Struggling to get B's in college - am i falling behind

College Life
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<p>I just finished sophomore year at a liberal arts college in the DC area and hope to get a job in the federal government once I graduate. However, most students are getting ahead and are able to balance an internship and a maintain full course load and get straight As. I tried to maintain a full course load, but my gpa went slowly went from a 3.2, 3.0, 2.8, and back up to a 2.9 in each semester. one semester I got off on the wrong foot, couldn’t rebound, and ended up with one C and D (also had another C the previous semester). I also don’t have time to balance an internship because it would destroy my grades as it was a struggle to even obtain a least a B in the past two years. my grades are basically straight B’s except for that one semester that i couldn’t rebound. I’m not a party animal. </p>

<p>I also studied at an Intensive Mandarin Program at the renowned Beijing University (China’s harvard) this summer and got a B-. I focused more on the language gains rather than the grades for once because I wanted to grasp the skill. first two weeks produced F’s but grades steadily climbed during the eight weeks there and produced a B on the final. This fall I’m studying in Taiwan to focus on my regional studies for my IR major and spend time with grand parents. </p>

<p>Is getting B’s a good thing? I grew up with an academic disability and worked my ass off in high school just to barely reach this milestone and study at this school whose programs were tailored made for me. When I entered college, I knew I was going to be in the bottom of the heap and had to double and triple my efforts to even maintain my standing. With my peers getting ahead with straight A’s and internships, am I also falling behind? </p>

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<p>This statement, hidden in your last paragraph, is in my opinion probably the key to the situation. Typically, you don’t outgrow an academic disability and the coping strategies that worked in high school and the first year of college probably need to be fine-tuned as you begin higher-level more intensive work. If you’re not already talking with your school’s disabilities coordinator (whatever it’s called there), you need to go do that right now. They may be able to offer accommodations, such as untimed testing or notetaking assistance, or tutoring, or other services that will make it easier for you to reach your goals. </p>

<p>As for the internship, you can certainly choose to take a semester off and get a full time internship to get experience so that it won’t conflict with your studies, or target summer internships. Don’t worry about “falling behind” but stay focused on how to make your own journey most beneficial for you. And enjoy Taiwan!</p>

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<p>I have accommodations. </p>

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<p>Having a B average will not prevent you from getting into the government. I got in with a 3.02 overall. It’s more about your experience and what you bring to the table. Internships are great, experience oversees (depending where in the government you want to work) is a big plus. </p>

<p>Do your best in school, but also concentrate on experience.</p>

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<p>I believe government looks for 3.0 at least. The main thing you can do is networking to get in. You do need As so that the hiring manager that looks at your resume for 10 seconds doesn’t toss your resume in the trash because you have a terrible GPA. </p>