Bad grade on the first test in a science class, experiences?

BU Medical Sciences
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Members don't see this ad.
miui said:
You better get that A
corporal%20punishment.jpg
Click to expand...
That was not even directed to me and it motivated me to go study. Flashbacks..
 
See, if he was wearing something other than business clothes, I wouldn't take it seriously.
 
The same happened with me. 🙁

Just recently I received my organic chem exam back and it was not pretty.

This is my second exam which I failed, sadly... The first one was dropped but this one won't. I accept the fact that I failed, even though I studied, studied hard, but did not study smart (that is what I am guessing).
I have to change my methods of studying, therefore I will meet up with my Dean of Students who is nice but stern.

Due to me failing, I did think of dropping the course, but my mentor was against it, saying that it is an obstacle and that I have to surpass it.

What should I do?

The professor is harsh but intelligent, I accepted that. But he is intimidating and when you ask a question, he responds with a question rather than answer. I met with him and he is nice at times but still would question me rather than answer.
 
If you failed in undergrad, you didn't work hard enough.

That's all there is to it.
 
Oh how I wish I could do Ochem all over again (well, I could, but it wouldn't negate the grades I already got).

Organic is really not a difficult class. My problem is that it was built up so much to be a nightmare that when I got to it, it was firmly in my head that I was in an extremely hard class. I didn't study like I should, and thus, got a B.

If you want an A, put in the time. Organic isn't difficult, it just requires practice. I know, people say that all the time and it gets shrugged off, but it's true. If you draw out a mechanism a few times and understand why it's happening, it'll be basic **** on the test. My problem was that I'd look at a mechanism once or twice, tell myself it was too complicated, and then move on. Don't make my same mistakes! Ochem is easily mastered if you're willing to do what I wasn't - study once a day for an hour or so after lecture to nail what you learned.
 
was sick today, pain in my joints, headache, and cold

took the quiz in organic today, did really good on it, feelsgoodman.jpg
 
got a 78% on my first test. cried myself to sleep shortly after. 🙄
 
I failed my first biochem exam miserably... and the first test was by far the easiest. I learned from my mistakes and got a 98 on the second, a 93 (class high) on the third, and a 95 on the final.... so to answer your question. If you learn from your mistakes, youll be fine. If you dont, you will repeat them and fail again.
 
alexandertg6 said:
I failed my first biochem exam miserably... and the first test was by far the easiest. I learned from my mistakes and got a 98 on the second, a 93 (class high) on the third, and a 95 on the final.... so to answer your question. If you learn from your mistakes, youll be fine. If you dont, you will repeat them and fail again.
Click to expand...

moving story
 
Bio Major said:
The same happened with me. 🙁

Just recently I received my organic chem exam back and it was not pretty.

This is my second exam which I failed, sadly... The first one was dropped but this one won't. I accept the fact that I failed, even though I studied, studied hard, but did not study smart (that is what I am guessing).
I have to change my methods of studying, therefore I will meet up with my Dean of Students who is nice but stern.

Due to me failing, I did think of dropping the course, but my mentor was against it, saying that it is an obstacle and that I have to surpass it.

What should I do?

The professor is harsh but intelligent, I accepted that. But he is intimidating and when you ask a question, he responds with a question rather than answer. I met with him and he is nice at times but still would question me rather than answer.
Click to expand...

This happened to me initally

first test was the lowest i've ever gotten on an exam (50), due to cram studying and procrastination. Luckily we were allowed a drop. Second test came back and didn't do much better (70).

Got my act together and studied with the mentality of aiming for a perfect score, not just a curved A in the class. Ended up with the highest grade on our last midterm (110), 98 on the final, and eventually an A in the class.

vin5cent0 said:
If you want an A, put in the time. Organic isn't difficult, it just requires practice. I know, people say that all the time and it gets shrugged off, but it's true. If you draw out a mechanism a few times and understand why it's happening, it'll be basic **** on the test. My problem was that I'd look at a mechanism once or twice, tell myself it was too complicated, and then move on. Don't make my same mistakes! Ochem is easily mastered if you're willing to do what I wasn't - study once a day for an hour or so after lecture to nail what you learned.
Click to expand...

^ This. Orgo is all about practice problems, go through as many as you need to, and not just the weekend before an exam. That's probably the biggest mistake I made. Don't brush off anything just because it looks confusing, it does to most people the first time.
 
Bio Major said:
The same happened with me. 🙁

Just recently I received my organic chem exam back and it was not pretty.

This is my second exam which I failed, sadly... The first one was dropped but this one won't. I accept the fact that I failed, even though I studied, studied hard, but did not study smart (that is what I am guessing).
I have to change my methods of studying, therefore I will meet up with my Dean of Students who is nice but stern.

Due to me failing, I did think of dropping the course, but my mentor was against it, saying that it is an obstacle and that I have to surpass it.

What should I do?

The professor is harsh but intelligent, I accepted that. But he is intimidating and when you ask a question, he responds with a question rather than answer. I met with him and he is nice at times but still would question me rather than answer.
Click to expand...
Mentor is wrong. Drop the class, especially if you only have 1 or 2 W's. Getting a C is bad enough. If you failed 2 tests, getting a D or F is the kiss of death. Your probably feeling all down that you failed yourself and blah blah blah. You know what? F-it. Pick yourself up and get ready for next round.
 
stigus said:
this happened to me initally

first test was the lowest i've ever gotten on an exam (50), due to cram studying and procrastination. Luckily we were allowed a drop. Second test came back and didn't do much better (70).

Got my act together and studied with the mentality of aiming for a perfect score, not just a curved a in the class. Ended up with the highest grade on our last midterm (110), 98 on the final, and eventually an a in the class.



^ this. Orgo is all about practice problems, go through as many as you need to, and not just the weekend before an exam. That's probably the biggest mistake i made. Don't brush off anything just because it looks confusing, it does to most people the first time.
Click to expand...

110/100?
 
using khan academy more and more, what are your opinions on the site guys?
 
well guys, test is monday, nearly studied all day, any advice? any tips?
 
Yeah actually....my first Biochem exam of the semester was a C+

Oops

That being said... I am in a similar situation in that the prof drops one of the lowest exams. We will nail the next one 👍
 
msquaredb said:
Yeah actually....my first Biochem exam of the semester was a C+

Oops

That being said... I am in a similar situation in that the prof drops one of the lowest exams. We will nail the next one 👍
Click to expand...
ya bud but how, I have done nearly everything in my power to review
 
BoxinMoxin said:
ya bud but how, I have done nearly everything in my power to review
Click to expand...

Option A) Be honest... have you seriously done EVERYTHING you can. EVERYTHING?!?!?! If so...then you will be fine.

Option B) You have real bad test anxiety which is another problem (I have that). I lost my head once on an exam and said 14-5=11. I got the hardest conceptual problem but lost my head on math cause I was nervous. Keep a level head.

Option C) You did everything, but you didn't study effectively which is also a problem.
 
msquaredb said:
Option A) Be honest... have you seriously done EVERYTHING you can. EVERYTHING?!?!?! If so...then you will be fine.

Option B) You have real bad test anxiety which is another problem (I have that). I lost my head once on an exam and said 14-5=11. I got the hardest conceptual problem but lost my head on math cause I was nervous. Keep a level head.

Option C) You did everything, but you didn't study effectively which is also a problem.
Click to expand...

study effectively?
 
For example...did you go through all your notes and absent-mindedly highlight them 1000 times? That doesn't work for most people especially in a course like organic.

I find myself falling into this often. Studying needs to be targeted to your weaknesses or what you are certain will be on the exam.
 
I've had many bad starts to classes. I started off my undergrad science career with a 50 something on my first bio test. That class had no dropped tests and there were only 3 exams all year long... needless to say I was screwed. I was lucky to get a C- and pass, but my transcript carries that stain.

However, each test is independent of each other. Just because you did worst on the first exam doesn't mean you can't do well on the rest. I speak from personal experience, but I usually always do poorly on a first exam but finish strong on my last one. Additionally, you can drop this test so don't be too worried. And if the highest grade in the class was a 93 then there needs to be some serious curving done.
 
Alot of people do bad on the first test-it's always hard to gauge how hard a professor will test. Organic is a especially nasty mistress, and from my experience, its not something that you can study a week before and do well. Honestly, I would study a little bit every day, even if it's only for a bit. What I did was just make a booklet of the reactions and whenever I had an extra 10 minutes, I would just write some of the reactions out, so by the time I got to the test, I was blowing them away. Honestly, if you are serious about going to medical school, you need to get into the mindset to be studying everyday. No social life for you 🙂

Class of 2016 😀
 
for third quarter Ochem i didn't go to class at all, managed a C- on the first midterm and a D/F or so on the second, which was the week before the final. Decided i wasn't cool with that, went and studies the day before it and got an A on the final. C+ in the class, but it's an outlier so oh wellz
 
well, test is tomorrow, basically been at it all morning, practiced all mechanisms but about to hit the small stuff like naming and ee for review

I just feel now that I really wasn't meant for the sciences
 
BoxinMoxin said:
well, test is tomorrow, basically been at it all morning, practiced all mechanisms but about to hit the small stuff like naming and ee for review

I just feel now that I really wasn't meant for the sciences
Click to expand...

Good luck! I know I am not meant for organic chemistry, or physics, or biology. I just need to be good enough to apply them to what I believe I am meant for...medicine. Certainly, medicine uses those science but it does not require a mastery in them as a PhD would. I think it is OK not to be meant for the sciences...just be good enough at them to achieve what you want.
 
so our professor is nice enough to post the answer key to the test after we are finished

I worked my butt off, i studied endlessly, I missed Saturday and Sunday football, barely got on the internet at all, slept early, got up early to study for the test, missed workout to study and currently at best I probably got around a 70 if I am lucky.

It is too late to drop, you guys have been nothing but a great help to me but from the looks of it, it pretty much seems like this is my last semester as a pre-med. I made a C in chem 1 and chem 2, I improved my study habits, made note cards, did problems over and over again, and thought I was familiar with the material but for the sake of god I choked up big time on that test. Thing is, I am not cut out for pre-med at all and am probably wasting my time on this site. Thanks to all who spent the time to help me.'

I have to make one more post on another thread before I finalize my plan to take either a long break from this site or leave it permanently.
 
BoxinMoxin said:
so our professor is nice enough to post the answer key to the test after we are finished

I worked my butt off, i studied endlessly, I missed Saturday and Sunday football, barely got on the internet at all, slept early, got up early to study for the test, missed workout to study and currently at best I probably got around a 70 if I am lucky.

It is too late to drop, you guys have been nothing but a great help to me but from the looks of it, it pretty much seems like this is my last semester as a pre-med. I made a C in chem 1 and chem 2, I improved my study habits, made note cards, did problems over and over again, and thought I was familiar with the material but for the sake of god I choked up big time on that test. Thing is, I am not cut out for pre-med at all and am probably wasting my time on this site. Thanks to all who spent the time to help me.'

I have to make one more post on another thread before I finalize my plan to take either a long break from this site or leave it permanently.
Click to expand...

Reading this makes me sad, good luck in whatever you do... 👍
 
alexandertg6 said:
I failed my first biochem exam miserably... and the first test was by far the easiest. I learned from my mistakes and got a 98 on the second, a 93 (class high) on the third, and a 95 on the final.... so to answer your question. If you learn from your mistakes, youll be fine. If you dont, you will repeat them and fail again.
Click to expand...

hopefully you are the future me posting on SDN to give me hope.
 
BoxinMoxin said:
so our professor is nice enough to post the answer key to the test after we are finished

I worked my butt off, i studied endlessly, I missed Saturday and Sunday football, barely got on the internet at all, slept early, got up early to study for the test, missed workout to study and currently at best I probably got around a 70 if I am lucky.

It is too late to drop, you guys have been nothing but a great help to me but from the looks of it, it pretty much seems like this is my last semester as a pre-med. I made a C in chem 1 and chem 2, I improved my study habits, made note cards, did problems over and over again, and thought I was familiar with the material but for the sake of god I choked up big time on that test. Thing is, I am not cut out for pre-med at all and am probably wasting my time on this site. Thanks to all who spent the time to help me.'

I have to make one more post on another thread before I finalize my plan to take either a long break from this site or leave it permanently.
Click to expand...

I am seriously sorry man. I really hope that everything works out for you and that you look back on these events as a blessing. I say that meaning I hope you find another career so fulfilling that you are glad you dodged the bullet of being in medicine which pales in comparison to said hypothetical career.

Contrary to what others will tell you, quitting premed doesn't mean you are stupid. You just have a different skill set or were meant for something else entirely and it was unnatural for you to pursue that path.

I wish you the best of luck sir.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

P
Need advice - bad grade
Replies
1
Views
394
wysdoc
wysdoc
Firing Neuron
Navigating Secondaries With Bad Grades
Replies
2
Views
171
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
S
Advice on Choosing a Second Science LOR
Replies
3
Views
490
squabblingduck
S
C
Question about “Other Impactful Experiences”: explaining bad, but not horrible semester.
Replies
11
Views
1K
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
T
Secondary Optional Essay- addressing bad grade?
Replies
6
Views
1K
Goro
Goro
Top