Help...Feeling terrible.

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>I just received my Physics midterm two days ago, and I'm seriously going through a bit of a crisis. I studied for a good week before the exam: re-reading everything in the textbook, highlighting as I went along, and doing a few practice midterms from years past. </p>

<p>I figured the test would basically be 5 questions (20 points each) of word problems with multiple parts - pretty much standard fare from the years past.</p>

<p>Turns out, the exam was 5 questions, 20 points each, of all theoretical questions, with general formulae derivations, and problems with no definite answers. Regardless, I knew I had studied the general processes involved, and was pretty sure I did okay. By okay, I mean that I knew I wouldn't ace the test in any way, shape, or form, but that I wouldn't utterly fail.</p>

<p>Guess what happens? Utter failure. How bad, you ask? 33%. That's right, the lowest grade I've ever gotten. 33/100. I'm still in shock as to how badly I did, even with my studying (while it wasn't the most I've ever studied for a test, I studied FAR more than I have for many, many other tests/midterms). Granted, the midterm was about 20% of our grade, with the other 80% comprised of
20% - Second Midterm
40% - Final
20% - Labs and Homework (which I should get 100% on, no problems)</p>

<p>Now, I know that the class average was something like high 50%'s - although I am not sure if we have a curve. Honestly, even with a curve it'll still be an F, I'm sure.</p>

<p>What the hell can I do? I can't drop the course, or even change it to Pass/Not Pass, since I'm in the College of Engineering and Physics is a technical course. I understand all of the concepts, but I just effed up this test.</p>

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<p>First, calm down, take a deep breath. Yep, you failed miserably, but you can't change your grade now, so focus on what you can do. </p>

<p>I hear most Science classes have curves - if the average is high 50's and you got a 33%, maybe it'll be a C or D instead of F. Don't forget, this is 1/5 of your grade - 33/100 = 6.6 out of 20. Let's say you get 20/20 on the Labs/HW, and do well on your 2nd Midterm and Final - well, you can still get a grade in the high 70's/low 80's overall. And Science classes are generally curved, don't forget. Physics is not an easy subject. </p>

<p>You need to ask yourself WHY you screwed up. Physics is hard, but if you understand the concepts, there must be a reason you messed up. And see your professor/TA for extra help or whatever. maybe you need to find a new study strategy as well. I find explaining concepts to others helps me learn, so maybe a study group.</p>

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<p>I did not have a curve in my physics 1 class
90 students in class
50% of class got F or less
10-15 people dropped out</p>

<p>Our professor said his curve would be his final would be easier, HA! The final was way harder than any other tests combined.</p>

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<p>don't read a physics book like a biology book. you must solve problems to learn. reading/outlining is useless w/o practice. you can't possibly grasp whats going on otherwise.</p>

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<p>Physics is the subject which is the most about understanding of all, if you don't understand it is very easy for professors to nail you like this.</p>

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<p>Check the syllabus to see what the curve policy is and figure out where you stand. They should have told you your equivalent letter grade for your score.</p>

<p>It always helps to take a look at the practice tests from previous years to see if you can do them. You can always grab a set of exams and solutions from MIT OCW. A lot of people have a lot of trouble with Physics I and II and sometimes the professors don't make it any easier (sometimes it feels as if it's you against them). You can always withdraw and take it again in the summer or fall.</p>

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<p>you should chat with the 40/100 guy</p>

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<p>not to be harsh, but if you're struggling in the physics course and you're in the engineering school, are you sure you're on the right track?</p>

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<p>Thanks for your guys' advice.
Kid112 - The thing is, I absolutely understand everything we're learning in physics, I just messed up this test horribly. I'm a Bioengineer, and I've done pretty well in my Chem and Bio classes to date. I have no intention of dropping out of engineering, since it is something that I really enjoy learning. I'm not going to let one really hard class deter me from that.</p>

<p>BCEagle91 - they haven't given us the curve policy/letter grade. I only have my raw score. I'll talk to my TA next week, to see what I can do...</p>

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<p>usually if the profs or TAs are somewhat reasonable, they'll try to help you out and workout a grading plan so you get a reasonable grade if you talk to them seriously about it and explain your situation</p>

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<p>Let me tell you the trick of college math and math based science. </p>

<p>See all of that reading you did, trying to understand the material. Well im sorry to say it, but its a waste of time. The students who you see getting 90's and 100's dont care about why we use this formula or how it works or even why. All they know how to do is recognize a problem, set it up and calculate. Thats all that matters. Most University engineering/science student Physics classes ask 4 questions 25 pts each and its basically math. The professors don really care if you understand the theory, they dont care because the theory is secondary to the math. We see all of these shows on TV and Books talking about String and M Theory, well those things are not physics. They are stories or ideas. Physics == Math. When you start doing the math for these things then you are doing physics. </p>

<p>So practice the problems and you will do a lot better. All of the theories will explain themselves via the math in time.</p>

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<p>There is some truth to what Dr. Horse said. But he is, after all, only a horse (albeit one with a medical degree) and you should trust his opinion as much as you would trust the opinion of a horse (with a medical degree). </p>

<p>The truth is, you have to practice physics problems, and you do have to recognize certain types of problems and know how to tackle them.</p>

<p>If the test was about deriving formulae, however, then chances are your professor DOES care about theory as well as the math. You need both. What Dr. Horse is trying to say is that if you must pick between the two, math is more useful than theory. I agree. But to do WELL in a physics course, you need BOTH math AND theory. You need to be able to understand why something is happening, put it into mathematical terms, get a result, and use your knowledge of the theory to see if it makes sense.</p>

<p>It's not easy, but with enough practice and help from the professor and TA's I think you will be fine.</p>

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<p>I concur with with doctor house, problem diagnosis is absolutely key.</p>

<p>Developing an intution is by far the best thing you can do, and the only way to do it is by doing a ton of problems and undertanding how they work. You can't just read the book. I only read textbooks for my proof-based math classes because I need to know the proofs of all the theorems we do, but that is about the only time. </p>

<p>Secondly, don't let this discourage you from engineering. One test or one class shouldn't determine your path of study.</p>