<p>Okay, so I am a first semester freshmen taking organic chemistry. So far it hasn't gone well. I got a 68/100 on the first exam, which wasn't too bad, except the class average was 77, and the professors curve at a B. The last exam I just got back I got a 47/120, and the average was a 68%. The problem is that I feel like I know what I'm doing but for some reason when I take the exam, things just don't go well. I go to class, I'm part of a study group, and I do all of the sample problems from past exams. I just don't know what's wrong.
I took the class at the beginning of the semester because I wanted to go to med school, but now I'm kind of leaning other ways. I do still want to take the class incase I decide med school is what I want later on, but I don't want this class to bring down my entire GPA, especially if I want to go to grad school.
I'm a first semester freshmen so I have until Nov. 7 to drop and I won't get a W on my official transcript. However, dropping the class would put me only at 12 credits, which is still full-time, but for the honors program, I'm required to be at at least 14. But I don't want to stay in the class and fail just because I need the credits.
I already emailed my professor to see if she has any suggestions, but right now I really don't know what to do. I can take the class again next semester with a really good professor (who only teaches winter term) but then I'd have an entire summer between orgo I and orgo II.
There are just so many variables and I'm just trying to figure it all out, so any advice would greatly be appreciated. Thanks</p>
<p>talk to your adviser. policies about dropping a course or having an "incomplete" vary school to school. your adviser can help you figure out the best solution.</p>
<p>Don't know if you ought to drop the Orgo class or not. I can only tell what my D tells me about her Orgo class and that is organic isn't intellectually difficult, but it requires a kind of studying that most new college students aren't prepared to do yet. You can't just "study"; you have to be a self teacher who does ALL the required homework, then all the rest of the problems that weren't assigned, then search out additional problems from other texts and other classes and do those too. And do these well in advanced of the test so if you find a problem you can't do/don't understand, you have time to recognize <em>why</em> you don't understand it. Memorization isn't enough anymore. You have to know the material inside out and upside down. (Literally upside down in the case of stereo-isomers.) You also need a good grounding in the concepts of general chemistry and basic physics. Do you have a firm grasp of those? If the answer is no, then perhaps withdrawing is the best answer.</p>
<p>Don't just email your prof. She gets emails like that all the time. Be proactive. Go in person and talk with her. Be specific about what you are having difficulty with, if possible. Does your class have a workshop/supplemental instruction/recitation? Be sure you go those sessions faithfully, even if you think you understand the material. Also consider contacting your school's student support office and see if you can get tutoring. I'm sure you aren't the only one having trouble. </p>
<p>With half the semester over, you're looking at a C at best in the class. Med schools will forgive a C, esp if it's in freshman year. Grad schools will also. I guess the question is: are you willing to do whatever it takes to hold onto a C? </p>
<p>One of things you didn't mention is what will happen to your honors status if you drop below the necessary number of credits. Will be put on probation? Will you be asked to leave the program? Is the honors program important to you?</p>
<p>A "W" is better than an "F".</p>
<p>You have a 52% average and need to do a 80% average in the remainder of the class just to get back to the class average (probably good for a B- or B). At this point that's not impossible, but it is impossible if you don't know what you are doing wrong.</p>
<p>Drop the class now. You have lots of time left in your academic career to make up the 3 units of credit.</p>