<p>So you flunked your first big (<em>hardest class you have _</em>) exam. Now what?</p>
<p>Thankfully, we haven't had to hear that news from DS. I have friends with students in that situation, though. Some options would be school "help centers"... such at the math help room, the chem help room, etc. ...or a private tutor. Also, my son who is usually a solitary learner, has taken to checking over Physics problem sets with other students on Sunday evenings. If there is a study habit problem, this is the wake-up call. I guess the most important thing is to realize that it is only one test and in no way an indication of your potential for the next four years. See what you did wrong and move on.</p>
<p>Also... talk with the professor. Go and get help from him/her first. Express concern and go over and learn what you obviously didn't understand the first time.</p>
<p>i always hung all my F's on my refrigerator. Luckily I didn't have too many of them. Just my way of saying don't take grades too seriously.</p>
<p>;)</p>
<p>If you feel totally lost, you may be able to withdraw from the class.</p>
<p>If you want to keep it, talk to the teacher NOW. They HATE it when people wait to ask for help.
Find someone in your class to help you.
And there should be organizations on campus to help you out depending on the class.</p>
<p>First, take a deep breath. Just because you got an F on a test doesn't mean you're a failure or anything melodramatic like that.</p>
<p>Try failing an entire semester.
1 D and 5 F's.
Been there, done that. It hurt.</p>
<p>Its a learning opportunity. Not a fun one, mind you. But it points out in an inescapable way that what you're doing up to now isn't cutting it. One tongue-in-cheek definition of insanity is doing the same thing but expecting different results ...</p>
<p>So seek help. Go see the prof, the TA, the study center. Maybe hire a tutor. Figure out what you need to do to BE successful. Why could you not answer the questions? Lack of background preparation in HS or other classes? Studying the wrong things? Not expecting the questions you saw? Not doing the homework correctly and assuming it didn't matter? Maybe the class is one you don't have any talent for, or any interest in?</p>
<p>College is a rough adjustment for many, and it can be a rude shock to going from being among the better students in HS to a so-so student at a college filled with kids who also were the better students. The most important thing isn't to throw in the towel. Challenges like this tell you something about yourself, and so I'd encourage your kid to figure out the next steps needed to succeed.</p>
<p>i agree with fendergirl
don't take one grade too seriously. Take a deep breath and move on.</p>
<p>Even worse is straight F's.</p>
<p>But if you play your cards right, it won't come to that. Talk to the professor, and if it's a small class (so s/he'll know how you're reallly doing), get his or her opinion on whether you should drop the class or continue. If its in your best interest to stay in the class, go into study overdrive. I don't mean start cramming 24/7 but definitely go your school student support center and get a tutor. Start talking to your professor every class period of the material you just learned.</p>
<p>The important thing is to take action and not get caught into a vicious cycle.</p>
<p>I take a deep breath and let it go....and remember to do some more studying next time.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Try failing an entire semester.
1 D and 5 F's.
Been there, done that. It hurt
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'm with ya buddy. I currently have a 0.0 GPA, haven't passed a single thing this entire semester.</p>
<p>Nobody can have straight Fs if they go to class regularly. In high school, if you try, the teacher will usually at least pass you with a C. I don't know about college. :(</p>
<p>I just flunked my first Calculus mid-term. The worst part is, is that the test was delayed by a week because of Hurricane Rita and I barely studied for it. If I had tried harder, I could have gotten a 100%, I know it. I'm so dissapointed in myself and very unhappy right now. :(</p>
<p>With my Honors Gen. Chem, you can study for hours more and it won't affect your grade at all. It's so discouraging.</p>
<p>I think I just flunked my bio exam...boo. Oh well.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Nobody can have straight Fs if they go to class regularly.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I've gone to every class and done all the work and I've even studied, something I've never done before this year.
And I still have yet to pass an exam or homework assignment (my CogSci/Linguistics class is based on homework). Even after seeing the answers, there's nothing I would change on my CogSci homework, though. . .maybe I'm just discovering new theories that are beyond what's already known. I'd like to believe that's the case.</p>
<p>college professors will not "let you pass" for showing up and "trying", however, they might work with you. Maybe they will offer to disregard this exam grade and make the final your whole grade, or something like that though.</p>
<p>I took a class last semester where I went to every class, and got a nice ~40% on the first test. I took a W for that class and never went back. I enjoyed the material, but not enough to get an F =P</p>