Hello. So I’m in my sophomore year of college and am an engineering major. I am currently failing all of my courses. I did fail one class last year and am retaking it this fall and am even failing that one… again. I’m to the point where I don’t know what I’m doing wrong and I don’t know how to study differently or better prepare myself. I am always doing homework and trying to fit in some study time and I don’t party. When preparing for an exam, I try to make sure I have read all corresponding textbook chapters, work on textbook practice problems, and rework through homework problems. For example, I recently took the second exam for my chemistry course (which is the class I’m retaking). I didn’t do well on the first exam, so I knew I really needed to put in more time for this exam to try and balance out my grade. I read all the chapters, worked on some textbook problems, and reworked all the homework. I felt really confident in my knowledge going into the exam. After leaving the exam, I was less confident. I knew of one question for sure that I made a silly mistake on and knew what the correct answer was and then there were some other shakey questions. But overall, I thought I at least passed. The professor later stated that she made the exam harder than it should have been, resulting in low averages, so she added a 10 point curve. With the curve, I still managed to make a 45%. This seems to be the pattern in all of my courses: I study, feel somewhat confident, take the exam, feel less confident, fail the exam. I don’t know what to do differently…
If you are attending every class, studying as you describe, and still failing all your courses then you should reconsider your major and perhaps attend a different type of college - perhaps a less demanding one. If you are not attending classes, then the answer would seem obvious.
I do indeed attend all my classes. My family has brought up me changing my major before and when I think about it, there isn’t another career path I really can see myself pursuing. I enjoy engineering.
Do you got to office hour? Tutoring? If not, I would start there.
I’ve been to an office hour here and there, nothing consistent. I go to tutoring when it is available.
Get a private tutor. It will be worth the investment if you want to stay in engineering.
I think engineering programs differ in terms of nuturing vs hands off they are. Some students do better in small class sizes.
Go to the career center and meet with an adviser who can help you target other careers that might be of interest. See your academic adviser to find out what your options are. Failing everything is untenable. You will not get a degree in engineering, or anything at your college, at this rate. You will likely be asked to leave the school if you can’t maintain your grades. Perhaps the problem is that you signed up for a bunch of very difficult classes all at the same time?
An office hour “here and there”, inconsistently, isn’t going to work. Either you go all out to salvage your grades, or withdraw from your classes this semester, if it isn’t too late, and regroup. Come back for Spring term. I agree that if you are determined to stay the course, you should throw money at the problem. Get private tutors, and hire a coach to help you organize and study more effectively.
If your family supports you changing your major, but you don’t want to because you enjoy it, I have to wonder what else is going on. I am sure you don’t enjoy failing. So what specifically do you enjoy about engineering? Is it the other students in your major, the college you’re at, the idea of getting a degree in engineering, or what?
You may not be suited to your chosen major. There are so many students that feel they must study engineering, but maybe that isn’t what you are best at. Maybe you’d great at another major. You need to consider your options at this point, and also consider your parents’ bank account.
I have planned to meet with an advisor next week and I’ll see what’s recommended. I am taking a number of difficult courses, however, my course difficulty is indifferent from my peers.
I started looking into private tutoring, so I will try that as my next course of action. I did make some grade calculators for the courses I could, and still can pass those classes if I am able to improve my exam grades.
I can’t say I enjoy failing. It’s very draining. I’m not necessarily sure how to describe why I like engineering but I do know it has nothing to do with the university or other students.
What you are doing isn’t working.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/1920853-college-is-a-step-up-from-hs-16-tips-on-doing-well-in-college.html
just because you are failing may not mean engineering isn’t for you either. it just may mean you need to go to a less challenging school. have you considered transferring to a community college and finishing the first two years courses there or transferring to a less demanding school? have you looked at your foundation of the prerequisites for these technical courses that are challenging you?
what engineering discipline are you pursuing? this might help pinpoint towards other fields that have to do with what you are interested in. like for example, i’m interested in environmental engineering because i have a passion for the environment and other possible options for me may be environmental science/planning or being a water quality/environmental technician. engineering technology may also be another option and is kind of like a less math heavy version of engineering and more hands on.
but please see about dropping or withdrawing from any of your courses and see how close you are to passing in each one.
before you change your major, please know that liberal arts degrees are useless and are not worth your time & money. please watch Aaron clarey & engineered truth on youtube and read the book worthless to believe me.
One important question is, did you take high school chemistry or college introductory chemistry before taking General Chemistry? i got a late drop approved by the registrar for General Chemistry this semester because my instructor recommended i go back and take introductory chemistry before taking general chemistry.
i know you didn’t mention it but are you struggling with depression, family problems, etc?
Oh, please. That’s nonsense.
See if you can salvage the semester. As others mentioned, get tutors, and work with each one at least once per week for the rest of the term. That may be more effective (and focused) than office hours, so make that a priority.
Go to the tutoring center to see if they offer help with overall study skills, exam taking techniques, etc.
Go to office hours with a real purpose. Bring the exam you just took, and ask the professor to review it with you so you can better understand what’s needed and expected.
At the same time, go to the career center and ask them about taking the “Strong Interest Inventory” or a similar tool. This test helps you match your skills and interests up with careers, which you can then research. It may suggest some fields that offer you what you like about engineering, but which are a better fit.
If you can pass these classes, continue on in engineering for another term. For that term, get tutors for your classes as of week one, and work with them very, very, very often. See if you can improve the grade situation. If you do, then continue on in engineering. But if you do not, you are going to need to change majors, because if you don’t, you’re going to lose your financial aid and also be removed from your school. So give this a bit more time, and some serious effort; and if it doesn’t work, be prepared to make a change.