sign up for the class again, go to Ratemyprofessor and make sure you get a teacher who is highly recommended, one who can help you understand the material.And this time, you make this class a huge priority.

Would you be willing to pay to take the class at community college yourself? That might show dad how serious you are.

For tests that you didn’t do well on, can you evaluate what went wrong? Did you never read that topic? Did you not do the homework for it? Do you kind of remember it but forgot what to do? Then next time change the way you study…there may be a study skill center at your college.

How much time outside of class do you spend studying/doing homework? It is generally expected that for each hour in class, you spend 2-3 outside doing homework. Treat this like a full time job.

At the beginning of the semester, read the syllabus for each class. It tells you what you will be doing and when tests/HW/papers are due. Put all of that in your calendar. The professor may remind you of things, but it is all there for you to see so take initiative and look at it.

  1. Make sure you understand how to use your online class system…Login to it, read what there is for your classes, know how to upload assignments (if that is what the prof wants).

If you get an assignment…make sure to read the instructions and do all the tasks on the assignment. Look at the rubric and make sure you have covered everything.

If you are not sure what to do, go EARLY to the professors office hours…not the day before the assignment is due.

Did you get a tutor? Did you form a study group? Did you do extra problems? Did you go to professor office hours? Did you use Khan Academy?

I’m assuming this is the case at many schools (UC-Berkeley being one of them with very few exceptions), but you can retake a failed class and if you get a passing grade the second time, the failed class will be ignored on your GPA calculation. In fact some people do this intentionally so that they get a good grasp of the class the first time.

Lying is only a temporary solution- be honest and focus on how to improve in the future. A great amount of success in class is based off studying methodologies.

Hopping on the “don’t lie” train. @bjkmom has some great advice that you should follow. Give your Dad reason to trust that you are taking your education seriously—I don’t know him but I’d doubt any reasonable parent would kick their child out over a class they are willing to retake and replace, especially if you can figure out a way to fund that credit yourself.