Advice Please?

[GizmoDVM]

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So today I got my grade for my first genetics exam. It was a 61. Unfortunately in this class there are only three exams and many pop quizes. The first two exams are worth 25% each, the third 35%, and the quizes 15% total. I have been doing relatively well on the pop quizes (85% average that I think I could maintain). To raise my grade to a B I would have to do very well on the next two exams. I do not, however, have a C on my transcript yet, so would 1 really look that bad?

My more major concern, though, is getting a D. I thought I was pretty well prepared for this exam. I took thorough notes during lecture and worked a number of practice problems. I admit that I did not do as many as I could have or even do all of the readings. I felt comfortable with the material. So is it even realistic to think that I can do so much better on the next exams?

The last day to drop a class with a W is in two weeks. I already have one W on my transcripts (in Statics) from when I switched majors, had 21 credit hours and decided to drop my engineering course to cut down to 19 hours. Obviously I do not want to have a string of Ws on my transcript and look like it is becoming a trend (the one I have is from last semester). Also, this semester I only have 13 hours (Orgo I 3, Quantitative Chemical Analysis 3, English 3, and Genetics w/ lab 4) so if I drop genetics I will only have 9. I really don't want it to look like I can't hack it, but I am also TAing gen chem this semester and that is taking up A LOT of time (grading ~20 lab reports a week 👎) but pays, is very rewarding, and I in no way feel like quitting this job is an option being very unfair to the chemistry deparment.

So basically I'm asking what you think I should do, or more what you would do if you were in a similar situation. Obviously if I decide not to drop I will work my butt off in genetics but I'm afraid that won't be enough and don't want my grades in orgo and quantitative to suffer.

Just for reference:
Sci GPA - 4.0
Cum. GPA - 3.7
And I'm a second year.

Sorry this was so long I just wanted you to have enough background information! Thanks sooo much in advance!

Edit: I just realized what my last post on this board was... sorry for all the advice asking, but I lurk all the time and you guys have a lot of it! Anyway, hopefully in the future my posts will be for the better 🙂

 

[Minnerbelle]

if i were you, i would go and talk to the professor and go over your exam in detail. you want to figure out where you went wrong. figure out which questions you got wrong and why. did you just not study that material? did you not know to study that material? did you misunderstand the material? etc...

talk to your prof about what you did to study for it, and see if he/she has any suggestions for how you might do better next time.

and in all seriousness, your gpa's fine. even if you get one C it's really not that big a deal.

 

[sumstorm]

I do not, however, have a C on my transcript yet, so would 1 really look that bad?

Not ideal, but many of us have at least one

My more major concern, though, is getting a D. I thought I was pretty well prepared for this exam. I took thorough notes during lecture and worked a number of practice problems. I admit that I did not do as many as I could have or even do all of the readings. I felt comfortable with the material. So is it even realistic to think that I can do so much better on the next exams?

I think the answer is in the bolded part. Sounds like you put in 80% of the work and expected 90% of the grade. It is hard to say if you can do better; you may have to do all the work + some. Have you reviewed the test to figure out what happened? That is where you should start, plus intensifying and/or changing how you are studying.

I really don't want it to look like I can't hack it, but I am also TAing gen chem this semester and that is taking up A LOT of time (grading ~20 lab reports a week ) but pays, is very rewarding, and I in no way feel like quitting this job is an option being very unfair to the chemistry deparment.

I wouldn’t quite TA midstream, but maybe you have to look at what else to carve out if you think time is the issue. Or discuss with your boss how to speed up the grading of lab reports. Efficiency in work is key. I personally wouldn’t drop, but I would meet with the professor of the genetics class, perhaps arrange a tutor or join a well functioning study group. I might cut out some EC or increase my efficiency elsewhere. But I have never withdrawn from a course, and I took a few C’s on my transcript, so I may be biased.

 

[that70sfan11]

I agree about talking to the professor.

To tell a little story of my own, for my first exam in animal behavior, I made a 72. I thought I knew the material well, but that proved that I didn't. I went and talked to my professor and he told me that I was probably just not used to his tests so he gave me some advice and off I went

We had 3 more tests and I made a 97, 104, then 106 on the final (overall class averages stayed the same). I ended up having the 2nd highest grade in the class. I'm not trying to show off and I understand that those scores are unusual. BUT my point is that the first test can be hard because we don't know what to expect, but I suspect you'll learn your lesson, work harder AND know what tests are like. I think you'll end up being fine and I would avoid dropping if you can. at least based off just one test.

 

[ekchad]

Biggest help I've found over the years is working with someone else to study and make sure you both understand concepts.

I also agree with Minnerbelle about seeing the professor. Seeing the prof consistently may also help when you are teetering b/t two grades at the end of the semester and they see that you were inquisitive and tried hard.

Also do you know the class average? They may curve.

 

[lalzi22]

Yes, you should be nervous, but don't pee your pants! I have gotten a few C's and D's on tests (esp on first exams when you are not used to a professors testing style). I suggest studying a lot more for the next test, including getting a study buddy. I always studied with a group after my freshman year, and found I did MUCH better on tests when I studied with them. You can test them to test if you know the answer well enough to tell them if they are right or wrong, and they can test you to surprise you with things you didn;t think to study enough.

Just make sure to bust your butt, but don't worry. While good grades are necessary for vet school, the schools tend to recognize that we ARE human and we do make mistakes and have tough times. Hell, I had a D on my TRANSCRIPT and I got in to a few places.

 

[beausky]

It doesn't sound like you need to drop the course at all if you have the time to study like you normally would for the next two exams. I agree with lalzi22 in that sometimes it takes the first exam to get used to the professor's style and what he/she likes to test. Talking to the prof will only help you, as well as talking to other students taking the class.
You'll be fine, don't stress too much! I think you will be able to pull up your final grade.

 

[GizmoDVM]

Thank you so much for your advice! I spoke with the professor yesterday and he told me that if I got an A on the next two exams that he would be hard pressed not to give me an A in the class, but that in his experience it is very unlikely. He also said in his experience that it is very unlikely that I will get a B and that the last time he taught the class no one who got less than a 64 on the first exam got an A or B in the class. I then verified that it was possible and he said something along the lines of "If you really think you're that special...". On that note, though, it is perfectly reasonable to expect to get a C.

With that said I have been studying, and will continue to do so until the deadline for dropping a course with a W (after that its an I or F) and if I feel confident that I will at the very least come out with a C then I will continue with the course. I am also going to discuss the option of switching to auditing with my advisor (the professor suggested it) in case I still feel that a D might be a possible final grade. In that case I would still get to sit in on lectures and receive all of the material, I would just get a V on my transcript (the professor also has the option of still giving me a W if I don't continue to come to lecture, to prevent abuse of this option, he seems fair though so wouldn't do this if I did go to lecture). This way when I retook the course all of the information will be familiar. How would that look to adcoms? Has anyone had experience with this before?

At this point I agree with most of you and will probably stick out the course, but I just want to keep my options open so that if I'm really not grasping the material I feel comfortable with my decision.

Thanks again!

 

[marycatherine]

I am also going to discuss the option of switching to auditing with my advisor (the professor suggested it) in case I still feel that a D might be a possible final grade. In that case I would still get to sit in on lectures and receive all of the material, I would just get a V on my transcript (the professor also has the option of still giving me a W if I don't continue to come to lecture, to prevent abuse of this option, he seems fair though so wouldn't do this if I did go to lecture). This way when I retook the course all of the information will be familiar. How would that look to adcoms? Has anyone had experience with this before?

I personally think an audit and a retake would look better than a withdraw and a retake, or a C/D and a retake-- though if you have certain schools in mind you could certainly ask the adcoms? To me an audit says "I'm interested in this material and want to gain an idea of it before I go further" while a withdraw (to me) implies something less favorable. (That said, I have two W's on my transcript, and a few C's, though they are in an unrelated major.)