Grades, how fun...

Parents Forum
1

<p>Take the title with a dose of sarcasm or not--I couldn't decide myself!</p>

<p>My grades this semester (and this year, to a lesser extent) were, well, not as high as I had hoped, but they aren't bad enough to be unsalvagable or put me in serious danger of getting my scholarship yanked. I learned a lot, too, and while overloading proved stressful, I don't regret taking a single course, not even chem (which I will be retaking for a letter grade). In fact, I'm overloading again in the fall, and I'm actually looking forward to taking intro to bio- & organic chem (The organic-type parts of chem were the only parts of chem I actually really enjoyed. Go figure). I'm taking intro to inorg. this summer as well which, as its generally considered a tamer version of gen. chem, will hopefully boast my GPA somewhat.</p>

<p>My grades for the year as are follows:</p>

<p>Fall
Intro. to Arabic: A
Precalc: B
Intro to Honors: A
Honors philosphy and literature discussion course for freshman: A
Japanese 201 (taken CR/NCR): CR
GPA: 3.75</p>

<p>Spring
Intro to Bio II (with Honors lab): B+
Gen. Chem I (taken CR/NCR): CR
Calc: B
Honors Business Law: A
Intro to Fiction Writing: A
GPA: 3.51</p>

<p>Combined GPA: 3.64</p>

<p>A big change from my 4.0 in HS, but at least I made Dean's List both semesters (unless I somehow miscalculated or read my grades incorrectly, which I don't think I did). There are some things I definitely could have/should have done differently, and I'll have to step it up next semester in order to achieve my goal of graduating with highest honors (3.7+) and making myself competitive for professional school (not sure what exactly. I'm doing some health professions shadowing over break, so hopefully that will give me a clearer picture of what exactly I'll be applying for in three years' time).</p>

<p>Grades aside, I can however say I loved my first year at UM. I lived on an amazing campus, was surrounded by some of nicest, friendliest people I have ever known, had some truly excellent professors, and found ways to stay just as happily overscheduled and involved as I was in high school. All and all, at this point, I'd say I made the right choice in following my heart and chosing UM; even if going to URI would have meant less stress over grades and a more sure career path, I don't know if I would have been willing to trade some of the experiences I've had at UM.</p>

<p>How about all the other freshman? Happy with their decisions?</p>

2

<p>YOU GO GIRL!!!</p>

<p>Those are great grades. Dean's list is fabulous! Give yourself a big pat on the back--a wonderful first year!</p>

3

<p>I didn't get any As first term freshman year and only one second. I still manage to graduate magna cum laude. Congrats on doing so well with a schedule that looks pretty challenging to me.</p>

4

<p>OMG!!! You are such a winner!! What a fantastic freshman GPA--you are going from strength to strength, kiddo.</p>

<p>Now...what was all that panic labout??? ;)</p>

5

<p>you're taking precalc in college?!-- most kids in my high school take then soph or junior year</p>

6

<p>I chose to take AP Stat. over Precalc my senior year; it gave me a higher rank, more AP credit ($$$), a more useful course in terms of applying it to my major, and, generally, a better experience. The precalc. at my school was a weird hodge-podge of material, and Stats. seemed like it would be better.</p>

<p>Thanks for all the kind words!</p>

7

<p>Wolpiper - you go! I'm happy that you kept reporting in and congrats on the great grades. I tried to get my S to look at UM. My husband wishes he had gone there! I'm going to work on S2 next year at least try to get him interested enough to go visit. S1 ended up headed for Colorado after visiting U of U and Westminster in Utah which I think you looked at. It's a good choice for him, but I regret he wouldn't even consider visiting Montana! Ironically one of S's good friends is transferring to UM this fall but my S is not one to ever look back...he's all about make a decision and forge forth. Stay in touch!</p>

8

<p>smcnair21--i guess they don't teach anything about not being a jerk at your HS.</p>

9

<p>I think that is just great! You have way less classes counting in you GPA # than you would in high school so there's not a lot of leeway, plus there are less homework and participation type grades. But you have maintained a very high GPA, that is great, it was just the first year and if you wish to improve next year that is fine, but I think you did really well this year.</p>

10

<p>wolfpiper..what a great freshman transcript. I know a few of those grades were hard won and tons of effort was required. impressive!</p>

11

<p>Thanks for doing that for me, barrons!</p>

<p>Thanks again for all your kind words as well.</p>

<p>momofthreeboys,
I hope your son has an amazing time at CUB and that his friend finds his place at UM!</p>

12

<p>Congratulations, wolfpiper!</p>

<p>:)</p>

13

<p>I think you did very well. If you enjoyed both bio and the organic parts of chemistry, consider taking a biochemistry course as well. That's how I ended up as a biochem major... the biochem stuff was fascinating.</p>

14

<p>Wolfpiper-Great transition, in and out of the classroom, congratulations! </p>

<p>My S#3 has UM on his radar screen so I have followed your journey this year. He is also interested in MSU. Did you consider MSU? Any info comparing the two would be appreciated.</p>

15

<p>Taking the long view,you should know the UW Med School has the WAMI (Washington, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) program (since the AMI states do not have their own med school). I assume the allied health professions have something similar. It may be worthwhile to spend a summer in Seattle, either taking courses or working in a lab, to get an inside look.</p>

16

<p>Wolfpiper, congrats, congrats!
A little Mama advice, DO NOT OVERLOAD WHILE TAKING ORGANIC!
You are a big girl, but that is advice that you really should take to heart. Organic is not like any other course you have ever taken, and won't be like any other course you will ever take unless you go to medical school. It is also very important to your major. You need to be free to absorb organic through every pore, that's why some people take it during the summer time, although if you are not a good memorizer, that can be a killer. Give yourself a break. Organic plus 2 crip classes, or organic plus something totally different, I actually took organic and physics at the same time, but not much else.
Organic was one of my favorite classes in college, but it is not for the faint of heart, the unorganized or the procrastinator. Best warm-up for organic - memorize tons of Arabic vocab this summer, and get several crossword magazines, concentrating on doing the logic problems and other puzzles the require organized logical thinking, the little addition puzzles where every number is a letter, etc.</p>