- #1
Encarta
- 17
- 0
This was the sub-forum where I thought I may be able to find any help in, so I really hope I didn't go wrong there. So, dear readers, I come to you because I have ran out of options to get me out of the mess I find myself to be in right now. If you could lend me your honest thoughts and advice through keystrokes, I would be indebted beyond words.
I'm a student, of 21 years old, attending a US University, double majoring in physics and astronomy. In high school (which was about 4 years ago), I was decently good in math and physics, and liked doing and reading about physics a whole lot, so I thought, "Why not in college?"
My first couple of semesters in college was not in physics, but due to familial pressure, spent in engineering. And herein, we get into the crux of this story. I can't say if I was overwhelmed because of the immense size of such a huge campus and the novelty of it, but my academic capabilities dwindled to 0. From getting >100% GPA (AP credits) just less than a year ago in high school, I started to get C's and D's. I repeated some courses the next semester, and chalked up my failure the past semester to freshmen luck. But my second semester, I failed the same class yet again. I finally decided that I wasn't doing so well because I wasn't really content with engineering and the chemistry classes I had to take (and retake). So, I finally declare my major in physics and astronomy, and decide that I would start taking my classes more seriously. But when do I learn? I barely manage to pass my physics courses (despite successfully tutoring some non-majors), and failed my elementary math courses like single-variable calculus.
Now, I am in my junior year, and I can't seem to leave these troubles behind me, no matter what I do. Your now idiot OP has managed to fail and retake all his math classes, from single-variate and multi-variate calculuses to linear algebra and differential equations. And multi-variate, I didn't do so hotly in the second time either. And this past semester, I have failed my first physics course (Waves/Pre-quantum mechanics). My undergraduate advisor appears patient, but I suspect she has lost hope in me as well. My current GPA is 1.7/4.0. I know, spare me...Actually, don't. At the end of every semester, after seeing my grades, I tell myself that I would do better the next. But this has never come to pass.
I am soon going to receive a letter telling me that I am under academic probation, and that I have a semester to bring it back to 2.0 or I would face suspension from college. Ok, let's assume, I somehow rearrange the neurons in my brain to make myself more motivated, and actually bring my GPA back up to above 2.0. Let's assume, that I would somehow start doing better in all my classes, now that I've received a proper kick to my shins. I know these are very big assumptions to make, but I don't have any other choice. And final assumption, let's assume that I have turned my life around and I am a dapper, ambitious student again, and get A's and B's for the rest of my undergraduate career. Since I have lost all hopes now of applying to graduate school, what other options do I have in the area of physics that won't leave me a total failure in life? I currently get paid working at a particle physics lab in my campus, but that was only because the research head was kind enough to not look at my transcript.
And furthermore, I would also appreciate it if someone could give me tips, on how not to go on screwing my life again. Before anyone suggests that physics is not for me, I would be quick to remind them that I have been doing bad not just in physics, but my core humanities classes as well. Not an excuse by any means, but I just thought I should mention that it's not just physics and math that I have been failing at, and it wouldn't do me any good to switch majors.
So, now approaching my last year, I am at the end of my rope, and don't know where to turn to. If you've read at least part of this, and have some thoughts on my remaining options, it'd be great if you could help me out. So, thank you to those who read this, and especially to those who think they have something that could help me with.
I'm a student, of 21 years old, attending a US University, double majoring in physics and astronomy. In high school (which was about 4 years ago), I was decently good in math and physics, and liked doing and reading about physics a whole lot, so I thought, "Why not in college?"
My first couple of semesters in college was not in physics, but due to familial pressure, spent in engineering. And herein, we get into the crux of this story. I can't say if I was overwhelmed because of the immense size of such a huge campus and the novelty of it, but my academic capabilities dwindled to 0. From getting >100% GPA (AP credits) just less than a year ago in high school, I started to get C's and D's. I repeated some courses the next semester, and chalked up my failure the past semester to freshmen luck. But my second semester, I failed the same class yet again. I finally decided that I wasn't doing so well because I wasn't really content with engineering and the chemistry classes I had to take (and retake). So, I finally declare my major in physics and astronomy, and decide that I would start taking my classes more seriously. But when do I learn? I barely manage to pass my physics courses (despite successfully tutoring some non-majors), and failed my elementary math courses like single-variable calculus.
Now, I am in my junior year, and I can't seem to leave these troubles behind me, no matter what I do. Your now idiot OP has managed to fail and retake all his math classes, from single-variate and multi-variate calculuses to linear algebra and differential equations. And multi-variate, I didn't do so hotly in the second time either. And this past semester, I have failed my first physics course (Waves/Pre-quantum mechanics). My undergraduate advisor appears patient, but I suspect she has lost hope in me as well. My current GPA is 1.7/4.0. I know, spare me...Actually, don't. At the end of every semester, after seeing my grades, I tell myself that I would do better the next. But this has never come to pass.
I am soon going to receive a letter telling me that I am under academic probation, and that I have a semester to bring it back to 2.0 or I would face suspension from college. Ok, let's assume, I somehow rearrange the neurons in my brain to make myself more motivated, and actually bring my GPA back up to above 2.0. Let's assume, that I would somehow start doing better in all my classes, now that I've received a proper kick to my shins. I know these are very big assumptions to make, but I don't have any other choice. And final assumption, let's assume that I have turned my life around and I am a dapper, ambitious student again, and get A's and B's for the rest of my undergraduate career. Since I have lost all hopes now of applying to graduate school, what other options do I have in the area of physics that won't leave me a total failure in life? I currently get paid working at a particle physics lab in my campus, but that was only because the research head was kind enough to not look at my transcript.
And furthermore, I would also appreciate it if someone could give me tips, on how not to go on screwing my life again. Before anyone suggests that physics is not for me, I would be quick to remind them that I have been doing bad not just in physics, but my core humanities classes as well. Not an excuse by any means, but I just thought I should mention that it's not just physics and math that I have been failing at, and it wouldn't do me any good to switch majors.
So, now approaching my last year, I am at the end of my rope, and don't know where to turn to. If you've read at least part of this, and have some thoughts on my remaining options, it'd be great if you could help me out. So, thank you to those who read this, and especially to those who think they have something that could help me with.