Failing a class..... Or two:(

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>So I had a horrible second semester of college. I go to a community college, and am taking 4classes(biology, math, history, and english.) </p>

<p>I have an A- in English, B- in Biology, but an F in History and a D in Math. I have little to no chance of passing history. I have a 35,30, and a 10 on my three tests, and only the final left. So history is pretty much a failure. I have a chance to pass math, but only with probably a C. </p>

<p>What the hell am I supposed to do now? I was going to transfer after this year, but after those grades, looks like I'll have to retake math and history to improve my grades. Am I pretty much screwed up for life now?</p>

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<p>if you are getting the a.a degree, have at least a 2.0 gpa and you are going to a school in the same state then don't worry because of the transfer agreement thing.</p>

<p>If not then you need to get the 2 year degree before you transfer anyways so just take the classes over again with an easy teacher.</p>

<p>Note: this should have been posted in the transfer section</p>

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<p>Alright first, be grateful you are in community college. Your screw up really won't cost you that much (money). </p>

<p>As for your grades. Are you screwed for life? NO!!!! Now get that crap out of your head.</p>

<p>I don't have that much expierence in this matter, but I think you might end up doing another year of cc. Is this your first year? What were your last semester grades? </p>

<p>Ok, so here is your problem. You want to transfer out (who doesnt), but your heart and mind aren't in the game. You are going to have to retake those classes (once again, I don't know everything, just going off what makes most sense to me) and when you do, you actually have to do the work. Strive for every last point. Don't blow off homework assignments and 10 point quizzes. DO THEM. Don't put off that test to the last minute, start a week prior. Don't even try to say those aren't your strong subjects. Read the textbook, I gaurantee you will learn the material.</p>

<p>I know it all sounds trivial, but take it from me, it was probably better off this way. I ended up getting a D in calc (first two tests were a B and A+, then I stopped going to class and failed the last test and the final :( I curently have a failing gpa in my major, hooray). From the way it sounds, you never had the will and discipline to do well at your studies. Seeing first hand what failure can do is a great motivator (but it still sucks lol). </p>

<p>So once again don't give up. I would wait for responses from older (and much wiser) individuals as to what steps you should take. Though I can give you one piece of solid advice, GO SEE YOUR COUNSELOR ASAP. If they sound apathetic or start giving gloomy responses, you are talking to the wrong person. </p>

<p>Best of luck</p>

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<p>hey, blink182, do you go to u of i?</p>

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<p>Yes, I..........go to uofi, stupid length requirement for posts...</p>

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<p>ok youre not screwed for life at all--you might be extremely dumb or lazy but you can still work at mickey D's or the gas station...or just try again next year- it dooesnt matter wen u transfer as long as its in the next few years</p>

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<p>Can you drop the class now with a notation that you withdrew from the class? If so, this is your best option for history and probably math, too. Many schools allow you to substitute a second, higher grade if you retake the class. Maybe that would work for you.</p>

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<p>There is only two weeks left of school, so it is too late to drop them.</p>

<p>I'll just retake them next year.</p>

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<p>Another thing you could do is get your teacher to withdraw you. I do believe they have the power to kick you out at anytime.</p>

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<p>OP</p>

<p>You might be able to withdraw with a "W" if you paid in cash money for your Community College classes. Look into that if such a thing applies to you, because the worse that would happen is that you do not get your money back at all. You might, if this applies to your own school, get the "W" and just not get any cash money back. </p>

<p>Also. </p>

<p>Just take the two classes over in the summer if you can afford to do so on such short notice. Or take them over in the fall. Messing up on two classes is not to ruin your life until the end of time itself, gosh darnit.</p>

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<p>Okay, you'll have to retake history. You won't get any credit to transfer with an D or F. Same goes for math if you end up with a D.</p>

<p>I know everyone is trying to be nice and encouraging, but that's not really my style. Did you have some kind of family/personal crisis, or did you just say "f**k college"? If it's the former, ignore the rest of this...</p>

<p>Seriously, a 10 on a test?? WTH?! Obviously you either forgot about the test, thought you could do okay without studying, or just didn't care about it or your grades. Why????? I know these grades won't ruin your chances for success in college completely, but it's going to bring down your self-esteem and your belief that you thought you were prepared for college. The same may go for your parents. If I brought home those grades, it wouldn't matter if I could still get into a 4 year school, my mom wouldn't pay for me to go and possibly get more of those grades. No matter where you go, your classes cost at least a few hundred dollars each (much, MUCH more for those who are a a top-ranked, 4 year, private). You shouldn't be fooling around, wasting time and money in college when you don't belong there. If you don't want to be in college, make your parents hear you ( but these grades ought to say it loud and clear)! If you do want to be in college then start acting like it! We don't know how bad these grades are compared to 1st semester, but it seems like you didn't get straight A's or anything close. </p>

<p>This is the point in our lives where we really start learning life lessons and the consequences that occur when things don't happen as they were supposed to. I guess you are one who has to learn the hard way. Grow up, start studying.</p>

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<p>Not everybody is college material, and it shouldn't be seen as a disgrace. I heard a prof. on CBC say that 50% of kids in university should drop out and learn a skilled trade. Now maybe you're brilliant and you just smoke way too much pot. However, I went to a 4 yr, 3rd-4th tier state school initially. Even there, I can't imagine getting less than a B by just showing up. CC is not supposed to be easy to fail. If you were at MIT and failed a class in chaos theory cuz it was just too much then that's one thing...failing "history" at CC is generally a result of laziness/disinterest.</p>

<p>You actually have decent grammer and figured out how to use this site. You're def. not too stupid for CC. It's laziness. Just get it together.</p>

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<p>I didn't read all the above posts, but....</p>

<p>how about taking the classes again this summer?</p>

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<p>sounds like you really need to get motivated. motivation is wonderful and you're gonna need it for college. but anyways, does your college have a PASS/ NO PASS grading option? because thats what i did for physics last quarter when it got to the point that i could see i was doing bad, so its like preemptive strike. and it doesnt ruin your GPA. its great. if you get PASS you get ur units, if not then you dont. its simple and doesnt screw you up. just cant do it with ur "major" classes.</p>

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<p>The thing about History is, the professor is 100 years old and refuses to change his system. There are three tests, and then the final. The tests consist of 15-20 terms, and you describe only ten of them; which means, if you screw up 4 terms, you fail. You have to say when they occurred, why, what was important about it.</p>

<p>He merely says this test will be on "chapters x-x, good luck." There is no reviewing, there are no handouts that will give us tips on what to study. This last test I had was for 4 chapters, and about 200pages in the textbook. The class is pure lecture also, and VERY hard to pay attention in. </p>

<p>Now, I may not be the smartest kid, but I have never came close to failing a class before. The only reason I am failing now, is because I can't read 200 pages and memorize every term, in only a week. There are too many terms, and once the test comes around I mix-match different terms and end up putting the wrong information for each question. I am usually pretty good at history. I took three history courses in High School, and got a at least a B in all three. I took Western Civ. last semester[with a different teacher], and got a B-. </p>

<p>As for math, I just plain old suck at math. I missed lecture for the content that was on the test that brought my grade down so low. I can still pass Math, possibly with a D+ or C-. History on the other hand, see you next year.</p>

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<p>"The thing about History is, the professor is 100 years old and refuses to change his system. There are three tests, and then the final. The tests consist of 15-20 terms, and you describe only ten of them; which means, if you screw up 4 terms, you fail. You have to say when they occurred, why, what was important about it.</p>

<p>He merely says this test will be on "chapters x-x, good luck." There is no reviewing, there are no handouts that will give us tips on what to study. This last test I had was for 4 chapters, and about 200pages in the textbook. The class is pure lecture also, and VERY hard to pay attention in. "</p>

<p>Where were you planning on transferring to? That format is really not what I would consider to be extreme or out of the norm for a college course. A significant part of college is learning to pick out what information is important. Two hundred pages of text is also not that extreme. While some schools emphasize hand-holding and like to nurture students, I don't think you're going to find other colleges are THAT much different.</p>

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<p>Yeah, that sounds very close to my computer science class, and that is definately NOT my strong point. We have lecture, but ther are no specific notes, no handouts, and no review. You just have to read and know your stuff. And yeah, the tests have covered 4-5 chapters each. Why didn't you consider going to office hours or getting together with classmates to form a study group? If others struggle this much then they'll want to give help and accept any help you can give them to prepare. This is college, professors won't come and say, "you're having a tough time in this class, how can I help?" If you want to do well, you have to try. Surely you don't cover 4 chapters in a week and then have a test. So, you should have seen that you couldn't just BS your way through the class and cram the night before the tests. You should have been reading daily; it's not fun, but it was clearly necessary. Daily reading makes 200 pages managable. </p>

<p>As far as the math goes, having weak math skills is not an excuse for allowing yourself to flunk. Again, go to office hours, study session, get an outside tutor. I did these kinds of things to get through HS math, and once I started, I ended up with solid C's in both Geometry and Algebra II. I'm taking my one required math class in the fall, and I'm all ready to to all these things over again to get through this class. We all do things we don't want to do to have success.</p>

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<p>You cannot make an excuse for failing a college course since you can pick your own teachers. Next time read reviews and ask around.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Now, I may not be the smartest kid, but I have never came close to failing a class before. The only reason I am failing now, is because I can't read 200 pages and memorize every term, in only a week. There are too many terms, and once the test comes around I mix-match different terms and end up putting the wrong information for each question. I am usually pretty good at history. I took three history courses in High School, and got a at least a B in all three. I took Western Civ. last semester[with a different teacher], and got a B-.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Stop with all of this: "...I may not be the smartest kid" - crap Darnit, man. Don't think of yourself as dumb! </p>

<p>Now, with your History Professor, I am thinking he had a schedule of readings? I am way thinking that he did. When you take the class over, you have to get ahold of the schedule of readings and organize things for the whole semester. Buy a datebook and organise things in a realistic fashion. </p>

<p>If the History Professor does not give a schedule of readings, then you demand to know your homework as soon as possible, but be polite. </p>

<p>For History, the easiest thing to do is follow a schedule of readings. Stick to the schedule and outline everything. Really easy. </p>

<p>If you honestly cannot follow the lecture, then please ask permission to record the lecture. For all I know you might have some mild ADD issue along with a mild reading LD issue. No big deal. Ask permission to record the lecture. Play the lecture back and type it out. It is not hard. </p>

<p>Do not procrastinate in the future. Idle hands are the Devil's workshop. You make your schedule of "stuff" and try to stick with it. It is not hard.</p>

<p>
[quote]
As for math, I just plain old suck at math. I missed lecture for the content that was on the test that brought my grade down so low. I can still pass Math, possibly with a D+ or C-. History on the other hand, see you next year.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Math is important to add coms. You will never do well in math if you think: "...I plain old suck at math." Think of this, you tell your own self you suck, and then you wind up sucking! Bad internal monologues you have going on. Change your way of thinking, read some Norman Vincent Peale or something. Seriously. You have to develop self esteem and try your best to think of your own self as an 'Academic Giant.' </p>

<p>When you have to take these classes over you have to work things hard from the break. Stay organised, focused, and walk into the classes ready to kick rear and take names. </p>

<p>With math, you have to practice like a right son of a gun. Seriously. It is not the most fun thing if you are not a math geek like myself. But, you just have to practice. Organise your schedule where you practice your math and then when you are done, relax with the I Tunes or something. Know what I mean? </p>

<p>You can do this, OP. But, you just have to shapen up a wee bit and start seeing yourself in a different light. And, maybe speak to someone at your CC about this with the attention and reading issue you may or may not have. You might already be an 'Academic Giant' and you might be one of those folks who needs to have a little coffee before class. I don't know. I just know that you have to live up to your potential and I bet you can do it if you tried harder and stay more organsied.</p>

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<p>What do you guys think about taking the courses over during the summer? The classes would go as the following;</p>

<p>History: From 5/29-6/25, 9am - 12pm.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday </p>

<p>Math: From 07/02-07/27, 9am -12pm
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday</p>

<p>Sounds like a pain in the ass, and way too much time in the same room without moving. But, it would get me out of having to spend my time next year on retaking them.</p>