Probably not the right forum but, my grades are not so good right now. 1st-9 weeks i had F,F,C,D,F. And now in the 2nd I have a F,D,D,D,F (my other class is online and i’m behind in work). I have about 2 weeks after winter break to bring my grades up. Say I don’t bring them up at all. What grades must I have in the second semester to pass the year?
pretty sure that kind of stuff is school-specific so you can ask your counselor, if it’s not google it… either way, talk to your counselor as there is no way you should be failing your classes like this. wake up and start trying now, or be faced with a future you really don’t want.
You need to speak to someone at your school. To be honest, I’m quite surprised that you or your parents haven’t heard from them yet because you would have been pulled into the office at my school by now even if your grades aren’t finalized.
If your school is like mine, you’ll have to retake all those classes that you got F’s in and depending on your state and what college you want to go to, you’d have to retake those D’s as well. You are in a positive position, however, because your grading period isn’t over yet. Redouble your efforts for the first two weeks; get those F’s to D’s (at the minimum) and if you have time left over, try to get those D’s to C’s. In the meantime, get off College Confidential or any other website and focus on your online class while you don’t have any other school distractions.
It depends on just what numeric grade those “F’s” represent.
Here’s the basic rule of thumb: for every point below passing, you need an equal number of points above passing to average it out.
So let’s say passing is 65. If you earned a 55 first semester-- 10 points below-- you’ll need a 75 second semester-- 10 points above-- to hit that 65 average.
Keep in mind that some schools have a bottom out grade on report cards. It’s a minimum grade that teachers aren’t allowed to go under, except in very particular circumstances. So a kid with a 20 average still receives, say, a 50 on his report card. Still clearly failing, but worked so the kid has a chance at passing for the year if he chooses to turn things around. (Though keep in mind: that kid only knows 20% of the first semester work, regardless of what his report card says. Turning things around won’t be easy.)
Here’s what I suggest as an action plan:
Spend today and tomorrow getting caught up in that online class, so it’s one less thing to worry about. Yep, it will kill the last weekend of Christmas break, but will be a huge relief when classes resume.
Speak to each of your teachers on Monday. Let them know you know you messed up, big time. And that it may be too late to salvage this semester, but that you want to try anyway. Start by asking for a list of missed homeworks (can you do that online this weekend? I’m a teacher who checks my email every single day, and would have no problem answering such a request.) take notes on every single conversation.
Every single point you can raise those averages now is one less point you’ll have to make up in the spring) That’s what you want to concentrate on for the remainder of this semester-- damage control so there’s less to make up second semester.
After you speak to each of those teachers, then speak to your guidance counselor. Let him or her know what your teachers have said, and how you plan to approach things. Don’t look to your counselor to solve your problems; instead let him or her know how you’re planning to solve your own problems.
Also, have a talk with mom and dad today. Let them know you know you messed up, and exactly what concrete strategies you’ll employ for the remainder of the year. My guess is that a big part of it will include less technology, more application and more extra help.
Good luck, and know that all is not lost. The year is less than half over… you still have time to pull it together.