Failure...

[mellifluent]

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I hate to bother anyone with my neuroticism but I'm in so much distress at the moment that I can't focus on what I need to be doing.

I am a freshman in my second quarter, taking five classes including general bio I and general chemistry II plus labs.

I think I failed my second biology exam, and I'm crushed. I thought I knew the material, but I should have put more effort into preparing for the exam. I got over 100% on the first test (two extra credit points, haha) and perhaps I did slack off a bit after that...
I made a 4.0+ GPA last term and the pressure to maintain it is gradually driving me insane.

Is this normal? I feel like, as a biology major, I need to be acing all of my biology coursework. I'm basically despondent over this (expected) test score, if only because I feel that it suggests that I am not "cut out" for biology or medicine, as it were. Obviously I am pretty neurotic and maybe not capable of handling pressure, which makes it worse considering that the pressure I'm experiencing now (as an undergraduate freshman) is nothing compared to upper division, med school etc.

What should I do? Besides go to office hours and study my butt off for the final, haha. Do these things happen? Will I survive? Should I use this as a learning experience or a "sign" that I will never make it in a health-related field...? I feel like crying, haha...

*Update: I got a 90 on the exam, and will probably end up with an A+ in the class. Oops.

 

[Lannister]

Wait until you get the grade, you might be pleasantly surprised. And even if you did fail, it's not a big deal, especially since you did so well on the first exam. I'm sure almost everyone on this forum has done poorly on an exam or two, as well. Just focus on doing better next time.

 

[Glandzburg]

First of all, if you got >100% on the first exam, it is highly unlikely you did as poorly on this exam as you think you did. So let's say you got a 70%. Your test average is now at 85%. You can still get an A. Calm down.

 

[heybubbaa]

What should I do? Besides go to office hours and study my butt off for the final, haha. Do these things happen? Will I survive? Should I use this as a learning experience or a "sign" that I will never make it in a health-related field...? I feel like crying, haha...

Breathe and relax. Yes, people (and even good students sometimes) fail tests (I failed nearly 10 *courses* in undergrad, and I got into
MD school). You will survive, and medical schools will see your final grade - not your test grade. You should learn from all of your experiences, but you should not dwell on them as you are currently doing. You can do it, but you should probably seek some counseling to help you cope with your anxiety.

 

[eteshoe]

Jesus kid calm down. You're just a freshman - plus you got time to recover. Stop putting pressure on yourself to keep a 4.0 and begin to focus on learning the material. Also, if God forbid, you get a B+ you can still get into med school with a 3.9.

 

[sumodental]

Upward trends are super important and considered. A stellar GPA from hereon in demonstrates your capabilities and can greatly compensate for some lower grades.

 

[leonardoson]

Last semester I thought I bombed my physics exam and got a C. Ended up with an A. Wait for the result

 

[BackForrealz]

I hate to bother anyone with my neuroticism but I'm in so much distress at the moment that I can't focus on what I need to be doing.

I am a freshman in my second quarter, taking five classes including general bio I and general chemistry II plus labs.

I think I failed my second biology exam, and I'm crushed. I thought I knew the material, but I should have put more effort into preparing for the exam. I got over 100% on the first test (two extra credit points, haha) and perhaps I did slack off a bit after that...
I made a 4.0+ GPA last term and the pressure to maintain it is gradually driving me insane.

Is this normal? I feel like, as a biology major, I need to be acing all of my biology coursework. I'm basically despondent over this (expected) test score, if only because I feel that it suggests that I am not "cut out" for biology or medicine, as it were. Obviously I am pretty neurotic and maybe not capable of handling pressure, which makes it worse considering that the pressure I'm experiencing now (as an undergraduate freshman) is nothing compared to upper division, med school etc.

What should I do? Besides go to office hours and study my butt off for the final, haha. Do these things happen? Will I survive? Should I use this as a learning experience or a "sign" that I will never make it in a health-related field...? I feel like crying, haha...

Option A. Redo the low grade ( if you even get a low grade)
Option B. Work harder ( you have 6 more "quarters" as you called them to do better", technically "semesters").
Option C. Inform the SDN every time you think you are going to perform poorly( believe me, I would be here all day).