Hey guys. I am a freshman in College. Today I took my first midterm. and it was a disaster. I managed to answer only half of the questions. I don’t really know what to do. I spent my time studying and studying and the result is this. What should I do 
I want high GPA. What is the average GPA in upenn? Is not knowing things on midterm is common? How hard is it to get GPA 3.8+? Do all classes have to be perfect? I am really depressed help.
@penguiny first, remain calm. There may be many more students in the same boat. If so, the prof will probably curve it.
Remember that the average CAS gpa is about 3.4, but the average students HS gpa was 3.91. That means that almost everyone will be adjusting to lower grades.
Be sure to go to recitation and office hours if you need it. There is also tutoring available. Also, I think you can still drop a class if you need to, or possibly switch to a class one level easier.
Few students at Penn have a 3.8 and even if you could do it, the cost may be too high.
One more thing. Be sure to work through the last few exams when preparing. That can help a lot.
@Much2learn is EXACTLY right. The first step is to take a few deep breaths and remain calm. Getting that first midterm done is an accomplishment unto itself, even if you don’t feel as though you did well. You are at one of the best universities in the world surrounded by the best students in the world- the work will absolutely be difficult. The most important thing to remember is that you are NOT alone in this situation.
First of all, everyone has a bad midterm (or bad midtermS). College is hard! And you are not only learning on a higher level with more qualified peers, but you are acclimating to living on your own and managing every part of your life in a way that few students have managed life before College. Talk openly to those around you whom you trust (parents or friends or an academic advisor or counselor) about what you are feeling and actively work to put this in perspective. It is only one test among many that you’ve taken in the past and will take in the future. It certainly will not dictate your Penn career or your life afterwards! And you are a smart, gifted student who deserves to be at Penn and will find their way in time! Don’t be so hard on yourself!
Second of all, Penn has many resources for students who want to do better in class. I don’t know what kind of test this was but Penn has an amazing learning resource center where you can find tutors (that the University will pay for so you don’t have to spend any money), advisors, seminars on study skills/organization/speed reading/etc., extra help, paper-writing and editing assistance, and more. As has been said, seek out these resources and go to your Professor to discuss what you aren’t understanding. Office hours are a wonderful way to gain a better understanding of the course material with which you are struggling, and every Penn professor has them. And something like 96% of Penn professors are full time which means they will probably be able to accommodate your schedule if you can’t make it to their listed office hours. And don’t forget that you have a pre-major advisor, a peer advisor, and an advisor in the College Office. Go talk to all three of them! They may be aware of exactly the type of resources you might need in order to bring your understanding in the classroom to where you would like it to be. And seek out peers who did well on the exam and ask them what techniques they used to do well. Maybe try to form a study group with peers with different strengths so you can all contribute to one another’s learning in different ways.
It is very hard to get a 3.8gpa. It would be unadvisable to go through college worrying about whether you will have a 3.8gpa. Grades are important but learning is what is actually key. The Penn brand will get you an interview with pretty much any company you want to work for, and the interview in which you demonstrate how much you’ve grown and learned is where you will land the job. Your GPA would be important if you want to go straight to grad school/professional school, but if that’s the case, then you can shift your schedule around to make sure you are taking classes best suited to your individual success. But even then, plenty of students with GPAs below 3.8 go onto incredible graduate schools. If you feel so compelled, make an appointment with Career Services (they’re literally the best) and talk to them about realistic GPA goals and what sorts of GPA you might need to pursue your post grad interests. But honestly, the best advice I have is to not worry about your first semester grades too much. Definitely work hard! But don’t beat yourself up over a rough midterm. That’s all part of life at an Ivy-- it really just means you’re doing it right 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THeLVhU53ow
^An important reminder.
Good luck! Stay calm. Seek help. And definitely try to keep it all in perspective 
@Much2learn @PennCAS2014 Hey, guys. Thank you so much. I just found out i got 77 out of 100 which is the median. I kind of feel relieved because half of the class did worse than me, but then again half of it did better. It was math 103 which was supposed like super easy idk. I’ll try to work hard next time.
That is great! You have to remember that at a school where the average HS gpa was 3.91 there are not many students who have dealt with this level of competition before. Penn is challenging all of its students to raise their game. The fact that it bothers you is a very good sign. The kid who may be in trouble is the one in the 1/2 of the class who scored worse than you did, and thinks they are doing great. Also, remember that the first test is probably harder than usual. The point is to make it hard while students still have a chance to drop.
I would not stress yourself out about getting to a 3.8 gpa. If you are interested in business, you can major in economics and take classes in Wharton. Take advantage of the clubs, activities, opportunities of Penn and build relationships. All of that is worth a lot more, in most cases, than putting all of your time into a higher gpa.
Test prep:
- Go to all of the classes and recitations, do the homework, and review.
- Be sure to take a couple of the prior tests, so you should have a good idea where you stand. Sometimes you will get lucky and a test question will be similar to a question on a prior test.
- Take time to have some fun with friends and recharge your batteries, so you can do it again.
@Penguiny Also remember that some of the students in math 103 probably took AB Calc in high school and have an advantage. Everyone in the class will not have the same start point. That can impact how you do significantly. Especially in your first semester. Don’t let at get into your head. They aren’t smarter, they just had a head start.
The median is a solid place to be! Even if you were below the median, all of the other things we’ve said would still stand. You’ll find your groove- don’t worry! Just keep on working hard and definitely look for ways to improve.