<p>Hello I should start by saying I believe I messed up my first semester of college and I have no idea what I should do. The only goal I have or I should say had since people made me feel foolish for having this “dream” is that I wanted to get a bachelor’s and move to Japan to become a English teacher through the JET program. </p>
<p>However I don’t know how to get a bachelor’s and as I said before I think I already messed up. I think I messed up by only having 1 class which is Calculus. I don’t know why I even chose that class since I have a C and I don’t particularly like math but when I took the math placement test this was the math I was placed to and was the only class with spots left. I really have no idea what I should do after my class is done around December except for try studying and raise my grade to at least a B before the class ends and that I should take a Japanese class next semester. </p>
<p>So I was wondering how bad will I be set back by this and when would be the quickest way to get a bachelor degree and try the JET program. Also is that dream even feasible? </p>
<p>Am I correct to understand that you are taking one class only, the calculus? If you are taking it and are worried about passing these are the things I would consider doing. First, get a tutor or find your college’s resource/tutor center to get extra help asap. It is very important to have someone to help you if you are struggling. Sometimes your professor or teaching assistant has office hours, if so you should be able to go at that time to seek extra help. It is best to bring specific questions for them to review and to see that you are interested and working your best. Second, if you think that you can pass the class remember this is only one class of the many you will take. While a bad grade will hurt your gpa…it is only the one grade and hopefully your next classes will go better. Third, if you are really concerned about passing the class you may still be able to withdraw from it but at this point it may be considered withdrawal failing. Now that sounds bad because it will show on your transcript but by withdrawing the grade does not usually get calculated into your gpa. You would have to check with the advising department to be sure for your school and to find out the date requirement. </p>
<p>I think the most important thing that you can do is to find resources at the school that will help you. Don’t suffer alone. Go get a tutor, go to an advisor, and/or go to your professor until someone is able to give you the help that you need to pass the class. Don’t give up. Many people have a hard adjustment to college and “mess” up. You can recover and you can do well at college. Don’t be shy about asking for help from the resources at the school. They should want you to succeed and should offer some guidance. Don’t expect that you should have to struggle all by yourself. Best of luck to you. (Regarding the JET program, I’m sorry I don’t know much about that but perhaps your college advisor can help with that also)</p>
<p>Ah thank you for the suggestions but its so hard to follow through with what you recommend because I have had bad experiences with asking for help. I for all of my school life havn’t tried, studied, or asked for help and I usually passed my classes with A’s or B’s. As a note I have always been in Honors or in my high school’s case magnet and AP classes. But in trig I asked for help and I guess my question was stupid but my teacher made me feel like a complete ■■■■■■ and I didn’t ask for help again. I ended up failing that class but I took it again with a diff teacher and I didn’t have problems in math again. But the thing is I haven’t had math in a while and in my last high school math class they put me in some weird math thing with a know-nothing teacher since they gypped out of having calculus there. </p>
<p>So how can I go about asking for help or is there anywhere online I could brush up on trig and pre-calc stuff quickly since thats the only problems I have with calc.</p>
<p>There should be a tutoring center at your CC with people who specialize in helping students who have trouble with math. They have heard and seen everything, and their job is to help you. Go see them. Don’t be afraid of them.</p>
<p>As for finishing up your bachelor’s degree, you should start by meeting with your advisor. Ask about the best way to achieve your goal, and set up a plan of studies that will get you there.</p>
<p>To succeed in your college classes, in your college career, in a JET program or other programs, and in your career, you need to grow as a person–and this means getting over any fears you have about simply asking for help. Walk into the tutoring center at the college. Walk into your professor’s office during office hours. </p>
<p>Many students who were smart enough to make it work in high school are shocked when they start failing classes in college and wonder what went wrong and hide and feel shame. College is different and expects different skill sets–so forget how it was in HS (and realize that it would have been better if you struggled a little bit in HS so you would have been able to experience some failure AND practice how to ask for help) and deal with what you have going on now in college. Forget the old stories from HS and just deal with what you need to do to make your college classes work.</p>
<p>It sounds like you need a bachelor’s degree to get accepted into the JET program. So you have probably 5 more years until you finish your degree (since you have only 1 class total so far). If JET is a major goal, then you need to plan to take all 4 or 5 years of Japanese full time. You may have to wait until next fall to begin, since most language sequences begin in the fall (and even programs that offer staggered sequence first year starter courses do not continue this way for second year and beyond).</p>
<p>No one can see on your college transcript if you have hired a tutor, asked the professor for help, or used the college tutor center. But they do see your final grades. So go and ask for help for goodness sake.</p>
<p>Also, go see a college advisor and plan out the 2 or 3 year CC path to getting ready to transfer. Make sure to take full time Japanese courses as well. And start looking for colleges you can transfer to that will continue to offer you upper division Japanese courses (not all colleges have this!). </p>
<p>Some teachers will be insensitive–so brush it off and stop being so sensitive. The reality is that you will have to be much more aggressive and strong to make it in college and in life–and to get into the JET program. Be a self starter. Ask questions. Keep asking questions even if you “feel” stupid for some reason. Stop blaming the professors, just get the results you want by always looking for new solutions to your problems.</p>
<p>As others have addressed the academic success side of things and I am very familiar with the JET Program, I am going to focus my remarks on the latter.</p>
<p>You have plenty of time to make yourself into a strong candidate for the JET Program. You will need to have a bachelor’s degree, but your GPA will be much less important in affecting your acceptance into the program than many other factors. Demonstrating interest in Japan and cross-cultural exchange is probably the most important quality on which you’ll be judged. Learn as much Japanese as you can both inside and outside the classroom, and seek out opportunities to participate in Japan-related organizations and cultural events. Likewise, because you will be applying for the ALT position, seek out whatever opportunities you can find to give you teaching experience. If you know any foreign students in need of assistance with their English, that kind of tutoring experience would be ideal. Make sure you develop strong relationships with at least a couple of faculty members, as you will need at least one letter of recommendation from someone at your school if you apply to begin the JET Program immediately after college (you’ll need two letters total).</p>
<p>Persistence and flexibility are qualities JET seeks in its applicants. As others have already advised you, you have the opportunity to demonstrate these in improving your approach to college. Get to work, and good luck!</p>
<p>Community colleges grade harder than regular colleges (especially the bigger ones).
Community Colleges don’t grade on the “curve” aka Normative Grading where big state colleges do (which means you are graded on your performance compared to your classmates). The bigger the college the easier it is.
Community College’s are drop-out factories. Their 100 level classes are 10X harder than at a 4 year, especially classes when there are 30 or 60 or 100+ students.</p>