Help Me.

Student Lounge College Life
1

<p>I am at U of Toronto majoring in Cinema Studies/Russian Language and Literature. My GPA for first year was 3.29, and second year 3.41, with 3.7 in the second semester. Not bad, but could be better, right? I hoped to work hard this year and bring it up even more. </p>

<p>It started with a bad prof, in a bad course, who simply demands too much of us, and will mark most of the class excruciatingly low for ridiculous things (he marked me down because I didn't use a biography he liked, which I had never heard of). Okay, it happens. But I am so scared of that class, and of the prof, that it's been bleeding into all my other courses and work. Another class, I was just plain lazy and accepted this. And yet another, the prof cancelled the final exam, making our previous work worth more even though she knew we had all done badly first semester. </p>

<p>What's more, my essays do not seem at all proportional to the amount of work I put in, nor do the tests that accompany them. I can study hard and get a C, or barely study and get an A. It makes no sense.</p>

<p>For some reason I freeze when I look at an upcoming assignment or paper. For example, I have spent six days trying to write a paper for a class, and although I am only 600 words short, nothing can make me write even a single word. Eventually I will panic and vomit something out in less than an hour - and I can't seem to break this no matter how I try. </p>

<p>And then I will get a bad grade, which gets into this vicious cycle - I'll fail - I won't get into grad school (which I don't even know if I want) - I will never have a job - I will disappoint my parents, who are paying for it all. Typing this, I just scratched my hand until it bled thinking about the situation. I can't sleep at all, overeat, and have been grinding my teeth pretty badly. </p>

<p>It's getting to the point where I've lost interest in everything- extracurriculars, friends outside of my apartment, romance. And I'm falling into the point when I stop caring. </p>

<p>Can I save my GPA with only one year left? What about saving myself?</p>

<p>(My expected grades, BTW, are A-, A-, B+, B, B-, and that's being pretty optimistic- and the way U of T's grading systems work, it will kill my GPA.)</p>

2

<p>Go see your school’s counselor. They have the answers.</p>

3

<p>It sounds like the issue isn’t just your classes, you sound depressed. I would definitely go see 1) your academic advisor for advice on choosing classes next semester and 2) go see a school counselor for stress management.</p>

<p>Also, the thing about college is that effort isn’t graded. The profs don’t care if you spent all week studying for that test, if you don’t know the right material or how to apply it, then you don’t do well on the test. Try seeking copies of old tests from that professor. Form study groups with the classmates who are doing well. </p>

<p>Also, try meeting with these professors during office hours. They may seem intimidating and unhelpful in the classroom, but their job is to teach you what you need to get your degree. Go to office hours and review your old tests with the professor. Find your weak points and work on those. If you go to office hours and explain that you are not understanding the essay requirements or that you are having trouble I guarantee they will give you some sort of guidance or advice. Not all professors want you to fail. </p>

<p>Hope this helps!</p>