I’m a fifth year senior majoring in electrical engineering. Going into this semester, I had a 3.8 GPA and am a part of Tau Beta Pi as well as HKN. However this semester has just gone terribly. I’m currently taking four 400 engineering electives and senior design 1, and just about every class has gone pretty poorly thus far (and it hasn’t bee due to lack of studying). I was wondering how bad it looks if you have one bad semester (bad as in predominantly C’s with a maybe a B or two). I’ve been really discouraged this semester, especially since I feel the 400 classes are probably the most important classes as they are the courses that correlate most closely to what you see in the work field. Not to mention, I’m assuming employers put the most emphasis on your performance senior year when you actually start taking classes in your area of interest. Be honest please. No sugarcoating. I want the truth.
Of course, it is not a great thing but what value is there in fretting about it? instead, do some planning and figure out how you can maximize your results this semester and regroup for your final term.
5 classes. That’s a lot. You may to withdrawn the worst class to keep your GPA high.
Withdraw from one class and take the W, then use the free time to study for your other classes. Do it ASAP as the W deadline must be just around the corner.
You should be ok as long as you overall GPA is at least 3.0
Don’t withdraw any classes just because of C’s (unless they’re not required for graduation.)
It might be too late to take a W. Some universities have a deadline for this which is about a month before the end of the semester. In any case, I also agree that getting a C is not a good reason to withdraw.
It depends on the OP’s goal. If grad school or employment with highly selective companies then GPA protection should be considered. The OP may have 3 Cs, not just one.
He also still has his final Sr. semester to try and make up any loss of his GPA. You can play with some numbers to see how a C’s and B’s will affect your GPA. More than likely one bad semester won’t pull you down below a 3.5 which is still very good. It is your total GPA employers look at.