What To Do About Physics.

[ChrisM07]

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Hey all,

I am taking Physics I this summer 🙂(), and well, it's not going so great. I am afraid that I might not pass and was seriously considering withdrawing from it. I already have 1 withdraw on my transcript (Organic 2) and was wondering if I should take the withdraw and save my GPA (currently a 2.85) or stick it out and risk not passing (which there is no guarantee that I can).

I am afraid that this second W on my transcript will look real bad, but at the same time, I don't want to bring my GPA down lower than it already is. I need to decide by this Monday (6/15).

What do ya guys think? What would you all do?

Thanks!
Chris

 

[nitrolegs]

get some tutoring, go to office hours, talk to your professor. if you put in the effort, you WILL pass.

 

[4thMolar]

How far in the course are you? If you seriously think you'll make less than a C, then I would withdraw. Having a W on your transcript is a lot better than getting a D or an F, plus you don't want that GPA to go any lower. I don't think having two W's isn't going to hurt you. Apparently other people on here haven't had problems with multiple W's. But having a D or an F will hurt. I want to believe you can do well if you put in the effort, but it's up to you to decide if think you can or not.

 

[Lurchdubious]

What do ya guys think? What would you all do?

Thanks!
Chris

A W is definitely better than a D, but is this your only class right now? Are you working 40+ hrs/week? I mean, a W while carrying a particularly crazy workload and a W while goofing off during the summer are quite different, IMO. If at all possible, work your butt off and go for a B.

 

[ChrisM07]

A W is definitely better than a D, but is this your only class right now? Are you working 40+ hrs/week? I mean, a W while carrying a particularly crazy workload and a W while goofing off during the summer are quite different, IMO. If at all possible, work your butt off and go for a B.

I don't think it's exactly 40 hrs/week, but it's pretty close. I have really done everything there is to do (study groups, tutoring, office hours, etc.) but it's just not working out. I wish I could blame it on goofing off, but that's just not the case. I don't want to point fingers, but the professor's grading is extremely strict and he doesn't give partial credit (even though I may have most of the correct work, it's a 0). It's either all or nothing, which I don't see fair (but I guess most things in life aren't fair). Our class average for this past midterm was around a 30%. I was optimistic for a while, but I just don't think it's numerically possible to pull a B. Or even a C- for that matter. I just wanted to see if a W looked better than an F or a D with a re-take later on (even though both of those grades will be accounted for when I submit my grades) or vice versa.

 

[4thMolar]

I don't think it's exactly 40 hrs/week, but it's pretty close. I have really done everything there is to do (study groups, tutoring, office hours, etc.) but it's just not working out. I wish I could blame it on goofing off, but that's just not the case. I don't want to point fingers, but the professor's grading is extremely strict and he doesn't give partial credit (even though I may have most of the correct work, it's a 0). It's either all or nothing, which I don't see fair (but I guess most things in life aren't fair). Our class average for this past midterm was around a 30%. I was optimistic for a while, but I just don't think it's numerically possible to pull a B. Or even a C- for that matter. I just wanted to see if a W looked better than an F or a D with a re-take later on (even though both of those grades will be accounted for when I submit my grades) or vice versa.

Well if it's not even numerically possible to make a C-, I would definitely withdraw and retake the class with another professor next semester. A 30 average is ridiculous.

 

[Lurchdubious]

Again, if a C is out of reach, whip out the W. However, with a 30% average, there's GOT to be some curve or extra credit going on. In my physics class there was a 50% avg once and the teacher curved it. ...but he was also cool about partial credit. Any other teachers you can take the class from later?

 

[ChrisM07]

Well, he says he doesn't curve it, but he gives extra credit which are even more impossible than the test itself.