<p>I failed my first CHEM 102 exam, and since my professor doesn't curve tests, this is a huge problem for me. I've gone to the CLC, received tutoring from OMSA, and try to work in study groups regularly. The only thing i haven't done was go to my professor's office hours, which albeit very helpful, conflicts with my class schedule. I am unsure if I failed because I was still getting used to the class or if I am just not getting it. There were still some concepts that I hadn't completely grasped by the time I took the test, but not enough to cause me to fail. I'm very upset. One of my goals was to finish Freshmen year with a high GPA and this first test result is very discouraging.</p>
<p>Any advice/tips on what I should do to avoid this situation for next time?
I really don't want to drop the class or switch to 101.</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>I was in your shoes last year. I have Marville and absolutely hated the class. I’m pretty sure I borderline failed each midterm or got a low D. I ended up with a C+ in the class, because it was curved at the very end. I will say that the first exam is mostly a review of high school chemistry, but is more in depth. The rest of the material will be fairly new. I’d talk to an advisor, but they might just tell you to drop to 101, which I wouldn’t do and didn’t do.
I will say that I thought CHEM 104 was MUCH easier! Get Ray!</p>
<p>@aklauss I have Mr. Jamieson. He’s new and is replacing Yerkes (who retired). I talked to my advisor and he told me exactly what you said: drop down to 101. There’s no point in doing that seeing that I have to take 102 for my major anyway and I’d just be prolonging my suffering. I just want to know if it gets better. It gives me hope that you said your professor curved at the end. Maybe mine will come to his senses and curve too.</p>
<p>What helped you get through the class? I can only drop one exam score so I CANNOT fail again. lol</p>
<p>That’s awesome that you get to drop one exam, I didn’t have that luxury. The most important thing to do is practice problem after practice problem! Do the assigned homework and all of the worksheet problems (and anything else that the prof/TA gives you). Chem 101 is basically the material you just covered on the first 102 exam, except its spread out through the whole semester, and they cover additional topics in 101. Also, exactly what score did you get on the test? You’d be surprised how much homework/quizzes will keep your grade afloat.</p>
<p>@Soso694, I heard that quite a few students did badly in their first exam in Mr Hummel’s Chem 102 exam as well. I believe there were questions that were not too hard but if you are not used to being tested on detail, you would get confused and end up picking the wrong answer. Don’t give up so soon! keep working and hang in there! Any idea if you can drop one exam score in Hummel’s class as well?</p>