I'm failing physics. What do I do?

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>I'm a freshman this year, and my major is engineering..... I have to say I'm not the brightest. I actually don't even know how I got into the engineering program at my college.
So I'm supposed to CODA at the end of this semester and get into chemical engineering department.. to do that I need at least a C- in Physics. I got all the other courses covered. And I need my GPA to be at least 3.2 to get into ChemE, right now I have 3.0.... It's definitely not going up.</p>

<p>So... That being said.. I'm failing physics (205) right now. I got 60's on the first two exams, and I just got my third test back and I got a 55... yes, I actually failed it... I just have to take the final to be done with this class. I'm probably going to fail that one too.
I'm getting so frustrated, like I'm physically starting to feel sick because I'm so stressed out. I don't know what to do.. I'm probably gonna have to take this class again and I'm afraid I'm gonna be a lot behind.
And it's not like I slack off, I study and I attempt all the questions on a test and I still get more than half of them wrong... It's even worse because it's only 20 questions, all multiple choice.
I think I have problem processing word problems. I just don't know how to approach them.</p>

<p>I don't know if I should change my major or something. I know people say don't change your major just because of one class, but if I don't pass this class I can't even start taking actual engineering classes.
I feel like this class is literally making me depressed, like my self-confidence is hitting the absolute bottom.</p>

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<p>If you don’t fully understand the material, you have to get yourself up to speed. That means camping out for the prof’s office hours, studying with others in the class, going to tutoring sessions, etc. </p>

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<p>Is the class curved? If so, that shouldn’t be a failing score, but rather an average score. I took a physics class where the average on the final was around 38% I believe, and at my school getting an average score puts you in the B-/C+ range.</p>

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<p>I actually don’t think there is a curve, I’ve emailed my professor a while ago and I think that’s what he told me… and those scores already include 5 extra points… :frowning: I feel like everyone around me is saying it’s no big deal because physics is challenging to everyone, but like… the average for the first test was 75. Not sure about the second and the third ones, but I’m constantly below average… I’ve never been doing this bad in a class and I’m so stressed out. I don’t understand how everyone else is doing so good.</p>

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<p>Physics can be a very difficult subject. It’s not hopeless though. I wouldn’t give up on your goals just yet. </p>

<p>If you do end up failing it…take the time this summer to go back through the material and focus on the things that you’re really struggling with. Check out one of the MIT OpenCourseWare’s on the appropriate topics. Some of those can be fantastic. You might want to check them out now to use as a supplement too. They can come in very handy.</p>

<p>Physics is definitely challenging for most people. It takes a lot of time and focus. </p>