One bad semester...

[poppin3000]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi all,

So basically this semester sucked big time for me. I transferred to UCB this semester with a pretty decent track record behind me (3.75 with honors courseload) and for a million different reasons, this semester went really poorly for me.

The good news is that I took only one class for a letter grade, but the bad news is that it looks like I'll be getting a C in that class. On top of that I definitely recieved a NP in my microecon theory class.

My goal was to get into a post-bac program and finish up all my science prereqs after I graduate from berkeley, but so far my grades in relevant courses have been: Calc 1st semester - B, Calc 2nd semester - B, and Stats - C

Now, my questions are:

- Will I look weak in the applications process for doing so poorly in my first semester after transferring?

- Could / Should I retake the statistics class if I'm 100% I can get an A?

- How much will the NP affect me? I plan on retaking that class as well--should I retake it for P/NP or for a letter grade?

Also, I should mention that all of the classes I took this semester were basically electives (not relevant to my major at all). This happened because I decided to switch majors from Economics to Anthropology.

All in all this semester was very frustrating for me, but my reasons for my poor performance are definitely legitimate.

 

[Mattabet]

- Will I look weak in the applications process for doing so poorly in my first semester after transferring?

It certainly doesn't help. As you say, there were reasons for your poor performance. Hopefully adcoms will find those reasons compelling.

- Could / Should I retake the statistics class if I'm 100% I can get an A?

That's like thing number 10 on the list. I'd worry about acing the required coursework that I hadn't taken yet before I started retaking. Obviously, if you're interested in DO, that retake will be quite a bit more helpful, especially if you are sure you'll get some more vowels on the transcript.

- How much will the NP affect me? I plan on retaking that class as well--should I retake it for P/NP or for a letter grade?

If you're retaking it, I'm not sure what good retaking P/NP does. As and adcom, I'd look at that and assume that you raised your grade from an F to a C or so. So, if you're sure you can nail it (and why not? you've seen all the material and mistakes you've made once already), then take it for credit. Going from NP to A would look pretty good. If you're not sure you can do that; I wouldn't retake it.

 

[longhorn09]

Relax, one C isn't going to kill you.