Freshman Year at College (First Semester)

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>My first semester of college was not at all what I expected.</p>

<p>The worst possible grades I can imagine (giving myself lots of leeway):
- First Year Forum: A
- Required Academic Writing: B
- Life Sciences Calculus I: F
- Introduction to the Nature and Study of Language: C
- Latin I: C
- Ancient Greek Religion: B</p>

<p>This puts me at around a C or 2.0 if worst comes to worst.</p>

<p>Firstly, do not even ask me why I chose to take college calculus, when I clearly cannot even handle high school calculus. Secondly, why am I such a failure?</p>

<p>The worst part is that I know why I am doing so badly. There is too much free time in college, and I spend a lot of that time either stressing over small assignments that have no purpose, or just not studying at all.</p>

<p>How can I raise my C, to at least a B+ / A- range? (2.0 to 3.5) by next semester? As in, would I need to get A's in every class? This is kind of a rhetorical question, but not really. Has anyone ever calculated or anything?</p>

<p>Should I retake calculus for a better grade? (Only the higher of the two will be counted towards my GPA.) Or just fail it and have it be on my transcript and be done with math forever?</p>

<p>One more thing. Even before I moved in, I knew I was going to transfer. However, I do not know if that is possible anymore, considering my horrible grades. I am simply not motivated here. :[</p>

<p>Sorry for ranting, although I am thinking much worse things than I am typing. (WILL I FAIL AT LIFE?) Just kidding. Not really. Help?</p>

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<p>"I spend a lot of that time … not studying at all.</p>

<p>How can I raise my C, to at least a B+ / A- range? (2.0 to 3.5) by next semester? "</p>

<p>…</p>

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<p>You should really retake Calculus because an F doesn’t sit too well for getting a job or going to grad school. Plus it really murdered your GPA. I found that getting a high GPA is about good work ethics. Are you studying with other people? Studying alone is suicide in college. Are you asking for help when you are unsure about something? Are you going to office hours? Are studying from classes to classes not from test to test? By the way what is your major?</p>

<p>"I spend a lot of that time either stressing over small assignments that have no purpose, or just not studying at all.</p>

<p>How can I raise my C, to at least a B+ / A- range? (2.0 to 3.5) by next semester?"</p>

<p>Oh that explains a lot and its next to impossible to raise your GPA to 3.5 by the next semester even if you got a 4.0 GPA you will get at the most a 3.0 which is decent.</p>

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<p>@DCHurricane
The glass is always half full! :P</p>

<p>@jdong92
If I retake it, my transcript will show that I took it twice but only the higher grade will be counted.
I am studying…alone! Haha. Maybe next semester I should try study groups. Why is it “suicide” though? Because I find that whenever I try to study with others, I get distracted easily.
I am a Classics major. So again, calculus is nowhere near my area of expertise.</p>

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<p>"Studying alone is suicide in college. "</p>

<hr>

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<p>@jdong92
Oh I just saw that you edited your post. So would you recommend me retake the course?</p>

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<p>drop out, become a garbage man.</p>

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<p>Coming from the person who started the thread: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/1046691-should-liberal-arts-abolished.html?[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/1046691-should-liberal-arts-abolished.html?&lt;/a&gt;
Interesting.</p>

<p>Anyway, I think I am just going to retake it and average the higher grade into my GPA. I guess that makes the most sense.
Now I have to do my whole schedule again. I had planned to take 17 credits Spring semester, but I guess now I have to drop a class to make room for calculus. (There is a 19 credit limit, unless one gets special permission.)</p>

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<p>Clearly, some people are just not meant to go to college.</p>

<p>and btw, DCHurricane essentially answered your thread. </p>

<p>Good day.</p>

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<p>Clearly, some people forget how to be civil when speaking behind an online username.</p>

<p>Good day. :]</p>

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<p>Well mate I’m not sure what you expected. Did you want people to say “Ah it’s ok, a D isn’t that bad”?</p>

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<p>No! Of course its bad. I was just asking if I should retake the course.</p>

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<p>Well, if you think you can get a better grade then yes you should. Especially if you need it for your major.</p>

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<p>“Oh I just saw that you edited your post. So would you recommend me retake the course?” </p>

<p>Uhh… Seriously? This is given because an F must a good grade to have right?</p>

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<p>Huh? I thought you edited your post because you asked me my major.</p>