sayanora

I am in a biology class and am not doing so well in it right now. Our grade is based on just 2 midterms and a final. We've already taken the two midterms and I got B minuses on both of them. With the final left to go, the highest grade I can get is a B... and I REALLY don't want a B minus.

I've studied my butt off for this class, and also go to office hours to clarify concepts with the teacher and ask him questions regularly. Then I go and take the test and there are always a bunch of questions that come out of nowhere! The teacher asks about really arbitrary details instead of main concepts. Even worse, when I try to look up the answers to these questions through my textbook or through google, the answers are so ambiguous and nowhere to be found.

I don't really know what to do! Whenever I talk to the teacher in office hours, he always says to "Look at the big picture, that's what you'll be tested on," but that definitely is not the case.

I'm really frustrated because I've been trying my best and am still struggling to get a good grade. I'm also a biology major, and this class is making me considering switching out, since I've heard that most of the upper divs classes are similar in that you need to memorize every little stupid thing. Memorization has never been my strong point, but I've worked hard to over come that.

In addition to this, I really wanted a high GPA this semester so that I could be a strong transfer candidate... and this class is ruining my hopes of that. I want out of my current university!

I also wanted to get a letter of rec from this teacher for my transfer applications because this is a smaller class and all my other classes are so large that the teachers don't know of my existence. But now that I have a semi-low grade, I don't know if I should ask him for a letter of rec.

Any advice for this predicament?

phantombrain

Don't fret ... do something different!

Tip: Using an iPad, download a bunch of model examinations and go through 3-8 of them or until you feel as if you have a greater grasp of the expectations placed upon you. Make sure to evaluate your performance after completing each test - figuring out which concepts you need to work most on, or if any alterations in approach are necessary.

By the way, I recommend this site: PDF Annotation Apps: iPad/iPhone Apps AppGuide (there are tons of apps that allow students to write all over their pdf's using a stylus).

Lastly, you seem like a smart guy/girl ... could test anxiety be a factor? If so, you could always see a psychotherapist.

sayanora

I just found out my grade and now I have a C in the class. I really am beside myself with anxiety. I am going to need to ace the final to get a B... and that of course is really unlikely. Can someone please give me some advice?! I am so upset.

teachandmom

Most students do not get all A's in college without grade inflation/cheating/studying like crazy in classes they already naturally do well in. A final grade of C wouldn't be the end of the world. If you fail, does your school allow you to repeat the course for a new grade? I understand you want to transfer, but what about the rest of your school record? How have your grades been in general? Is the school too hard for you? It certainly isn't too easy. You thought you wanted bio as a major, but lots of kids enter school thinking one major, then get exposed to other subjects and switch majors anyway. What type of school are you trying to transfer to? Apply to transfer to a couple schools, and just see what happens. Sometimes, lightening up a little and relaxing helps people do better. Do what you can to get rid of anxiety, since it isn't helping...And remember, life is NOT all about grades, but what you DO.