college problems

[SOLROCK]

Can anyone offer any advice or at least words of consolation? I just failed my second chem exam and I feel absolutely miserable. I've run the numbers in my head, there's no making it back. No way I'm going to be able to bring my up my grades to meet the passing requirement. The average for the first exam was a 40 and I got a 54. I got a 57 on the second exam and I don't know what the average is yet but regardless I will not be able to pass. The grading system works as follows, 10% labs, 15% quizzes and 75% exams. There are 5 quizzes and they are all unannounced. Also you can only pass based on your quiz and exam average. The minimum passing grade is a 70 and there are no curves. The quiz average for the class is usually in the 50's . I wasn't much better. Oh man this is the first time I've encountered such academic adversity. Its actually very worrisome I'm writing this now because its made me restless. There are only 3 exams. The first was worth 20% and each successive one is worth 5 more points. I really blew it this semester.

It doesn't help that its 2 semesters of gen chem in one semester.

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

Is your problem the subject? Do you find it difficult?

Is the problem external to your studies but affecting your studies?

 

[SOLROCK]

To be honest I have no idea. I seem to understand the material. It all makes perfect sense mathematically and chemically. Though my seeming understanding must not be so good given the grades.
It's not a lack of preparedness either. I'd say that this class has been my focus for the majority of the semester. That means that this class has been consuming the majority of my time. Anywhere upwards of 3 hours a day including weekends.

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

Is it the exam setting? Are you able to complete the exam material just fine outside of the exam environment?

 

[Vrecknidj]

Is the same class offered at another institution such that you can take it elsewhere and transfer the credit to your institution?

A friend of mine got through physical chemistry that way. (The instructor at his primary institution was famous for failing students, so my friend took the class at a nearby school and transferred the credit. It worked marvelously.)

 

[Duxwing]

Can anyone offer any advice or at least words of consolation? I just failed my second chem exam and I feel absolutely miserable. I've run the numbers in my head, there's no making it back. No way I'm going to be able to bring my up my grades to meet the passing requirement. The average for the first exam was a 40 and I got a 54. I got a 57 on the second exam and I don't know what the average is yet but regardless I will not be able to pass. The grading system works as follows, 10% labs, 15% quizzes and 75% exams. There are 5 quizzes and they are all unannounced. Also you can only pass based on your quiz and exam average. The minimum passing grade is a 70 and there are no curves. The quiz average for the class is usually in the 50's . I wasn't much better. Oh man this is the first time I've encountered such academic adversity. Its actually very worrisome I'm writing this now because its made me restless. There are only 3 exams. The first was worth 20% and each successive one is worth 5 more points. I really blew it this semester.

It doesn't help that its 2 semesters of gen chem in one semester.

Consolation? You need some perspective and sympathy. Adversity-- especially unexpected and new adversity-- can quickly leave us feeling in over our heads regardless of whether we are or not; in your case, the adversity would be your failing grade in your chemistry class. So c'mere, don't sit there figuratively weeping alone, have a *hug*. Failing can make us feel miserable, but there's comfort in others: find someone real to talk to and hug, though. It helps.

As for what to do, listen to Proxy and Vreck. They sound like they know what they're doing.

-Duxwing

 

[Lot]

Don't let it get you down. I failed entry level algebra 2 times before I passed it. Some times the teachers can suck and some times it's hard for us to know exactly what they are looking for on the test. If the average score was 40%, that tells you something about the instructor's skill as a teacher. I once had a Psych teacher that didn't go over what the test material was in class. He talked about random shit that had little to nothing to do with the test.

Ask the teacher if there is something you can do to pick your grade up, and if not drop the class and take it again. You don't want the F on your record, believe me. I failed more than math in college. Anthropology, that psychology class I mentioned, Intro to Christianity (I later retook and got an A), geology (although I got a D not an F, also retook and got an A). So don't get discouraged. Just drop the class and do a reset. Maybe find another teacher, because really, 40% average, how the hell does he still have a job?

 

[SOLROCK]

This post in itself was a bit reactionary. I cannot re-take the course somewhere else. Currently i'm a specific program and this course is unique to the program and the institution where i'm studying so there's no transfer credit. However they seem to recognize the difficulty of the course in that the offer something called re-assessment wherein if you fail the course or do not meet the grade you are offered the opportunity to pass by taking an exam 2 weeks after the end of the semester. However, at this point it would be wise for me to start preparing solely for that exam. What this class has really done to me is just made me feel a lot of doubt in regards to my own intellect and even my own drive to do things. I'll have to go speak to the instructor and try to figure something out.
Thank you all for the responses.

 

[Back2Basics]

The institution will change your grade. They have to give out a certain amount of A's B's C's D's, F's... Just beat the average, they should curve regardless of what they told you.
You are wasting your time on INTP forums, go talk to the professor.

 

[SOLROCK]

it is the weekend.... i can't go to his house :/

 

[Hawkeye]

it is the weekend.... i can't go to his house :/

You could have emailed him. ^^

 

[Magus]

Can anyone offer any advice or at least words of consolation? I just failed my second chem exam and I feel absolutely miserable. I've run the numbers in my head, there's no making it back. No way I'm going to be able to bring my up my grades to meet the passing requirement. The average for the first exam was a 40 and I got a 54. I got a 57 on the second exam and I don't know what the average is yet but regardless I will not be able to pass. The grading system works as follows, 10% labs, 15% quizzes and 75% exams. There are 5 quizzes and they are all unannounced. Also you can only pass based on your quiz and exam average. The minimum passing grade is a 70 and there are no curves. The quiz average for the class is usually in the 50's . I wasn't much better. Oh man this is the first time I've encountered such academic adversity. Its actually very worrisome I'm writing this now because its made me restless. There are only 3 exams. The first was worth 20% and each successive one is worth 5 more points. I really blew it this semester.

It doesn't help that its 2 semesters of gen chem in one semester.

I have just missed two major law assignments. Both were less than 2,500 words, both were dead easy. I could have probably written the answers without even needing to go over all the coursework we've been given.

I don't know what I'm going to do about it either. I find the coursework so basic that it there isn't much motivation to study it. In my own time I've worked out how the legal system 'works' in a nuanced way and from here on out it seems that the rest of my degree is actually learning learning what the law is in its current state which really holds no interest for me, especially since I don't plan on practicing. I guess what I'm trying to say is a lot of NTP types strugge with formal education for reasons not relating to ability. From what I gather dramatically under performing at university is a common trait among INTPs, though that might not be some consolation.

If it is only one subject you are not in that much trouble. It is a blemish on your transcript but if you're still determined to finish it shouldn't be that hard to take a summer course or overload and do 5 units in a semester at some point in the future so you can still finish in the same period of time.

I on the other hand, seem to be suffering from a motivational issue.