<p>So yeah, got my prelim grade... another C. I started to get tutoring after my first prelim, and I'm still not doing that well. For both of the prelims I didn't feel that bad coming out... thought I knew what I was doing. My friends are doing fine, and they haven't been doing any more work than I have. I can't believe how much I suck at CS... that I can't even make the mean is just ridiculous. And I already dropped circuits because I sucked at that too. Throughout this semester I've been telling myself that I'm just not an E&M person, I'm just not a programming person. But maybe I'm just retarded and never should have been admitted, or maybe there's something seriously messed up with the way I think. I would consider becoming a math major, but since I'm not creative enough I have nothing to fall back on if I find that I'm not cut out for engineering. Seriously, maybe I don't belong here...</p>
<p>I'm sorry to anyone who read that, please ignore this thread...</p>
<p>Myarmin, I do not think you are the only one. I often feel I am average at everything and exceptional at nothing. I would like to contribute to the academic environment in the University, but I feel as if I have nothing to offer. So what to do? I really don't know. Do you talk to other people about it? I do, and it helps a lot. </p>
<p>I am in CS 100M, and I think I am doing reasonably well. I basically have had no programming experience... and I think what makes it click is genuinely doing the assignments by yourself. Also, on the prelim, I pretend to be the MATLAB program and parse through the code I've written down.. I also try visualize the loops and whatnot in my head and try to write it down....</p>
<p>Professor Duncan of ENGRI 112 (Intro to Chem E) offered this bit of advice (very paraphrased):</p>
<p>You'd expect the A students in this class to affiliate with ChemE more than the C+ students. But that is not the case. About just as many C+ students and A students affiliate with Chem E. And they both turn out to be successful, so don't give up.</p>
<p>That's the gist of his message. There is a reason you are admitted. The committee deemed you good enough to be able to overcome many challenges.</p>
<p>Yes, you and I see many smart people roaming around. But there are many other not as smart people roaming around as well.</p>
<p>Also, I think the University in general is very unforgiving to mistakes... Or it hits you hard when you make mistakes. Each prelim is a 1/3 of your grade, which is a high stakes event.</p>
<p>Choosing the wrong course might ruin your GPA... etc</p>
<p>Not blocking with people during housing selection ruins your housing prospects if you have a late time slot ( I am that person)</p>
<p>So, one has to be on top of things. Also, don't fall into the trap of relaxing after the first wave of prelims... (Big mistake) Now I am behind in some classes.</p>
<p>Just try to use this setback as motivation to do better. Change study habits if need be.</p>
<p>Worst case scenario, there is always ILR and H ADM.</p>
<p>Myarmin - I am a mom with a daughter at Cornell. I am also an IT manager at an IB. Programming is not easy. I think it is something you either have it or you don't. I have known some very smart people that couldn't program themselves out of a paper bag. My daughter is taking an intro programming class. She is a math major, but I was afraid she wouldn't be able to do it because she's never done it before. Luckily she gets it. She is very good at seeing patterns and 3 dimensional spacial thing.</p>
<p>You may want to have a discussion with them about switching your school (major). I understand Engineering is the hardest school at Cornell. Depending on what you want to do in the future, engineering may not be the only way to get there. </p>
<p>Have a good vacation, relax and have a discussion with your parents. Good luck.</p>
<p>Note to prospective students who've been reading this:
Don't let this make you worried, I'm just special. Most of you won't have any problems, Cornell is awesome. </p>
<p>To the people who've responded:
I'm just sick of doing so badly in that class. I even thought I did alright coming out of the exam. I know I made one big mistake, but I still can't figure out what I could've done to deserve a C. I must've earned a C, though, since that's what happened last time. </p>
<p>I think it says a lot about my inability to learn simple things. I'm just not smart enough and I don't learn fast enough. I've been doing well in everything else only because I'm familiar with the subjects and I work hard. When life threw this "challenge" at me I couldn't do anything, it's kind of pathetic. I didn't mean to say that I don't want to do engineering; I don't see myself doing anything else. I'm just whining. I appreciate your responses, though. I'll take your words as inspiration to try again. </p>
<p>And I'd also appreciate it if people could let this thread die, thank you...</p>