Is a C grade in thermo really bad?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the implications of receiving a C grade in a thermodynamics course, particularly for a physics major considering graduate school. Participants explore the potential long-term effects of this grade on academic and professional prospects, as well as personal feelings of inadequacy related to performance in a challenging subject.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about the impact of a C grade on graduate school applications, especially given their previous strong performance in physics courses.
  • Several participants assert that a C is not ideal, but not catastrophic, especially compared to multiple C's or an F.
  • Another participant notes that a C in thermodynamics may attract more scrutiny than a C in an unrelated elective, due to its relevance in comprehensive exams.
  • There is a suggestion that reviewing the course material independently could lead to better understanding if the subject is taken again in the future.
  • Contextual factors such as overall GPA, performance in other physics courses, and standardized test scores are mentioned as important in evaluating the significance of a C grade.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that a C grade is not ideal, but opinions vary on how detrimental it may be for graduate school applications. There is no consensus on the overall impact of the grade, as various contextual factors are considered.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the importance of context, including GPA and performance in related courses, which may influence the interpretation of a C grade in thermodynamics.

Who May Find This Useful

Students in physics or related fields, particularly those concerned about their academic performance and its implications for graduate school applications.

Ahmed Abdalla
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Hey all, I'm currently studying for my thermo final and it's really kicking my butt. My average has been a C and if I do EXTREMELY well on my final I'll be REALLY pushing for a B. I'm not sure how thermo is taught in other universities, but I'm learning it through statistical mechanics with concepts such as partition functions and all and I never took statistical mechanics before so you can imagine my confusion. I was wondering if a C is really bad in the long run? I mean I'll have to teach the subject to myself again in the future, maybe I'll understand it better with prior knowledge, but grades wise I'm scared. I never got below a B+ in physics courses and as a physics major who wants to go to grad school I feel like I'm failing life with that C!

EDIT: how much does a C grade affect chances of getting into grad school?
 
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What do you want us to say? It's OK to give up?
 
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Vanadium 50 said:
What do you want us to say? It's OK to give up?
Nah I'm wondering how bad is a C when applying for grad schools
 
It's bad. Not as bad as two C's or an F. Now what are you going to do with it?
 
Vanadium 50 said:
It's bad. Not as bad as two C's or an F. Now what are you going to do with it?
I'll try to make up for it!
 
Statistical mechanics and thermodynamics is one of the focus areas in most comprehensive exams. So a C grade in it will likely garner more attention than a C in an unrelated elective. If you're struggling with your class now, it might draw into question whether you'll be successful in challenging the department's comprehensive exam.

That said, put your best effort into it now. Sometimes you can be surprised by the curve.
 
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Not so much about Thermodynamics, but have you ever tried reviewing a course or its close-prerequisites and the course you do poorly in, on your own, before studying it again in school? If you do/did, you should expect to learn it better the second time.
 
A lot depends on context. GPA, grades in other physics courses, PGRE scores, etc.

A C in thermo suggests a weakness. Does the other available info tend to confirm the weakness or suggest the C may be an isolated event unrelated to the skills and preparation habits of the student?
 

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