bombing the first exam

[418865]

So, I pretty much bombed my first Genetics exam (72). Even if I do superwell in the rest three exams..I can scrap to a B+..but the fact being I"ve to do really well in the rest three. I talked with some upperclassmen and they said the next exams would simply get harder..I've plenty of time to just drop the course without getting any W for it. Do you recommend I tough it out and get a B+ (hopefully!)?

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[Ormm]

I once got a 62% on an anatomy test and worked my @ss off to pull an A (no curve). It was hard, but I did it. I say try and give it your best... A B+ is not the end of the world.

 

[Doctor246853]

I once got a 62% on an anatomy test and worked my @ss off to pull an A (no curve). It was hard, but I did it. I say try and give it your best... A B+ is not the end of the world.

Yeah you pulled that A but the op is being realistic. Its harder to say "Ok for the next three test Im going to get only A's" but doing it is another story. Even that one 85 you get will kill your chances of an A. (which is not bad) Op: If you think you can pull off that B I would stick with it. Dont risk a C tho.

 

[blizzah]

Suck it up, drop the course and retake it later. (Assuming this course isn't a prereq for other courses you will need to take)

If you even have to think about dropping a course due to its potential to hurt your GPA, do it.

You lose nothing other than a little pride, and since it's first semester you can always add another course next semester to keep a full course load if you wish.

 

[leggo]

No way. I mean, it was only one test. If you truly think you can do better from now on, I would just stick with it rather than waste time and take it again next semester/year.

 

[Ormm]

Yeah you pulled that A but the op is being realistic. Its harder to say "Ok for the next three test Im going to get only A's" but doing it is another story. Even that one 85 you get will kill your chances of an A. (which is not bad) Op: If you think you can pull off that B I would stick with it. Dont risk a C tho.

There's nothing wrong with being optimistic (getting 95% on the next 3 exams to get an A is gonna be really difficult though)...
OP- Are there any other points than you can get through quizzes/homework?

 

[Stumpyman]

I recently got a B on my first Communications Speech. I'm thinking DO.

 

[zwitterion34]

I would suggest that you drop it. It is steep uphill that you must climb. 😎

 

[WorldChanger36]

Hell if you can get a B+ in genetics I say you did very well. If you feel like you bombed the first test and got a 72 you could save that. Work on your study habits, try to begin studying 4 or 5 days out from the test and force yourself to write out notes and practice problems. Have other people quiz you on things and explain you reasons for thinking that way. Make sure you get at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep the night before the exam and don't cram. If you can do all this I think you can change that 72 into 92s and get that B+... Work for it you can do it.

 

[tikanisynaru]

72 is not bombing a test. At all....

I once got a 55 on a gen chem exam.

Whatever you decide to do, just don't freak out and don't be too uptight.

 

[NewYorker9]

I recently got a B on my first Communications Speech. I'm thinking DO.

maybe you should think caribbean instead

 

[GetSexyRightNow]

What is this obsession with dropping classes? Do y'all even consider the cost of a class? It's past the refund date now, isn't it?

I think you're going to be OK. Personally, I've come back from even worse first test grades. You just need to buckle down and take things seriously. My guess is you didn't study enough for this exam. Study harder for the subsequent tests and go for the B+. There could be a curve, as well...

 

[Cinclus]

I bombed my first test (with a D) in one of my math classes during my first undergrad semester. I took it as a sign that I needed to get my ass in gear, proceeded to do so, and finished the course with an A. It's totally possible if you think you have enough time to really drill the concepts into your head for the rest of the course.

 

[SBR249]

Treating the test as a wake up call is nice and all but there's also a realistic component to this. Other posters' courses may have been structured such that a bad grade on one test is not the kiss of death but the OP's course may not have a grade breakdown like that.

For example, I once took a class where there was one midterm and one final. No homework, no quizzes, no labs, nothing. Just some assigned reading to do at your discretion. The deal was initially 50/50 between two tests. In that case, if I bombed the first test, then it's SOL. The prof eventually cut us some slack but that's just an example. If pulling a high grade looks unrealistic no matter how hard you study or requires the stars to align, the sunspots to line up, the moon to be full, the tides to be in, the tea party to raise taxes, AND you to do well from now until you hold your firstborn, then you gotta compute some p-values and see if the chances of you doing well is worth pursuing.