failing engineer

Student Lounge College Life
1

Hello all,

I am a sophomore student in Computer engineering. I was at a great school freshman year, loved it and finished out the year with a 3.5 gpa. Long story short, I had to transfer because the cost of this private school was too high, and my parents asked that I make a switch to an inexpensive public college (which I understood completely). I am more than halfway through the semester, failing at least one class. My tests have been a mix of C’s D’s and F’s, even though I am a good student, I study and visit my teachers regularly at office hours. I dropped out of Calculus based physics because my course load was too much (and I commute over an hour to get to school). There is a serious lack of student-professor relationships at this university, and even though my professors see me making an effort it doesn’t count for much. I can only assume I am behind my classmates or that my high school background in math and science was lacking (probably the latter).

I am so deep in the semester now, that I have come to realize my 3.5 gpa could possibly even drop to below a 2.0. I feel depressed, sad, and unmotivated. At this school, UMass Lowell, a 2.0 for one semester is grounds for probation. I have had a difficult time doing my work and making time for my boyfriend of 10 months, and even when i see him all i can think about are my bad grades and my fear of failure and dismissal from the college. My boyfriend is in the same major with a 3.8 gpa.

Honestly, as a woman this hurts, because every girl I know can somehow maintain an active social life and keep a 3.5 or higher. I’m just in need of advice. My parents are supportive, and suggested i change majors, but with my gpa i doubt I actually can change my major.

2

I think that you should see an academic advisor or an advisor in your department. They may be able to tell you what your options are as far as how you might be able to raise your GPA through retaking classes, summer courses, if you can change your major, etc. and what you should do in the worst-case scenario of being put on academic probation.

You might also want to see a counselor; see if your school provides services. Lack of motivation and feelings of sadness could indicate serious depression, which could continue to affect your abilities to do well if it is not addressed. Plus, talking things out with someone can be cathartic. A therapist can help put things in perspective for you; you aren’t the only one struggling, and that it’s not abnormal to struggle through a big transition such as your transferring.

Finally, ask your academic advisor, or find out if your school offers tutoring services for your classes. You clearly a hardworking student, and you’ve been capable of the work up to this semester, but something must not be clicking if you are doing poorly on exams. Maybe it’s depression, your study habits, or time management, or just the different nature of this school’s courses. You need to do some deep thinking about what the problem might be and ways that you could possibly resolve it.

I know it sucks to feel like everyone around you is doing better than you; I’ve been there. But don’t beat yourself up about what’s going on so far, or compare yourself to others. You’re a unique person with a unique set of circumstances, and you should focus on what you can do moving forward.