Is it “End-of-the world” while getting a C in graduate school? Absolutely not! As l

Graduate School
1

<p>Is it “End-of-the world” while getting a C in graduate school? Absolutely not! As long as you…</p>

<p>In the late 80s, at the age of 24, I came to the US, the land of opportunity, to obtain a graduate degree in the field that I am really interested in. Like many foreign students from non-English Speaking countries, I struggled in express myself verbally so I had a difficult time during the first semester. My academic advisor Dr. M, who was very impatient about my English, gave up on me and eventually I received a C for his class. In this decent private university I attended, to get any scholarship was very competitive and depended heavily on professor's research grants. Instead of getting me (his student) scholarship, Dr. M closed the door on me and I barely survived (C=2.0 in GPA calculation and any course with a C grade could not be counted as credits hours toward graduation in Master of Science programs). Was I a bad student? At first I had such a doubt in my mind, but not until I spoke with chairman of another department in my cross-disciplinary program, Dr. E, a well-known professor in our field. I still remember the encouraging words from him that day: </p>

<p>“I remember you. You took two courses that I taught last semester. And you aced both of them.”…</p>

<p>”I understand your English without any problem.”…</p>

<p>”I have a southern accent; too”…”I will be very pleased if my Chinese is as good as your English.”…</p>

<p>”Dr. M has no plan on you, but I do. Welcome to the team (family)!”…</p>

<p>“Who said students with a C in their master programs are doomed. Work hard and study
hard; you can make it.” </p>

<p>Five years after this, I invited Dr. E to participate in my doctoral dissertation committee for the oral defense at my second graduate school (a prestigious one) located on the East Coast. I not only survived but also made it all the way. Indeed, I was deeply indebted to Dr. E. Without him, my academic career will be a short one and I won’t be able to go this far. After all these years, his firm, caring and encouraging voices still echo in my ears:</p>

<p>”I will be very pleased if my Chinese is as good as your English.”…
”…Welcome to the team (family)!”…
“Who said students with a C in their master programs are doomed. Work hard and study hard; you can make it.”</p>

<p>Is it “End-of-the world” while getting a C in graduate school? Absolutely not! As long as you keep working hard and studying hard; commit and engage yourself with the professor who really cherishes (likes or has confidence in) you; you can make it. </p>

<p>Thank God for sending Dr. E to help and guide me while I was walking through a very dark valley.</p>

<p>That's my story. What is yours?</p>

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<p>I got a C+ in the first math course I had to take as a grad student. It was the first math course I had taken in four years, assumed knowledge of how to write proofs (I hadn’t done any since geometry back in middle school), and was filled with brilliant undergrads who had taken considerably more math than me.</p>

<p>Hasn’t made a difference one way or another in my graduate career so far.</p>

<p>Heck, even my friend that got a D- in one of the required classes for his program only had to retake the class.</p>

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<p>Like most universities, in additional to 24 credit hours of coursework, a thesis is required to complete Master of Science programs that I mentioned on post# 1. A logical schedule would be two semesters of coursework (12 credit hours for each) and followed by one semester thesis research.</p>

<p>C=2.0 in GPA calculation would bring overall GPA down, which hurt one’s chance in pursuit of other professional or advanced degrees, e.g., MBA, JD, or PhD. Besides, any course with a C grade could not be counted as credits hours toward graduation so one would have to redo it (From whom? Of course, it would be from the same professor for the small private institution {professor to graduate student ratio of 1:3}).</p>

<p>Getting a C from any professor is painful; but if that C comes from academic (thesis) advisor, the issue becomes even worse. </p>

<p>He or she (academic {thesis} advisor) may have a pre-determined mind-set on what your limits are. In my case, Dr. M asked me to take fewer courses (9 instead of 12 credit hours per semester) and suggested that I should attend language school to polish my English. For the small private institution, tuition (consistently ranked among top 10 in the nation) was paid by each semester, i.e., the longer you stayed in your coursework, the more money you paid.</p>

<p>Dr. M’s suggestions had great impacts against me both emotionally and financially. At that critical moment, Dr. E showed up and changed the whole situation. Therefore, I wrote:</p>

<p>“…As long as you keep working hard and studying hard; commit and engage yourself with the professor who really cherishes (likes or has confidence in) you; …”</p>

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<p>Haha, sounds like ACM 100 to me… I just got screwed by that class too. Effing complex analysis.</p>

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<p>Niko256:</p>

<p>What does ACM stand for? When did this happen? I hope that you can regroup yourself and recover soon.</p>

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<p>I’ll just sit here and feel a bit jealous.
Receiving a C in my current grad program is a failing grade and the professors are quite clinical in terms of student-professor relationships.</p>

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<p>At most schools, a C is a failing grade at the graduate level.</p>

<p>Failing a course is not an end-all by itself, but usually those students who are receiving funding are required to maintain a minimum GPA to keep their teaching or research assistantship, most likely 3.0 or 3.5. Dipping below this minimum will have ramifications on their graduate career. </p>

<p>Congrats OP on overcoming academic obstacles, and finding an advisor that you seem to have an excellent relationship with. It is not always easy to bounce back from failing graduate courses to have a successful graduate career, although it CAN be done.</p>

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<p>Oldccuse, thanks for those encouraging words. The fact that getting a C in my first semester at graduate school was one of the biggest impacts in my academic career though it was an ancient history for me, yet I still have vivid memory as if it happened yesterday, while brought up. </p>

<p>Yes, C is a failing grade and appears on transcription as a failing course (or unsatisfactory credit hours). It is included in the GPA calculations with other passing courses (or satisfactory credit hours) but not counted as passing courses (or satisfactory credit hours) for graduation.</p>

<p>Buerre, it took me good efforts to bring my GPA up: To make myself eligible as a recipient for research assistantship, I had to maintain a minimum GPA at or above 3.5, which was not an easy task because it takes 3 As to make up the damage done by a C. To further prove to my mentor, Dr. E. that I was worthy, I took all the toughest courses available in the program. With God’s blessings (a lot of tears and prayers from me to Him), I not only completed the program successfully but also finished on top for almost all the toughest courses. </p>

<p>I believe my story will be an encouragement for those of you who have trouble with language and/or culture during your first semester at graduate school. Even though it happened to me two decades ago, such “disguised blessings from God” may happen to you.</p>

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<p>OP: Don’t be so under crediting your own hard work and efforts :)</p>

<p>All “God” had to do was just waive “His” magic wand around; not really a very difficult task :slight_smile: In fact, YOU yourself, aided by the mentorship of your advisers, was able to bounce back from adversity and complete a successful graduate career. That is a lot more impressive than waiving around a stick and puffing some magic potion :)</p>

<p>I’m glad that you have shared your story with us. It will serve as encouragement for those who need to hear success stories of not giving up when the times are down, and how they can PERSONALLY take initiative to work harder.</p>