<p>I'm majoring in chemical engineering and in my first semester at McGill University. In high school I was at the top of my class and was 100% confident that I would get a good degree from a good school. </p>
<p>Now I'm taking physics, chemistry, linear algebra and geometry, and engineering economics. I'm failing everything. I did horribly on my first few exams and took that as motivation for my next exams. I studied so hard for a test I had this week and felt completely prepared, but walking out of it I'm sure I failed. I literally could not have studied harder. </p>
<p>I can't believe that i am doing so horribly. It's so hard to motivate myself now, knowing that I'm already in too deep of a hole of failure to climb out of. All my friends are doing well and I have to play along that I'm doing well also, but soon enough I'll have to admit to them that they won't be seeing me next year because I'm going to get kicked out of McGill. </p>
<p>I never considered anything besides attending a hard university and getting a good degree. Now I can't do that and I'm breaking down. I'm terrified of what's going to become of my life. And I can't admit to anyone that I'm doing so poorly. I feel very alone and very much like a failure.</p>
<p>Physics
Chemistry
Linear Algebra
Engineering Economics</p>
<p>That’s too heavy of a load in my opinion for your first semester. You’ll need to be more realistic in deciding what you can handle next semester. </p>
<p>Starting seeing professors in their office hours or meeting with a study group. Chances are someone will be able to help you.</p>
<p>That’s an incredibly heavy course load for a first semester college student. </p>
<p>You won’t necessarily get kicked out. You might get placed on some kind of academic probation, but there’s still time to redeem yourself. Take a more sensible schedule next semester. Mix some easier geneds in there instead of a bunch of hard sciences.</p>
<p>You have 4 weeks before finals.
You can aim for passing all your classes.
You need to stop beating yourself up.
Start at the beginning of each syllabi and look at all your assignments with fresh eyes.
Hire tutors at the Student Center.
Camp out at the TA and prof’s office for help.
Ask to look at your old tests and take notes.
Did you put enough study time in, go to review sessions, do homework problem sets, and do all the reading?
You can turn it around.
No reason to fail any class.</p>
<p>It is a heavy load but not so heavy that you should be failing everything. It’s hard to say what’s wrong but consider that stress and anxiety is making your studying efforts inefficient. Cut back on the class load. Take some electives with the hope that you can catch your stride.</p>
<p>Also remember that the Prof might teach A. The book might teach B, and the test might expect you to use A & B to get to C. It’s not as linear a learning process as in HS. To be prepared for a college exam, you must be prepared to deliver more than A & B. I.E.- C.</p>
<p>I agree: these classes are not high-level enough for you failing them to be predictable. Focus on improving what you can and treat everything above an F as an improvement.</p>
<p>For a first semester freshmen, that is a heavy course load. </p>
<p>I don’t think that’s the only factor at play here, but having a lighter schedule would certainly make a difference.</p>
<p>Be aware that chemical engineering is not an easy major. Your classes are only going to get harder as you go on…so now’s the time to get those good study habits ingrained.</p>