will someone please explain this "bad semester" thing

[luke587]

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So i always hear people on hear talking about having a bad semester, but what exactly makes it a bad semester. I feel like im kind of headed that way, just got a chem score back and got a 84%...overall i have a 83% in the class with one test to go, it also havnt been curved yet, but still anyways after midterms last week this is where i stand

Chemistry II: B-
Pre-calc: B+
Humanities gen ed: A-
Interpretation of literature: B+

 

[Avoidthetiger]

ha.

I like what your consider a "bad" semester.

This is actually beyond horrible...(aka pretty normal and good)

 

[rhesuspieces]

😱 wow, that's pretty rough....

just kidding, that's an average semester for most of us. A "bad" semester usually involves a failed class or two. You're fine....doing great, actually.

 

[gravitywave]

welllll.... before we all start singing kumbaya, let's point out that OP is on course for a 3.3 this semester with those grades. it's not like that can stand as a model for successful pre-med.

 

[Elpenor]

That's definitely a "bad" semester, but nothing terrible. Just don't have any more and you will be fine.

 

[oaklandguy]

So i always hear people on hear talking about having a bad semester, but what exactly makes it a bad semester. I feel like im kind of headed that way, just got a chem score back and got a 84%...overall i have a 83% in the class with one test to go, it also havnt been curved yet, but still anyways after midterms last week this is where i stand

Chemistry II: B-
Pre-calc: B+
Humanities gen ed: A-
Interpretation of literature: B+

Well, it won't look good that you are doing poorly in Chemistry and that your course load isn't huge either. That actually seems like a pretty easy semester, but I am not familiar with the humanities or literature class you're in. Just know it doesn't get any easier from here on out and that you will have to do better than that. Yes, it is a bad semester and you have to focus on doing better. If you are pulling a 3.3 with those classes and you are truly trying you're hardest then you may have an issue bringing your grades up when the coursework becomes tougher.

 

[rhesuspieces]

welllll.... before we all start singing kumbaya, let's point out that OP is on course for a 3.3 this semester with those grades. it's not like that can stand as a model for successful pre-med.

Yeah but if OP feels that this semester is "bad", that probably means he's done better in previous semesters. Also his classes haven't been curved yet.

If this becomes a pattern, he's in trouble. But one semester? Eh, he's fine.

 

[Narmerguy]

welllll.... before we all start singing kumbaya, let's point out that OP is on course for a 3.3 this semester with those grades. it's not like that can stand as a model for successful pre-med.

Yeah but if OP feels that this semester is "bad", that probably means he's done better in previous semesters. Also his classes haven't been curved yet.

If this becomes a pattern, he's in trouble. But one semester? Eh, he's fine.

I agree with gravity. There's a reaction on this board to immediately mock or waive off anyone who isn't rocking multiple D's and C's. That is not the point at which applicants should start to become concerned with their grades. A 3.3 is a poor GPA by medical school admissions standards and though they can perform better in later semesters, that still makes THIS one a bad semester. Also, are you aware of what a 3.3 could do to a GPA? Not everyone can turn right around and start busting out 3.8+'s every semester after which is typically the prescribed fix when a poster has a semester like this.

 

[Dianyla]

welllll.... before we all start singing kumbaya, let's point out that OP is on course for a 3.3 this semester with those grades. it's not like that can stand as a model for successful pre-med.

Agreed, but this is what I would call an iffy or shaky semester, not outright bad. It's still completely recoverable.

I had a bad semester 15 years ago, because of severe family and financial issues. I took two Incomplete grades for Chem & Physics, planning to take the summer to recover and take the make-up final when I returned in fall. Unbeknown to me at the time, I was apparently registered for PChem for Summer Term, but I never attended this class since I had to return home to my family at the end of Spring Semester. When I was unable to return to that school the next Fall, those three grades converted turned into Fs. That's what I call a bad semester.

 

[wristbandMD]

Agreed, but this is what I would call an iffy or shaky semester, not outright bad. It's still completely recoverable.

I had a bad semester 15 years ago, because of severe family and financial issues. I took two Incomplete grades for Chem & Physics, planning to take the summer to recover and take the make-up final when I returned in fall. Unbeknown to me at the time, I was apparently registered for PChem for Summer Term, but I never attended this class since I had to return home to my family at the end of Spring Semester. When I was unable to return to that school the next Fall, those three grades converted turned into Fs. That's what I call a bad semester.

I agree with the above. It's not "bad", but it certainly isn't great.

My worst quarter was:
Intro to Chem: F
Sociology: W (Forgot to go to the first 3 weeks...)
US History II: C-

I was in high school and this was my first college quarter. I really loved the freedom of not having to actually attend classes...Obviously it didn't work out very well! 😛

OP, I would say study a lot for the next test. Plus, I believe you said this was without a curve. Do you know if a curve will be added by the end of the semester? If so, I'd say you're fine. That B- could very well turn into an A.

 

[Avoidthetiger]

I agree with gravity. There's a reaction on this board to immediately mock or waive off anyone who isn't rocking multiple D's and C's. That is not the point at which applicants should start to become concerned with their grades. A 3.3 is a poor GPA by medical school admissions standards and though they can perform better in later semesters, that still makes THIS one a bad semester. Also, are you aware of what a 3.3 could do to a GPA? Not everyone can turn right around and start busting out 3.8+'s every semester after which is typically the prescribed fix when a poster has a semester like this.

A 3.3 to me is a pretty normal semester (especially around midterms). There is no reason to start freaking out in the middle of the term, just use it to motivate you to do better on your upcoming assignments and exams.

I would not consider a 3.3 a bad semester or even a bad year. I have plenty of 3.3 semesters... to me it's adjusting to college, figuring out how you study, and working to do better in the future. Don't fret too much OP -- hence my amusement by your post.

You can get into medical school with a 3.3 semester. Pulling out my transcript, I see GPAs of 3.35 or less my first semester freshman, sophomore and junior year. There's something about the fall that I just don't like, but I tend to excel in the spring (though not at 3.8+ levels). You'll be fine -- but I guess I never had an "bad" semesters. Never even got a C in college, despite my love in High School for the C+ grade.

 

[unhappytnt]

That's not a bad semester by any means. Besides, those are before the curve, so your 83 is bound to be an A- at least.

 

[Elpenor]

That's not a bad semester by any means. Besides, those are before the curve, so your 83 is bound to be an A- at least.

This is simply false.

Please tell me which universities curve up general chemistry 7 percent so i can transfer there immediately.

 

[Ochempwnsme]

This is simply false.

Please tell me which universities curve up general chemistry 7 percent so i can transfer there immediately.

Plenty but I doubt that the poster wants to name his university. It's pretty common to curve both gen chem and physics course. The algebra physics I course that I'm enrolled in currently has quite the wicked curve. The average on the first exam was a 65. The professor set that to be C+, meaning my 82 on the exam turned into ~94 or an A on his curve. Whatever the average on the exam turns out to be, the professor sets that to be C+ and adjusts grades accordingly. I love this policy because it means that as long as I beat my classmates on tough exams, I can still get A's. I heard that the exam average on last year's second exam was a 50 so students who got 70's received A's. What's not to like about that?

 

[ilovelanguages]

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