So im in a weird situation i guess. In order to get into my computer science department i need a 3.0 gpa in 6 classes collectively. The six classes being english 1, english 2, calc 1, calc 2, physics 1, physics 2. I have a “C” in both english classes but i retook 1 and got a B+, I have a “C” in calc 1, a “B” in calc 2, a “C” in physics 1, and a “B” in physics 2. I went to speak with my advisor and he pretty much told me I’m in a tough spot and should rethink my major. I was pretty upset because i didn’t want to let go of computer science but it seems i probably should let go because a lot of my peers are flying through these courses with A’s and B’s, and I’m here struggling which would probably mean I wouldn’t do great in the CS courses. I can still get into the program if i retake english 2, and physics 1, but if I can’t manage to get decent grades first time around I feel like i wouldn’t do well in later courses. Has anyone retaken courses or struggled to get into the program? Should i continue?
Why are you struggling?
“Should i continue?”
To be honest I am not concerned at all about your English grades. Computer science has limited resemblance to English in terms of what skills are needed to do well. I am concerned that you want to study computer science but have taken four classes in calculus and physics and haven’t gotten an A yet. At least in my opinion there is very little in engineering or computer science that is easier than calculus. However, there are of course a large number of non-engineering non-computer science majors.
Some questions (which IMHO need answering before I would say more):
Have you been working hard, or goofing off? Are you aware of any problems that might have affected your grades? Was math easy in high school so you never studied, and are you still never studying in university?
Where are you? What year?
Why did you want to study computer science? How have you done in math classes in the past (such as before calculus)?
Actually, there is one more thing that is worth mentioning: In math, computer science, and engineering, what you learn next year is going to be based on what you are learning now. What you are learning now is based on what you learned last year. This goes on for years. Thus, if you are struggling now, you need to figure out why and fix it, or it does not bode well for future studies in the same field.
I was a horrible student in high school actually wasn’t going to go to college but decided to and I was actually a different major until a year ago when I switched to CS. I wasn’t struggling that much until i hit physics. My mistake for sure was only studying a week before an exam, but the reason I choose CS is because i have some programming experience so I decided to go for it. I looked at the classes that follow after all these pre reqs and it got me excited to continue but I guess the “C’s” I made in physics will keep me from continuing which is unfortunate. Thanks for the reply though. I don’t struggle with math at all calculus 1 however it was my first time taking a university class, and I took it lightly and it ended up kicking my ass, surprisingly though I felt like calculus 2 was much easier than 1.
I am definitely struggling with physics wish i would have taken the class at my local community college and transferred the grade like most of the students did. For whatever reason I’ve always found it tough to receive a W because i always think I can finish strong but I didn’t in physics, and got a “C”. I also didn’t feel right to take the class at a community college and transfer it over I wanted to see if I was able to actually do well in a university level physics course I guess i wanted to test myself lol but it didn’t end well.
One issue might be the “what you study this year depends upon last year” issue. There really is a long string of knowledge that one has to build up over time.
If you start with a strong base (knowing previous year’s material well), and do homework and reading the day that it is assigned, then the next class becomes a bit easier to understand. This means that you pick up a bit more during the next class. Keep this up for a year or two and eventually you get ahead. I didn’t really learn this until graduate school.
The trick might be how to catch up at this point.