Dealing with a Failed E&m Class: Next Steps and Considerations

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a participant's experience with failing an Electricity and Magnetism (E&M) class, exploring feelings of frustration, potential next steps, and considerations for their academic path, particularly in relation to their major in astrophysics and interest in mathematics. The conversation touches on themes of academic pressure, course selection, and personal reflection.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses feelings of failure and frustration regarding their performance in the E&M class, questioning whether to skip the final exam and considering the implications for their astrophysics major.
  • Another participant suggests that the individual should reflect on their interests and consider whether to retake the course or switch to a different major, emphasizing the importance of pursuing what they enjoy.
  • Some participants encourage the idea of retaking the course, arguing that persistence may lead to eventual success, while others caution against blaming the professor for the difficulties faced.
  • There are discussions about the appropriateness of the participant's course load, particularly the challenge of taking graduate-level math as a freshman, with suggestions to slow down and reassess their academic strategy.
  • One participant highlights the importance of taking the time to understand the material and not rushing through the program, suggesting that an extra semester or year may be beneficial.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions on whether the individual should retake the course or switch majors, with no clear consensus on the best path forward. Some advocate for persistence in the current major, while others suggest exploring alternatives.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various personal experiences with difficult courses and professors, indicating that individual circumstances may vary significantly. The discussion reflects a mix of emotional responses and practical considerations regarding academic choices.

Who May Find This Useful

Students facing academic challenges in STEM fields, particularly those considering major changes or dealing with course failures, may find insights in this discussion.

  • #31
Gale17 said:
(...) in case you missed it, this thread is entitled, "i'm a retard" this is for good reason... I'm retarded (...)

I don't remember to be dealing with advanced and retarded potentials in this intro.course on Electromagnetism.:-p

So why would you...?

Daniel.
 
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  • #32
So how did it go?
 
  • #33
I'll let you know when he posts the grades... actually, he'll be posting grades in like an hour... but i didn't sleep last night... so hopefully i'll be sleeping then...

At any rate, thanks to some help, i learned a lot of stuff... unfortunately, i didn't have enough time, and i had to guess a ton... sucks... i did well on the open ended questions though. i really have no idea if i did enough to pass or not... i would doubt it... but never know i guess... well... you know eventually... well, not if i don't tell you... well, if you really wanted you could find out probably... i dunno... i haven't slept yet... i think I'm tired. ..
 
  • #34
For the past 3 hours, I've been coming here waiting for a grade. :smile:
 
  • #35
OptimusPrime said:
For the past 3 hours, I've been coming here waiting for a grade. :smile:
Hopefully she has had a chance to relax and is taking a little nap right about now ... I'm sure we'll hear from Gale eventually. :smile:
 
  • #36
:frown: i told you all not to expect much. the grade hasn't been finalized yet... but... ya...

i studied really hard though, and thanks to the people who helped me. i learned a ton... it wasn't enough. i got all the conceptual stuff right... i just... mk... i still haven't really slept yet... I'm going to go to my room and stay there a while...
 
  • #37
any official word?
 
  • #38
Ok, here's the only update i have. I know the final grades are posted at school, but school's two hours away, so i don't really intend to drive over and see. Grades will be posted on june first. What i do know though is all the right answers to the exam, and the answers that i put. I know for the multiple choice section i score a 75% which isn't quite enough to give me a C for the course. I wrote some answeres on the open ended section, but they weren't entirely right, and i have no idea what he'll give me for partial credit.

The best i know is that i did pass the final, and i did pass the class... but if i got a D in the class, i'll have to retake it anyways... but, things aren't so bad. I'm mostly pleased over all. I'm pretty bummed cause i know i missed one question because of a stupid mistake... and if i had got that one question, i know i'd've passed the whole course... it sucks, i knew the answer, filled in the wrong bubble, (i had to pick the correct diagram, and the correst diagram was 2, so i filled in the "b" bubble, but the answers were A) 1 B)2 C) 3... ect i have no idea why he switched the first two... arg)

Anyways, its wicked sweet that you guys are so interested in my grades. I'm like a mini soap opera or something eh? I don't know why you care... but its cool...
 
  • #39
Congratulations, I knew you could do it.
 
  • #40
Can you call or email the prof and ask him how you did on the open ended section?
 
  • #41
Waited a week to ask this. :redface: So what was the grade? :biggrin:
 
  • #42
A+ to life trouble,i'm afraid...:sad:

Daniel.
 
  • #43
Gale17 said:
Um... hi... update...

so i email my prof, and he's like... tell you what.. if you get a C on the final... you'll pass the course... now I'm like... awesome... too bad i haven't studied and i have no hope of getting a C..


What ever you do, Don't get anything higher then a C or he'll fail you. He just told you if you get a C on the Final he will pass you. You get anything lower or higher then a C you will fail. Becareful! You got to aim for that C!
 
  • #44
What ever you do, Don't get anything higher then a C or he'll fail you. He just told you if you get a C on the Final he will pass you. You get anything lower or higher then a C you will fail. Becareful! You got to aim for that C!

What kind of advice is that? How can you shoot to get a C on an exam? Hmmmm, ok, there are 50 questions, so maybe I'll get 13 wrong on purpose, because my Professor said I have to get a C, not a B, or an A, but a C! I don't think so!
 
  • #45
Yea I know, rofl.

I just thought it was hilarious anyways. Sometimes Professors can be like that. I know one professor whom said you could bring a piece of paper with anything on it for the test. Well one student brought a graduate student and made the graduate student stand on the piece of paper by his desk so the graduate student could help him on the test. So the student got to use the graduate student on the test.
 
  • #46
lol that's crazy.

Btw thanks to whoever mentioned those MIT lectures, they're really supplementing my study right now nicely. My professor mostly does the math, proofs and hints on how to solve the problems, and i found the more intuitive lecturing missing, but that's about all the MIT professor does so i feel I'm getting best of both worlds now :) Wish i could do this for all courses.
 
  • #47
zeronem said:
Yea I know, rofl.

I just thought it was hilarious anyways. Sometimes Professors can be like that. I know one professor whom said you could bring a piece of paper with anything on it for the test. Well one student brought a graduate student and made the graduate student stand on the piece of paper by his desk so the graduate student could help him on the test. So the student got to use the graduate student on the test.

Ha! well that is a good one! well professsors can be alittle off these days. =)
ooh and can anyone tell me how to start a thread? ty
 
  • #48
wow this thread is 2 years old!

to start a thread, click on "new topic" which is on the left above the other threads
 
  • #49
erm..unfortunately, i can't find that 'button'..
 
  • #50
It's on the left hand side of the screen. There's one at the top, and one at the bottom of the list of threads already in that forum. If you're using the Nexus skin, it's call "new thread" instead of "new topic".
 
  • #51
of course, if you do have to revive old threads, horribly self-depreciating ones wouldn't really be my first choice...
 
  • #52
so youv'e overcome your obstacle eventaully, gale?
 
  • #53
Well, i retook the class and passed if that's what you mean. Still struggling with other things though...
 

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