<p>I am a freshman and I am having a lot of trouble transitioning to college work and grading. I knew coming to my college that I would be below the average student but it still is a bit of shock to go from making A/B’s in HS to making C/B’s now. Right now my semester gpa has been ranging between 2.6 and 2.9 with 2 C’s, 2 A’s, and a B. When I look at these numbers I have a minor panic attack but then I think about how I am working hard and putting in my best effort. </p>
<p>With my dual enrollment credits I luckily will have an overall gpa of of 3.5 which I would be content with but the idea of have a 2.6 semester gpa makes me shudder. I don’t want to go to med school or anything but I do want to go to grad school and get a good job. Is there a bit of leniency for freshman gpa as long as the overall gpa is ok?</p>
<p>I really just need to know how much this semester’s will effect my academic career. Also how do I deal with my family? They really expect me to do well, in their opinion C’s are not acceptable. They are paying for everything and all they want from me is good grades, and I can’t even give them that. I feel like I am just wasting their hard earned money, even though I am trying my best. How do I get out of this state of dejection?</p>
<p>You’re overreacting.</p>
<p>You’re midway through your first semester as a freshman. Still plenty of time to make a strong push to get your grades higher. In general, the final exams for most classes tend to be a bit “easier” than chapter based tests, which go more in depth. Finals can often pull grades up. Teachers often curve at the end of the semester too, after they see their entire grade distribution, so that may help to pull your grade up.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t start thinking about grad school right now. Way too early for you to do so. </p>
<p>I’m not sure what field you’re looking to go into, but GPA is usually not a large factor in getting a job. It might help you get an interview if you have no previous work experience, but it won’t land you the job. After you graduate, if you work in a non-academic field (or non-scientific/engineering, etc) then GPA won’t matter at all, only that you have a degree.</p>
<p>I will say this: it is still very early in your college career, but your GPA could very well be one of the most important numbers of said college career, depending on what you want to do. I’m an accounting major, and lots of employers have MINIMUM GPA cutoffs between 3.0 -3.25. This is still your first semester, so you get some slack, but don’t make a habit of it. Do what you can to get back to that A/B range in the future, and you will be fine.</p>