<p>Hi guys, I have not posted in much time but was lurking around. I have always come here for help and now i need it again!</p>
<p>See, I did very well in the first two semesters of my EE UG course. Im now ending my third semester but this time, i wont make to the deans list(3.5). Heck, i dont know if i Can even cross a 3.2. The problem started when I took 20 credits. I wanted to minor in something and thought it was best to take an extra class. The extra class went good, the basics went bad.</p>
<p>Here is what Happened ---> Im messing up ( C+) in stuff like physics and linear algebra. And I thought about Retaking these courses AND not going for extra credits. Basically, I did not benefit at all by trying to run forward.</p>
<p>Now.... My transcript has no D',C's or even W's. ... But if I retake these courses it will stay ( the current grades before retake) on my transcript with a note( revised grading-- C+ to --- A) How bad does that look? Should i move on with life and hope to get better grades? If i have 3 or 4 such incidents on my transcript, will it kill me? Please! I am really confused- I want to work for LM, NG and other defense contractors and i know they want crazy gpas.. I know I can do really well with regular credits, but the fact is that im paying sooo much and i need to take advantage of extra credits. Im greedy, i know. Thanks alot.</p>
<p>Instead of doing a minor I would retake those classes you got low grades in. </p>
<p>A high GPA is much more important than having a minor.</p>
<p>but would it look bad on my transcript? employer will see that i have many retakes ( 2-3)</p>
<p>I don't think so. I'd say it looks better that you retook a class and got an A the second time around than just settling for a C.</p>
<p>I also wanted recruiters to reply, because i know they lurk around.</p>
<p>I doubt that you realized that you had a problem right at the end of the semester. Next time, rather drop a class because one or two W's look better than C's and D's. A W means for some reason, you dropped the class. A C means that your peformance in the class was only average, and a D means its below average. That tells the employer something about you, while the W only says you dropped the class. I think most people have a W at some point, because some semester something is bound to come up, and you wont have time for all the classes.</p>
<p>Now a few C's or D's wont kill you, as long as they dont become a "habbit." Everyone has a bad semester or a few bad classes. The earlier on in your college career they "happen," the better. If you can retake them, do. </p>
<p>Also, dont try and take so many credits again! If you take too much, you wont be able to learn the material properly, which is why you are paying to go to school. It wont help to take all those extra classes and have a minor, yet not have the fundamental knowledge of mathematics and physics that you will need as an engineer.</p>
<p>Remember, when you graduate and are working, the number of classes you took wont help you. However, the material you learned, and can still remember, will help you in your career.</p>
<p>@greenvision,</p>
<p>Perhaps you could go to the dean's office and plead your case to them, asking if they'll let you drop the classes. They may tell you that you have nothing to worry about; a couple of low grades won't ruin your life.</p>
<p>However, regarding</p>
<p>
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I also wanted recruiters to reply, because i know they lurk around.
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<p>This would be a good time to start building your professional network, if you haven't already. Sign up with a professional networking site like LinkedIn. Join an organization like the IEEE. (I believe it is possible to join as a student.) You want to manage your career so that you're not dependent upon recruiters. You want to build a group of colleagues who can get your resume onto the disk of hiring managers. A personal recommendation from a colleague carries far more weight than a recruiter just passing a resume along.</p>
<p>You should also think about how much courseload you can reasonably carry. Don't hesitate to drop a class early if it looks like it will drag down the others.</p>
<p>
[quote]
This would be a good time to start building your professional network, if you haven't already. Sign up with a professional networking site like LinkedIn. Join an organization like the IEEE. (I believe it is possible to join as a student.) You want to manage your career so that you're not dependent upon recruiters. You want to build a group of colleagues who can get your resume onto the disk of hiring managers. A personal recommendation from a colleague carries far more weight than a recruiter just passing a resume along.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Very true. Get close to your professors and especially fellow students. Having someone on the inside who has worked with you in school can provide a great recomendation.</p>
<p>I did see people getting hired in companies with their friends. I am trying to make as many contacts as possible. I am also a TA, and we have our own group, older TAs sometimes come around and they tell us about their workplaces.</p>
<p>I dont think the dean will allow me to drop now, but i think repeating a couple of courses will not haunt me. I just wish I had dropped one of them.</p>