Freshman in need of advice!

[Dream With Me]

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I'm currently taking four classes, and I'm doing fine in all of them except Chemistry. I got behind on the reading (put all my focus on bio - I know that was a bad decision now!) early on and as a result failed one quiz and the first exam... I'm finally caught up, but today my professor informed me that he doesn't think it's mathematically possible to pass the class. He also said I should reconsider my major, since the class is required for it.

I'm feeling very overwhelmed and not sure what to do! I would really like to stick it out, even if it means getting a C, but would that be a silly idea of it's not mathematically possible to pass anyway? The other option would be switching into a lower class or dropping the class entirely and taking a W, both of which would put a year behind on my major requirements, which I'm not too happy about because I already took a year off before coming.

I'm just feeling sooo stressed out and sad over this entire thing. How much will it hurt my chances if I end up with a fail/W? I'm worried about my GPA too.

 

[twelvetigers]

Whatever you do, don't fail. Drop if you're going to fail. Being a bit behind vs. taking that sort of hit to your GPA... it's no contest.

 

[dgm]

I'm confused. It's not even October yet... how can it already be too late to salvage your grade?!

If you're truly caught up on your chemistry knowledge now, I'd say it's time to do a bit of investigation regarding this "mathematically possible to pass" business. Did your prof give you a syllabus with the number and weight of exams? Assuming you get a 100% on everything else for the rest of the semester (which I know is unrealistic), what would your final grade be? What would your average for the rest of the class need to be in order for you to get a C?

In answer to your question - yes, it would be ridiculous to stay in the class if it is guaranteed that you will fail. Withdrawing and being behind is preferable to failing and being behind anyways! But I'd make damn sure that it truly is a guarantee I could not pass before I withdrew and put myself a year behind. If your professor is just being an ass and underestimating you - and I suspect he may be, if he actually suggested you rethink your major based on one quiz and one test for ONE class, your first semester - then I vote stay in and prove him wrong. (Oh and another thought - there must be another school nearby where you can take a chem class over the summer to catch up if necessary...?)

BTW, I bombed a class (possibly two) in undergrad. My life didn't end, and somehow I still got into vet school! 🙂

 

[eventualeventer]

^What they said.

Also, it sounds like your professor is pretty quick to judge. Yeah, if you CAN'T pass chemistry, you shouldn't be a bio major, but that's not something you can say in the FIRST MONTH of classes of your entire college career. Depending on your school, the transition from high school to college intellectually and academically speaking can be HUGE.

Sit down, calculate the percentages, see if your professor is right about it being impossible for you to pass, and make a decision based on REALISTIC expectations of how the rest of the semester is going to pan out, since you won't catch up overnight. Besides the hit to your GPA, it is better to take a W and retake a class than feel like you scraped a C by the skin of your teeth and don't really understand the material you need to go on and do well in the next semester.

As for being behind, you may be able to catch up later on by doing something like taking Physics and Biochem at the same time.

Good luck!

 

[Caninerepro]

I am going to second DGM's advice. It is better to take a W than an F by far. But as well I question how one test can doom you for the entire class. You may want to check the syllabus and do your own math to see. Also, take it from past experience, if you really nail the rest of the class and spend a little time with the professor during office hours to demonstrate your commitment, even if you are mathematically at a less than desirable grade there is usually leeway for the professor to "round up" your grade. But, that is something you have to earn, and also you can't really even ask for it formally. Just do your best, and even one C in inorganic one will not doom a pre-vet career. I myself got a C in calculus, and managed a few thick envelopes from schools last year. The adcoms know there are going to be stubbed toes academically, especially your freshman year. As long as it is a temporary occurrence, and you are strong elsewhere, you should be fine. 👍

 

[Minnerbelle]

As for being behind, you may be able to catch up later on by doing something like taking Physics and Biochem at the same time.

Good luck!

I totally agree with this. I don't understand how retaking an intro chem class the next semester will put you a whole year behind schedule in your major. I understand that chem is a pre-req for a lot of courses, but I find it hard to believe that the courses in your major are so rigidly placed that you wouldn't be able to graduate in time just because you retook one course. If that's the case, how do people double major? I would really look at your 4 year plan with major requirements, graduation requirements, and pre-vet requirements, and see how you can fit it all in. I'm pretty sure you would be fine even if you put off chem one semester.

It's your first semester your first year. As long as you don't make a habit of it, adcoms won't even blink seeing that one W in your transcript. If you're already struggling to keep up with the class and have a failing grade a third of the way into the semester, I think it might be better for you to just drop the class and really rock the rest of your courses. That one W will be so easy to explain, but if you end up getting even a D for this course (which you'll have to retake anyway) AND you mess up your other classes because you're taking up so much time worrying about this class... you'll be starting off with a low GPA. That doesn't matter much if you do stellar the rest of your college career, but if you do so-so for the next few years... that doesn't look very good.

That being said, your professor sounds like a donkey 👎. Don't let some disgruntled bigot discourage you from studying what you're passionate about.

Good Luck!

 

[Minnerbelle]

One more thing. It might seem very overwhelming and despairing right now, but by senior year I don't think you'll even care.

I think it's really important to see the big picture. No one cares if you have a little bit of trouble adjusting to college your first year. It's kind of expected. I think it would be most beneficial to you to think about that, and really focus on which decision would most help you set yourself up for a strong academic career for the rest of your college days. I think that if you try too hard to keep everything going when you're not ready, you won't have the chance to start off next semester with a strong foundation (not just with course material, but with effective study skills and time management skills). If you spend the rest of your semester in crisis mode, you'll never learn to develop a stable and sustainable academic lifestyle.

***stepping off my soapbox now. lemme tell you, i wish someone had told me that when i was an underclassman taking way too many difficult classes at a time every semester. i pulled off decent grades and all, but i really didn't "learn" how to effectively study until much later because i was ALWAYS running on crisis mode.

 

[DVMDream]

Your professor sounds like a complete a**! Don't get discouraged. Like everyone else said it is better to take a W now then to fail (if that really is the case). I am not sure what you are majoring in but I did a chem minor and took my first chemistry class second semester of my freshman year. I did take gen chem II during the summer, but even if I hadn't I would have been able to finish chem first semester of my junior year
instead of second semester sophmore year. I am not sure how missing the one class will put you an entire year behind. You should be able to finish your degree within the four years still, but I am not sure how your program is set up. I took a bunch of classes that I did not even need for my major or my minor my first semester (counselor recommended it as a way to ease in to college) and I am still graduating in four years (with more credits than needed.) Good Luck. And try not to let one a** wipe professor ruin it for you. Make sure what he is saying is right and if you really are going to fail (or lower your grade in other courses because you are worried about this one) then withdraw. A W looks much better than a F. Best of Luck!!

 

[twelvetigers]

For what it's worth, I agree that you should investigate the professor's claims first. Also agree that he sounds like an ass... if you drop it for a W, try to get a different prof next time! 😉

 

[Dream With Me]

I'll update more later, I just wanted to add in quickly that the class is only offered once per year, during the first semester, which is why I'd end up a year behind.

Thank you for the advice so far everyone!

 

[Dream With Me]

I did the math, and if I got an 85% in all aspects of the class for the rest of the semester, I'd end up with a 75.55. The professor told me a 65 is passing, so it looks like I would pass with a C, but I'm doubting my math since he was certain it wasn't mathematically possible.

I'm not sure how to proceed. I'm wondering if my professor meant it really was impossible to pass, or if he meant it would be if my grade trend continued. I'm too intimidated to ask. I e-mailed my advisor for a second opinion on the calculations. I've been incredibly worried about this for the past day and a half or so.

 

[dgm]

Easier said than done, but don't let him intimidate you. If anything, you going to speak to him shows you are interested in improvement, which usually makes professors more motivated to work with you.

 

[sumstorm]

I second DGM's advice...talk to the prof. even profs who are intimidating bullies tend to have more respect for students who meet with them and discuss the issues and their solutions in a clear, calm manner. Take your calculations with you.

If you will get a grade that will not enable you to continue in your major (that varies by school) or will be worse than a C (a common cut off for vet schools), you may want to withdraw. Your professor may be reacting to a failed test after a failed quiz. Or, depending on what school, some schools are already into midterms, and failing half the class can make recovery nearly impossible in the second half. Not saying that is your situation, since I have no idea. Also, you might consider requesting a tutor.