<p>I have probably a D or F in the class right now, first time this has happened in any of my courses all 4 semesters at my CCC. If I turn in the 2 measly extra credit assignments and by the magical/religious chance I get a good grade on the final (which I haven't studied as much), I'll probably be bumped up to a C....Should I go?</p>
<p>The reason I ask is cause a C grade would substantially lower my GPA while not taking the final exam would promise me a D or an F. Allowing me to retake the course and once I do retake it and get a better grade such as a D or F, that D of F grade would be replaced by the new passable grade. Am I right on this one people?</p>
<p>Some schools would recalculate your GPA where it had both the D/F and the replacement grade when you were getting ready to transfer. So the D/F would still hurt you; it's not going to just disappear for them. I would say go to the exam and at least try for the C. You probably should have studied for it a lot if you were worried about your grade, but I guess it's kind of late for that now.</p>
<p>^wow, no reason to be rude. Not everyone can get into a top school like U Penn and while I'm going to a good college myself, I hate it when students from elite colleges act snooty toward CC students. It's a poor reflection of both you and your education. This kid messed up in 1 class over 4 semesters.
OP - If I were you, I would go take the final anyway. Who knows, you might get off with a C which is better than nothing.</p>
<p>stargazer: I love how you automatically assume he is an elitist prick just because he goes to Penn. I pretty much agree with him and I don't go to an elite school; how do you square that circle?</p>
<p>There's nothing snooty about having a problem with lazy students who try to game the system, regardless of where they go. (Believe me, there are plenty at Penn.)</p>
<p>Grades reflect one thing: Work ethic. The fact is, if you want the A badly enough, most of the time you can get it (or at least a B) through perseverance and work. If you have an unfair professor, that's a different story that requires you to contact the appropriate people in the department etc., but this is clearly a case of someone who wants the rewards without putting the time in. This bothers me because I just went through a slew of finals and had to do a bunch of tedious, boring work and have been holed inside for the last two weeks, and to hear about someone who is somehow entitled to ditch a final and absolve himself of accountability at the last minute because of a technicality really sticks in my craw. Finals and grades aren't supposed to be a cake walk; you need to suck it up like the rest of us and put the time in.</p>
<p>Perhaps my frustration should be vented toward the people who thought it was a good idea to allow students with D's or F's (and not C's) to retake the course and replace the grade. The message they send is essentially, "Don't be a sucker and study or work for a C, better to fail with a bang and retake it."</p>
<p>That said, of course you shouldn't go to your final. Retake the course and salvage your GPA next semester.</p>
<p>I didn't assume he was an elitist prick cause he goes to Penn, I assumed he was being rude because instead of even trying to answer the question, he disparages the OP instead by saying "this is what academia has been reduced to." This kid is making an effort, he's in CC trying to compensate for his poor HS record (unless he did well in HS and just couldn't afford anything but CC) and there's no reason to say something like that. It's not like he's flunking out of CC, he said it's the first time it's happened in all his courses in 4 semesters.</p>
<p>You should take the final rather than have an F on your transcript. Most schools will show the original grade on your transcript even if it is not included in your GPA. So your 'transfer' school will see the F or D even if you retake the class. Some may recalculate your GPA to include the D or F in their own GPA for transfer decisions. Professional schools (such as medical school) will definitely include all your grades in their calculation of your GPA even if your current school does not. </p>
<p>My daughter's school has the same policy. Ds and Fs can be retaken and the original grade not included in the GPA, while with a retake of a C both grades are included in the GPA. Seems an odd policy. I assume it is to discourage retakes of C grades.</p>
<p>i have to agree with wayward's general point on this one (although it could have been toned down a bit)</p>
<p>if he's at a cc and is getting d's or f's, he really can't possibly be trying that hard or putting in much of an "effort." I don't see anything inherantly elitist about that at all...</p>
<p>you have to look at your schools policy as to whether/how much a d or f will effect your gpa...regardless, i would assume that the grade you received when you initially took the course will be on your transcript and won't be viewed any differently just because it hasnt been calculated into your gpa</p>
<p>if you're applying to UC's (coming from a ccc I would imagine you are) their policy is to ignore the first attempt of a repeated class, granted the original grade was lower than a C.</p>
<p>What an absolute joke. Sorry to burst your bubble, but I go to Columbia and I can not tell you how many times I came across a cheater, groups of cheaters, and recipients of a generous curve. I imagine the same occurs at every university regardless of prestige. More importantly, a GPA does not depict one's work ethic.</p>
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[quote]
What an absolute joke. Sorry to burst your bubble, but I go to Columbia and I can not tell you how many times I came across a cheater, groups of cheaters, and recipients of a generous curve. I imagine the same occurs at every university regardless of prestige. More importantly, a GPA does not depict one's work ethic.