<p>Ok. I'm going pre-med, and I'm a freshmen at Umich right now. I totally failed my General Chemistry Lab Test... I got a 58... I've never gotten such a low score on an exam before... That's not even a D! I got a B on my last exam, and I was expecting worst case a C... but THIS? What should I do?? The class is over there's nothing else to boost my grade up. And it's GENERAL Chemistry Lab. I'm not even into Organic Chemistry yet! </p>
<p>And as for actual General Chemistry class, I'm not doing well in that either... I think I'm probably going to end up with a C in that... studying really hard for the final but still... And looking at what I got on my Gen chem Lab test... I'm probably getting a C in Gen Chem Lab too.</p>
<p>I was expecting to do this bad in ORGO... not Gen Chem! And C's in TWO classes? It wasn't like I was totally slacking off and partying all day or something, I was actually trying. I don't have unrealistic expectations! What should I do? Re-take the class? Or is that too drastic? Just suck it up and try to do better later in college? Kind of freaking out... I have no clue what to do...</p>
<p>Sorry this turned into a long semi-rant... Agh. I feel like such an idiot... I've never failed a test/ gotten a C in a class (I know it's college. Not trying to be a whiny actually-not-doing-that-bad student... but... really...this is really bad).</p>
<p>Whatever. I don’t know what I’m trying to accomplish with this post. Re-taking the class, won’t even help my GPA according to Umich rules. Just have to suck it up and try harder.</p>
<p>@Fether. Yea. I just realized after I stopped freaking out that I might not get a C in the class after all because lab work is a big part of the grade too… I was doing all right in that, so hopefully that’ll help…</p>
<p>@KyleTwentyEleven I don’t think it is, but I think if I try harder I’ll do fine. </p>
<p>@Test101 Nice suggestion. I’ll think about it, but I’m already having a tough time fitting in all my pre-med requirements so…</p>
<p>The lab is a joke… you pretty much HAVE to go to office hours or had to have taken chemistry before to do well on the tests cause the book they give you and the lectures are useless. I haven’t taken chem since 2006, but I did good on the tests because I was seein the gsis like it was nobody’s business. Unfortunately, only 1 other lab partner was willing to work on the lab report at a time so we’re not doin so hot with that.</p>
<p>Another student, perhaps you weren’t well prepared for this level of chem in high school, so you have to pack a lot of catchup into a short time. Please consider retaking it in order to master the material. Three years ago my son failed a class for which he did not have solid background. He retook it (new grade was averaged in) and did well, but more importantly, now is able to perform reasonably well in upper level classes of the discipline. So if it’s foundational, master that material any way you can to get to a less stressful place later on. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon and it’s entirely possible to turn things around. Best wishes.</p>
<p>*Disclaimer: I don’t know why you did poorly, but I’m assuming it to be related to freshman problems, not an inherent block against chem, and something that will improve as you mature.</p>
<p>I’ll dissent and say this isn’t really a big deal. It’s not uncommon for grades to suffer freshman year, but it’s really important that you step it up from now on, for your GPA. If I were you, I wouldn’t retake the class if it won’t help your grades, unless you have a free summer and want to hit up a community college or something.</p>
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<li><p>You’re pre-med, and I don’t think you plan to be a chemistry major. Gen chem is not very important for medical school - it’s just used as a measuring stick via MCAT. If you stay the route though, I would definitely relearn the material via book, tutor, prep class, etc. or else you’ll get wrecked on the MCAT.</p></li>
<li><p>Gen chem is barely foundational for orgo, and they’ll reteach the important points in the first week or two of orgo. You may run into issues later on with p-chem, but they will again cover the basics, since most people have had at least a year (in orgo) to forget their gen chem.</p></li>
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<p>I guess you’ve probably scheduled already, but I wouldn’t jump right into orgo if I were you. Take a chemistry break :]</p>
and it’s entirely possible to turn things around. Best wishes.</p>