College Question, salvaging my GPA?

[S Freud]

So I am in my second year of college right now, I am not technically a Sophomore because of credits, I explain this below.


So here is my situation to understand my question:

My first year I did a lot of screwing around, I partied and was just plain lazy, slept in and missed classes, didn't do my homework and missed tests because I slept in. The obvious result of this was very poor grades. I am kicking myself everyday for this now because I wasn't always the best student in high school, I know how to do the work, I am just lazy sometimes. I wanted to start over in college and in fact I became much worse.

Right now this is my situation,

I lost most of my scholarships because my GPA dropped below a 2.0( I am very embarrassed to even admit this) This is a result of the above poor choices and decisions.

I am trying to get back on track and raise my GPA and regain all my scholarships this term. Now this might be another stupid question but is there any chance? My GPA is beyond horrible right now and with the major I am currently pursuing I want to go on to graduate school. Is there a chance to salvage my GPA in order to come out of school with a good cumulative?

What should I do? Retake some of the classes? Just get better grades in the classes I am taking now?


I appreciate any input on this(unless its just worthless negative input)
I know this was a long read and any help it appreciated.

Thanks

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: S Freud
What should I do? Retake some of the classes? Just get better grades in the classes I am taking now?

I was in the same situation as you are in. I retook several classes (the ones that had the most weight), took easier electives, and worked my ass off in classes that pertained directly to my major. I did not reach a high GPA at graduation, but I was just recently accepted to grad school. My career path plus current work situation helped with my grad school acceptance.

 

[nycxandy]

You have plenty of time to recover, but be sure to start doing well right now.

 

[shadowofthesun]

I've never attended college, and I don't claim to be an expert. I'm just a high school student. From this, however, it seems like your best chance is to retake the classes- I know that in High School, when you retake your classes, those grades are recorded over your previous grades. sure, you'll spend an extra year in college, but it seems like that is your best option, IMHO. By no means a definitive opinion- good luck.

 

[dbk]

Take some easy classes (online) so your overall GPA can get a boost. I don't know what your school's policy is on retaking classes but I know at my school they just average the two grades. So in theory, you would have to drastically improve your grade when you retake a class. Can you do that? or is it one of those weed-out classes where an A is just not going to happen for you? You're not even a sophomore yet, so you have some time, I'd say.

 

[Journer]

take easy elective clases or classes u know u can pass with high grades...if u get above a 3.0 for a semester or two that will bring it up a lot

 

[kranky]

Your story is very much like mine. My second semester I had an 0.2 GPA. Graduated with a 3.2.

You certainly can repair things. Once you decide to apply yourself, you'll be fine. But the most important thing is to figure out how you are going to change, so you don't have any more problems. If you retake the classes, the new higher grade will cancel out the previous one. It's not the disaster you might think it is.

Now you might not be able to get your scholarships back in one term, but you should talk to your financial aid person about that.

 

[BigJ]

You may want to consider switching colleges to get a fresh start.

 

[CollectiveUnconscious]

Follow these steps:
1.) Develop a work ethic.
2.) Retake classes that you know you can make good grades in.
3.) Work your ass off in your major classes
4.) Work your ass off in all other classes
5.) Apply to a graduate program that only looks at your last two years

 

[akshatp]

It is alot harder to bring it back up then it is when it drops.

I did the same thing that you did my first two years at Rutgers. My GPA was 1.2 or something. I then left school for two years and went to work.

When I went back to school it wasn't feasible to try and graduate with a respectable GPA, so I transferred whatever credits I had earned to a different college, (GPA doesnt transfer) and finished up my degree there with a 3.9

If you have another good school in your area, and can xfer your scholarships, it might be a wise course of action

 

[S Freud]

My college allows me to retake classes, but they said that the first grade remains on my transcript and it just gets an "R" put next to it for retake and whoever sees that can look up the retake grade.

 

[CollectiveUnconscious]

Originally posted by: S Freud
My college allows me to retake classes, but they said that the first grade remains on my transcript and it just gets an "R" put next to it for retake and whoever sees that can look up the retake grade.

It still shows initiative on your part, and that you really are able to do well in those types of classes if you apply yourself.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: S Freud
My college allows me to retake classes, but they said that the first grade remains on my transcript and it just gets an "R" put next to it for retake and whoever sees that can look up the retake grade.

That sux. I know its a lot of work, but see if you can transfer into another school nearby to finish up your degree. Transfer credits don't bring their grades with them.

 

[S Freud]

Originally posted by: BigJ
You may want to consider switching colleges to get a fresh start.

How does this get me a fresh start?

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: S Freud

Originally posted by: BigJ
You may want to consider switching colleges to get a fresh start.

How does this get me a fresh start?

Getting away from old friends, old habits, etc.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Originally posted by: S Freud

Originally posted by: BigJ
You may want to consider switching colleges to get a fresh start.

How does this get me a fresh start?

I agree, it may be time to just start over. It sounds like you really havent passed any classes so why not apply to a new college, transfer, and start as a freshman.

You previous transcript fades into the night and no one will ever see it.

 

[chrisms]

I'm in a similar situation with a 2.45 GPA. In a couple semesters I will be doing mostly classes for my major and figure if I get back on track now I can salvage above a 3.0 and have a very good looking major GPA, which I assume is all that really matters. I assume this because it is both the most recent 2 years of college when you get out and if you're applying to grad school for a similar subject then it shows you have interest and can succeed in that subject.

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: S Freud

Originally posted by: BigJ
You may want to consider switching colleges to get a fresh start.

How does this get me a fresh start?

Getting away from old friends, old habits, etc.

Fresh pus...

Or something like that.

 

[S Freud]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: S Freud

Originally posted by: BigJ
You may want to consider switching colleges to get a fresh start.

How does this get me a fresh start?

Getting away from old friends, old habits, etc.

I sort of meant grade wise...how does my GPA not transfer?

 

[newParadigm]

Originally posted by: Tiamat

Originally posted by: S Freud
My college allows me to retake classes, but they said that the first grade remains on my transcript and it just gets an "R" put next to it for retake and whoever sees that can look up the retake grade.

That sux. I know its a lot of work, but see if you can transfer into another school nearby to finish up your degree. Transfer credits don't bring their grades with them.

Most school won't accept transfer credits if you got below a C or a C-, so he'd still be sorta sunk.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: S Freud

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: S Freud

Originally posted by: BigJ
You may want to consider switching colleges to get a fresh start.

How does this get me a fresh start?

Getting away from old friends, old habits, etc.

I sort of meant grade wise...how does my GPA not transfer?

What gives you the impression he meant that if you transfer your GPA will get a fresh start?

Plus at most schools transfer credits have to be atleast a C.

 

[dbk]

Originally posted by: S Freud

Originally posted by: BigJ
You may want to consider switching colleges to get a fresh start.

How does this get me a fresh start?

Your GPA gets reset since GPAs do not transfer over with credits. However, your current GPA could play a factor in your acceptance into a new school...or maybe it doesn't, I'm not sure.

 

[JSFLY]

Originally posted by: S Freud
My college allows me to retake classes, but they said that the first grade remains on my transcript and it just gets an "R" put next to it for retake and whoever sees that can look up the retake grade.

Ouch. Heres my advice.... Work your butt off your next three semesters... easy as that. Get a 4.0 average your sophmore year and your 2.0 becomes a 3.0. Get a 4.0 average your junior year and your 3.0 becomes a 3.33.

 

[IronWing]

Originally posted by: S Freud

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: S Freud

Originally posted by: BigJ
You may want to consider switching colleges to get a fresh start.

How does this get me a fresh start?

Getting away from old friends, old habits, etc.

I sort of meant grade wise...how does my GPA not transfer?

GPA generally doesn't transfer, only the credits. I wiped out 10 credits worth the Cs that way. Kept the credits, lost the points.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: S Freud

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: S Freud

Originally posted by: BigJ
You may want to consider switching colleges to get a fresh start.

How does this get me a fresh start?

Getting away from old friends, old habits, etc.

I sort of meant grade wise...how does my GPA not transfer?

What gives you the impression he meant that if you transfer your GPA will get a fresh start?

Plus at most schools transfer credits have to be atleast a C.

I meant both actually.

And your GPA does not transfer over to your new institution. Your GPA is based on the credits that you take at your current institution.

Sure, if he applies for grad school and has to send all transcripts of the Universities he's attended, they'll see it.