<p>Calculus I is owning me hardcore, not just me either, 70% of my class is failing it. I'm still in community college and had big plans to transfer to a decent engineering school but now I have no idea what's going to happen. I made A's with ease in Algebra and pre-cal but now I'm in danger of failing calc with three test grades, a 78, 53, and 69, three more tests to go and the lowest will be dropped. The deadline for withdrawing to receive a W for the course on your transcript is in 3 days. I'm very tempted to either drop this course and take it again, or just switch majors completely. The last thing I need is to continue this trend and make a D or F for the course. So what I'm really asking is, what would you all do in my position? Should I take a W and retake the course? How bad would a W look?</p>
<p>A Withdraw (W) looks much better than a D or F (since with a D/F, you’ll need to retake anyway).</p>
<p>Even if you drop, try to continue going to the class until the end, so next time you take the class, you’ll have an easier time.</p>
<p>Do not drop the class. Most teachers, especially at community colleges, will adjust the class average to a “C”. So if 70% of the class is failing as you say, and you are above class average, then you should be fine. Also, don’t ever let one class make you change a major. Anything worth having is going to be difficult. Not to be a downer, but Calculus II is much, much harder than Calculus I. Just stick it out and work hard.</p>
<p>Before dropping the class, talk to the professor/lecturer and find out how well you are doing relative to the rest of the class. Also ask for help – sample exams, study groups, explanations of material you find difficult, etc.</p>
<p>Get tutoring ASAP. What is it that you aren’t getting? The algebra involved? Limits? The concept of the derivative? Trig?</p>