<p>I just got back from taking my Educational Law final exam. I received my last paper, and I got a C on it. I had recently received a C on the first paper. No matter how much I wrote on each page, or what I stated on the issues of the case(s), she drew X’s over paragraphs and wrote on the margins how irrelevant my paragraphs were and how I never addressed the legal issues. Class participation was 30% and I barely participated in class for fear that I would say something stupid. I never attended public schools, so I was unfamiliar with the ways the law impacted public education. I always went to class, but never really formed my own opinions to the class. </p>
<p>In other words, not only do I fear that I may get a C in the class. If she’s really disappointed in me, she may also fail me. </p>
<p>I thought this class would be a survey course on a law course I took during my sophomore year on Race/Ethnicity. The professor did not use the Socratic method or force us to write in legal language. I did very well in that class, as I was explored to a multitude of cases on different issues. I chose to write on a final paper of my choice (Milliken v. Bradley) and he just quizzed us on defining the results of the cases. This Educational Law class, however, has been a nightmare. Despite reading the case dockets, she wanted us to think like lawyers, used the Socratic Method, and graded harshly on our papers. She did not care for the background of the issues; she only wanted to know the legal issue involved and how the supreme court justices ruled. </p>
<p>I just want to cry right now. I have never failed a 300-level course in my life. This has been a rough semester with constant deadlines and a heavier workload, but 300-level courses has never been so hard for me. She is a former attorney who went to a very prestigious law school and taught college law courses. I can kiss my grad school options good-bye because I will have three Cs (or 2 Cs and a D) on my transcript. I am also a junior in college. I did better in my calculus clases than this course.</p>
<p>A C is NOT the end of the world. A C is okay. Accept a C. (occasionally, but work harder next time.) If you can’t accept an occasional C you are too much of a perfectionist. What are you going to do when a boss doesn’t like you because you are younger, or prettier, or a sloppy dresser, or wear or don’t wear nail polish? If you really think you may fail go see the prof.Maybe he /she may let you take a W or do other work . You must have seen this coming. Haven’t you contacted with this prof earlier in the semester ? Viisit them, make appointments, go up and chat after class, smooze, are you doing all this?You have to make a connection other than just sit there in class, esp[ecially as a junior. Right?..
And please try to relax . You are doing great and if some grad school doesn’t want you a field of opportunies will open up elsewhere.</p>
<p>tenisghs-- Sounds like a brutal experience. But, it is not the end of the world. I don’t know what your major is, or where you want to go, but lots of people who get C’s go on to grad school somewhere. I know my H got at least a couple of C’s way back when and he went on to grad school, a very good one.</p>
<p>Engineering majors are often told to expect to fail at least one class before they graduate. </p>
<p>I also realize that legal writing is MUCH MUCH different than undergrad research writing. I’m so used to writing in prose and connecting patterns that legal writing does not involve ANY OF THAT.</p>
<p>mstee, you do not know how great your comment made me feel. I’ve been upset all day because I am struggling in my calculus class. I’m on the B-/C+ range and TRY SO HARD everyday in that class. I do at least 10 hours of work each week outside of class and have an A on quizzes but do horrible on tests. It’s really made me think maybe I’m just not good enough to be an engineer. But hopefully I’ll accept whatever grade I earn in this class and learn from my mistakes, before I get to college.</p>
<p>I have just thought about something else now: because my GPA will take a slight hit, I need to apply for summer internships right now. How can I explain to sites a possible C/D in a legal course? especially in education?? They will not want to hire me at all now.</p>
<p>were you able to get a good reccommendation from your last supervisor? That will go a long way towards getting a new position.</p>
<p>alternately you could find a job working with one of your professors.
Or, since I remember that you and your mother have huge loans for this school, you could get a job that was just to help pay those bills, not necessarily a paid internship.</p>
<p>Since you have been having academic difficulty in at least one class, it also might help to take a class over the summer to help lighten your load during the school year.
You have a lot of options- just take a breath, step back and find the way that will work, rather than focusing on all the things that aren’t going your way right now</p>
<p>Emeraldkity, this has just been a very stressful quarter. I had health problems (eczema AND pityriasis rosea, which I am just recovering from and has unfortunately left ugly marks all over my torso) and constant deadlines during Thanksgiving. Imagine the psychological toll a disease can have when you feel too depressed to wake up and get dressed because you know you have been scarred for life.</p>