Getting a pretty low GPA

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I'm a 2nd year MechE major. My current GPA is 2.5.</p>

<p>Any advice on bringing it up? I've been trying extremely hard, but when it comes to the exams I'm just always below the average. The logical way to fix this problem would be to figure what you're doing wrong and fix it but I have tried doing that numerous times and it's just not working.</p>

<p>What should I do? Should I just drop out? I've placed a lot of effort and it's just not paying off. I'm getting kind of frustrated. I've already crossed out grad school and internships off my list. </p>

<p>I haven't failed any classes yet but maybe I intentionally should so that I'll get a better grade after retaking (because as far as I know, if you pass the class you shouldn't retake it because that grade won't be factored into your GPA). I haven't taken any humanities courses yet but I'm sure I'll do well in them. I'm thinking of taking as many of them as I am allowed to just so that maybe my GPA will rise.</p>

<p>I know this post sounds depressing but we can't get everything we want in life. I'm probably just not a smart guy and that's okay. I know I shouldn't give up but I'm just tired of trying hard. Maybe engineering isn't for me but I don't think it's possible to switch majors at this point. Maybe I should just take a year off and travel or something. I'm not sure what to do.</p>

<p>Thanks for reading.</p>

2

<p>First, what is your GPA goal for graduation? 3.0, 3.25? Also, what are your goals for life after college (career, lifestyle, etc.)? Why is grad school on your “to do” list?</p>

<p>Regardless, GPA isn’t everything in life. You go to UC Berkeley, so take advantage of all the resources we have here, be it recruiting, networking, meeting smart people; anything, really. </p>

<p>If you’re really hung up on your GPA, as a sophomore you’re about 1/2 way through your units I’m guessing. So let me apply ever-handy golfer’s mentality: “If I just par out…it won’t be that bad, right?”</p>

<p>So if you 4.0-out from now on, then you’d end up somewhere in the 3.3 range. Nothing wrong about that. Even if you 3.7-out you’re still above 3.0. Again, nothing wrong with that (+ it’s better than where you are now). My point is, you still have a lot of time to turn things around.</p>

<p>Why do you perform poorly on exams? </p>

<p>Do you get 100%'s on all your homework assignments? Do you go to GSI/professor office hours? Do you read and understand the material? Do you seek tutoring from the SLC? Do you take practice exams (from wherever, be it online test banks or otherwise) before the real midterm/final? Do any and all of the above if you haven’t already.</p>

<p>But at the end of the day, maybe if you don’t improve or aren’t making progress toward YOUR goals in life or in school, you should switch majors. Stay an extra semester if you must (if you can afford it).</p>

<p>You shouldn’t drop out of school unless you think it isn’t getting you closer to YOUR goals. For most people, a college education is a great investment. But it isn’t for everyone. But I encourage you to stay with us. </p>

<p>Take a lot of easy humanities to give your GPA some life. If you think about it, getting anything above a C+ will <em>raise</em> your GPA, so the only way to go is up! (I hope?)</p>

<p>Keep your chin up, you can do it.</p>

3

<p>For a major such as engineering sometimes no amount of hard work can lead you to high grades. I suggest sticking with it and trying out some new work/study habits. If you love what you’re doing then just continue it. Mix in some easier classes to counteract your required ones.</p>

4

<p>Dropping out wouldn’t be the best idea. It’d probably dissuade you to come back if you ever think about it. If you are fairly on track to graduate, start seeing if you can ease up the schedule a little. Add a couple classes you know you can ace and maybe take 2 core classes (you only need 12 units for CoE yes?). Have you just been pushing your schedule with core classes because that’s what it seems like.</p>

5

<p>You are burnt out. If you like what you’re doing i.e. enjoy studying engineering - tough it out the next 2 years, graduate. It’s easy for me to say but don’t worry too much about the GPA, and don’t look too far into the future, worrying about future jobs, whether you’ll end up at starbucks etc etc. FINISH what you are doing now.</p>

6

<p>No one ever won a race without finishing it first.</p>

<p>Sure you may not be at the top of the class, but at this point, what’s done is done. Doing as good as you can will be like winning once you graduate. Engineering is tough here (so I hear). Its your decision on what you do with it. There is still hope as others have said. I hope you find everyone here supportive and encouraging.</p>

7

<p>Take easy classes bud. There are some that you are guaranteed A’s in basically if u do the work and put like 5 mins into it every day. Take 1 or 2 of those ever semester and possibly in the summer. if u cover all the C’s u got, then u gotta 3.0. : ]</p>