Please Help me Feel better (Just got terrible grade news)

Student Lounge College Life
1

<p>Hi All-</p>

<p>I'm a first year, Freshman, at Penn State. I am an aspiring business major; I want to either work on Wall Street or in the Entertainment business down the line.
The Smeal School of Business here has a few certain requirements: 3.2 Minimum GPA, and minimum grade of a C in a few classes, notably for my purposes my Math 110 class, Technical Calculus as the syllabus calls it. </p>

<p>Now when the year began, I was not worried- I took Honors Calc in high school last year and got an A- in the class. However, once the year began, I became quite worried. My teacher's name was Ping and I could barely understand a word he said- he was undoubtably one of the worst teachers I have ever had.</p>

<p>Our grade is constituted of 2 Mid Terms, a Quiz grade made up of the average of 12 quizzes that counts equal to the other two midterms, and a Final Exam grade, worth 150% of what the exams are worth. </p>

<p>Never in my mind did I think I was going to get below a C in the class- I hadn't gotten below a B- in any class since my sophomore year of high school. </p>

<p>However, I knew the class would be somewhat difficulut, and I put in a decent amount of studying over the semester. I got a 65 on the first exam, a 75 on the second exam, and an 86 on the quiz grade. I was doing decent- A solid C average. </p>

<p>I realized that I was unprepared when studying for the final last week, and decided to go to a tutoring service downtown called "Liontutors" they charge 40 dollars, and then do a comprehensive review of the whole course and give a huge packet to study. I paid, sat through the review, and thought I would be in decent shape. I studied more the next 2 or so days, staying up til early in the morning each time. </p>

<p>Finally, when the exam came, I was blank. I looked at the majority of the 25 problems and was clueless. I did what I could, and was not confident afterwards. </p>

<p>I hoped deserpately that I got the 60 I needed to get the C in the class. To no avail. I got an email about an hour ago telling me my score: a 60....out of 150. A 40%. The worst test grade I have ever gotten in my life. My final grade for the class dropped to a D. I have to retake the class If i want to remain in the business program. My GPA is tanked from my first semester in college. How screwed am I ? Should I change my major? I don't know what to do, and really just needed to vent this out because I haven't been this upset with myself or with anything in a very, very, very long time. It really feels surreal because I have done very well in schoolwork for the last 4 or so years and its just very odd to be in such bad shape as I am already in my first college semester. </p>

<p>Can someone please give me some hope, or something? I feel absolutely terrible.</p>

2

<p>What concepts in calculus are you having trouble understanding? If you think you understand the concepts, then what else is tripping you up?</p>

3

<p>I have no clue. I essentially get it when doing it but when doing Exam problems I can never figure it out.</p>

4

<p>Here’s the thing. Yes, it sucks to fail, especially for the first time since you aren’t used to it. However, it really is not the end of the world. You’re a freshman in college. You’re allowed to make mistakes. You’re allowed to fail. And now you will be better prepared, not just to retake this specific class, but for other classes in the future. Changing majors is not the solution; the solution is to retake the course. </p>

<p>This really is not an uncommon situation. Many students start college used to getting good grades in high school, and college classes can come as a shock. </p>

<p>It might be wise to have a conversation with your academic advisor, as well.</p>

5

<p>Is your class not curved for exams based on how everyone in the class does? I’m a Calc student and every midterm is curved… If it’s self calculated grade that’s why I wanted to say make sure this is not the case.</p>

<p>Otherwise, can try take at as a learning experience. Feeling the anger at yourself like this at some point in your life will make you that much more hard working. It’s painful, but it really does make you stronger.
Please don’t lose hope! ^_^</p>

<p>If you switch majors it would be the easy way out… Since Calc is not directly related to business it should not have anything to do with your major really. (it’s just a req they have to make sure you are mathematically skilled enough…or sometimes just to test your work ethic) If you want to do business, retake the class so you can finally put aside this one failure you had for the future where you will not let yourself fall behind and study even harder.
Also, you will know the material much better and if you take the exact same class next semester likely you will get a very similar exam (keep all your exams!), problems tend to mimic past years.</p>

<p>Don’t sweat it!!
I’m in college too and I feel like I am so close to failing a class…everything’s always based on those big tests >.<</p>

6

<p>A true failure will take this loss as defeat. Be a warrior, face this class down and demolish it next semester. Or at least get a C ;)</p>

7

<p>Would it be a bad Idea to revisit the calc next fall? My schedule for next semester was already made about a month ago.</p>

8

<p>I wouldn’t worry about it that much. Some colleges will allow you to replace the grade in your GPA with the one you got re-taking that course. It’s only your first semester, a D or C isn’t the end of your academic career, and isn’t even a dent in your future business career.</p>

9

<p>Take a look at the winter intersession or summer class schedule - the class may well be offered then (you’d have to pay for it but it might be worth it to get back on track). If you get lucky, it might even be an online section. And research instructors on ratemyprofessor.com next time!</p>