<p>Should I drop this class/take it pass-fail?
The class is Intro to Microeconomics at JHU. I am a freshman.
The deadline to take a class pass/fail is today the 30th.
I just got my first exam back and I got an F! A D was equal to 40 points and I got 36....</p>
<p>I am only taking 12 credits so I can not withdraw from the course. However, I do have the option of taking it pass fail so if I do get a D in the course, it wont screw up my GPA. </p>
<p>However, the prof did say that people do much better on the final than the midterm and the final is worth a lot more. My TA section is worth 25%.</p>
<p>Um...here's the catch--if I take Microeconomics pass/fail then I simply cant be an International Studies major anymore...and I want to be lol. I will have to do History or Political Science or whatever.</p>
<p>I just dont know what to do and it's too late to talk to anyone in depth. Is it worth having a potentially low GPA??</p>
<p>I need a GPA of a 3.5 in order to participate in a program junior year.</p>
<p>You need to run the math on your GPA with different scenarios for this Micro class. Basically you need to say, all things considered, what would my GPA be if I got a D, C, B…etc. Taking it pass/fail guarantees you leave the program. Earning a specific grade can keep you in the program. I think if I was advising my child, I would ask what happened on the first test? Was it the format or simply lack of knowledge? And this is where you have to be very honest with yourself. If it was lack of knowledge is it because you are not grasping concepts, or you are simply not putting in the time? Did you go to office hours as soon as you go the exam back? Are there office hours today? Or can you speak with your professor at all today? Are there any opportunities for any type of extra credit work to offset this grade? All these things will have to be taken into consideration before an educated decision can be made. Here is another wonderful example why students should not take the bare minimum on course hours. It has severely limited your choices here…ie, inability to drop, etc.</p>
<p>Let’s look at your problem logically…
You cannot drop the course because you drop below the credits for full time status.
That considered your only choice is pass/fail.
But you will be barred from IS studies.
So you have to keep the class.
You have to put all your efforts into passing the class.
Get help from your TA and prof at office hours, discussions, any help sessions.
Get a tutor.
Start a study group.
Be honest with yourself, did you think you could bs your way through the exam, came unprepared to the exam?
Did you study as much as you could have?
Did you do all the reading, supplemental reading?
Did you deserve a higher grade because you studied thoroughly but did not understand the wording/format of the exam?
Did you walk away from the exam thinking you aced it?
Remember how desperate you feel…it will motivate you to never put yourself in this position again.
Good luck.</p>
<p>I cant talk to anyone today…I tried doing so yesterday. Im going to take the course for a letter grade.
I just found out that if I take it S/U, I won’t get credit for getting a D…unlike first semester.
So I would have to get a C-. A C- wont be a major blow to my GPA…I’ll have a 3.1.
Thank you. I just really don’t want to fail. time to start putting 100% of my effort into this class. I just get so intimidated when I have to talk to people.</p>
<p>Check with the economics department office and see whether they have upperclassmen who tutor people in the introductory courses. Many colleges do. </p>
<p>Another thing that can help is to do more practice problems than your instructor assigns or your book provides. How do you do this? You look online for materials for other introductory microeconomics courses taught at other universities. </p>
<p>Also, remember that there’s an AP Microeconomics course, which covers much of the same material as introductory college courses on the same subject, and there are lots of review books for that course. You might find one helpful.</p>
<p>I think you might still get a decent grade. Many years ago as an undergrad I took a graduate level class and did terrible on my first exam. I believe I got 54 out 100. I was crying and feeling sick to my stomach. </p>
<p>Anyway, I went ahead with the class. I did a good job on the rest of my tests and projects and was able to pull an A (a very weak one). There were two things in my favor. First, the test was only worth 15%. Second, the final grade was determined based on the curve and the rest of the class did not do so well on the rest of tests and projects. </p>
<p>One thing you might consider doing is understanding why you failed the test and what you can improve in the future.</p>
<p>If you were my kid, I’d say go P/F. Retake the course if that is your only obstacle in getting into IS and if you do super well otherwise, there is a chance that they would reconsider. But being on the borderline everywhere is not going to necessarily get you into the program either. What did you get in Macro first term? I know it was all P/F but what would your grade have been? How well are you doing in everything else?</p>
<p>You want to be International Studies and you can’t do that if you do pass/fail therefore you shouldn’t do the pass/fail. That answer’s pretty simple.</p>
<p>The prof already said people do much better on the final and it’s worth more of your grade so there’s a chance you may be able to still pull this out if you apply yourself.</p>
<p>You need to start taking this issue very seriously and pull out all the stops to turn yourself around on this class including actually ‘talking’ with people even if you’re uncomfortable with that. Don;t forget that you’re probably also uncomfortable getting an ‘F’! Seek help from the prof, TAs, fellow students, and put more work in studying yourself. If you try your hardest and still don’t do well then that’s just the way it is and you should consider a more compatible major and courses.</p>
<p>You didn’t say what happens if you do get an F for the course. Do you have the option to take the course over and replace the grade or have it averaged for your GPA and still carry on with the IS major?</p>
<p>Are you sure you can’t drop the class? I realize that it would put you below full-time status. But I think first semester freshmen can sometimes be given some leeway.</p>
<p>if i get an F, i can retake the course…but I am at the bare min. of credits (dont comment on why this is bad. i was taking a class but had to drop it leaving me with 12.5) so if i fail, i will be a part-time student and i will lose my scholarship.
i will get C- or better in this course. I have no choice.</p>
<p>In everything else I am doing okay so if I get a C- in Micro, I will probably have a 3.1.</p>
<p>I’m so scared :(</p>
<p>Background info:</p>
<p>Last semester in Macro, I got:
first midterm worth 20%-- D- (freaked out)
second midterm worth 30%-- B-
Final worth 40%- idk
Section grade worth 10%- idk.</p>
<p>My average in the end was a C+.</p>
<p>I was so scared after my first macro test. I was really happy that I did jump from a D- to a B- even as the professor noted that the material got harder.
I learned from my mistakes and I learned the teachers style…my current professor uses a lot of questions from old exams…I should probably study old final exams.</p>
<p>I went to the prof and he had me go to the board and explain certain problems. He then stated “well you’re obviously not an idiot…this score doesn’t reflect what you actually know”
I gained an extra 7 points so I’m in a more comfortable range.
I got a tutor and a study consultant. About to kick it into full gear.</p>
