There’s no question that the card itself is daunting, the kind of thing you’ve been taught to avoid all your life. But if you find yourself looking at a F on your college transcript, don’t panic just yet. Here’s what to know if you fail a class in college.
On a journey of 100+ credits needed to complete your college education, the class you failed probably consisted of only 3-4 credits, and all is certainly not lost. However, failing a college class should serve as a warning and will likely be a major turning point in her education.
If you play your cards right, there are several ways you can make an F a critical building block for your future and keep moving in the direction of your dreams.
stay positive
An F on a transcript, while discouraging, does not mean that you have failed in school. Besides, you yourself are not a failure. There are many reasons why you might have failed a class, and only you know the real reason, but there are definitely ways to move in a positive direction even if you fail a class.
This is not the time to throw your hands in the air, slump in front of Netflix, and give up. To move in the direction of your dreams, you must keep moving.
An F in a class certainly isn’t your downfall, as college success has many closely intertwined predictors. According to the National Cooperative for Post-Secondary Education, “Of the 45 percent of students who start college and fail to complete their degree, less than a quarter are fired for poor academic performance. Most leave for other reasons.”
Don’t be intimidated by the bad grade – where there’s a will, there’s a way (and hopefully an A!)
Worried about getting kicked out of college?
One of the biggest worries people who fail a subject have is that they will be kicked out of the university. It takes a lot more than a failing class for that to happen.
First, most colleges have an “Academic Probation” policy that occurs before someone is expelled or disqualified from attending. Typically, if your GPA falls below 2.0, you go on Academic Probation the next quarter or semester. Depending on the college, you typically have one or two quarters/semesters to improve your GPA above 2.0 to get back in good standing.
If you continue to stay below 2.0 after 2 more semesters or quarters, you will be subject to dismissal. But this should give you hope! Depending on your other grades, failing just one class may not even put you on academic probation!
Talk to your academic advisor
No matter what college you go to, there is a whole team of people who are dedicated to your success. If you have failed a class, first talk to your advisor to find out what your next steps should be. They will likely audit your degree first, to determine if you need the class to graduate or if you could replace it with another course.
Your advisor is an excellent resource to get you back on track. They have all the school’s resources at your fingertips and can help you plan your next steps.
Having relationships with faculty members is invaluable. According to the Institute for Higher Education Policy“College students who are tutored outside of class by the faculty demonstrated higher academic performance, while tutored freshmen are much more likely to return to college for a sophomore year.”
take the class again
As the old saying goes, when you fall off a horse, it’s important to get back on it. If the subject you failed is required for your major, retake it as soon as possible so you can finish it while it’s fresh in your mind.
Failing a class will affect your GPA and potentially your eligibility for scholarships or financial aid, so replacing lost credit quickly is in your best interest. If possible, take a class from a new professor, so you have a chance to start over without the stigma attached to your previous underachievement.
Think about your specialty
When something as jarring as failing a class occurs, it’s a good time to take stock of your current situation. Sometimes failing a class is just a fluke and you can bounce back quickly.
But if you’re going overboard and barely passing other classes in your specialization, then it might be time to reconsider. Failing an occasional class isn’t the end of the world, but if this situation keeps repeating itself, you may be studying the wrong major or studying the wrong way.
This is a good time to take stock of your major to decide if you want to continue on this path and to make sure you are academically and emotionally equipped to do so. And understand that passion and interest go a long way to your success.
He Journal of Happiness Studies reports, “Harmonous Passion (HP), defined as a motivational force that leads people to voluntarily engage in activity, is said to be under people’s control and in harmony with other aspects of their lives. Thus, while the object of passion occupies a central place in one’s life, it is not excessive, and passionate activity leads to an active, flexible, and adaptable commitment.
In other words, you’ll be more engaged, successful, and balanced if you’re studying something you love.
My story
My first term at university I found myself on academic probation. In my core classes, I had received a C-, C-, and C+, which meant I had a 1.9 GPA. While I was able to improve my GPA the next quarter and get off the academic test, it wasn’t much. And I also learned something: I really hated all the classes I was taking in my career.
So I did some research around different majors, went through a few different lectures and course descriptions, and ended up changing my major before I finished my first year of college.
The end result was that I was much happier AND much more successful: I graduated with honors in my major (and was able to graduate early too).
Start sitting up front
If you failed a class, this is also a good time to learn from your mistakes and move forward more productively. Speaking of moving up, the idea of sitting at the front of a college classroom can be intimidating at first, especially if you’ve already failed the class once, but this is a great way to get more involved in your own learning process.
When you are closer to the action, you tend to pay more attention to the teacher, you can pick up the nuances of what he is teaching, and you will be more responsible. By simply choosing your classroom seat carefully, you can experience more success. The important thing is that you get involved in the class.
Ask for help
There are many ways to get help if you start to feel overwhelmed in your college classes, so you don’t have to fail a college class again.
Most of the professors are very accommodating and have posted office hours where you can go directly to them for help. Many classes also have Teaching Aids (TAs) that will also provide additional office hours or group help sessions.
Most colleges also offer tutoring centers, where other students will help you understand difficult concepts.
Finally, involve a classmate to study with you. If the other person has experienced the lectures just like you have, then they would be a great resource for understanding any concepts that are difficult for them to grasp.
Time management
A common problem for those who have failed a class is that they are likely to struggle with time management issues.
This is a good time to learn from your mistakes and learn how to manage your time. Most failures occur because students simply don’t spend enough time studying the concepts or don’t use their study time in the best possible way. It is better to study for small amounts of time each day rather than studying all at once. This will not only make it easier for you to retain material, but it will also reduce your stress at the last minute.
He wise diaryHe explains: “Several studies have identified the positive impact of time management. Time management skills have been shown to have a positive impact on student learning and outcomes.”
While you may be upset if you fail a subject, it’s ultimately a small part of your overall college education picture. If you’re paying attention, you can also use failure to propel you toward future success by ensuring better study habits, instituting better time management techniques, and building better relationships with your counselor, professors, and tutoring staff.
By following these tips, success is definitely within your grasp, and the F will soon be a distant memory in your rearview mirror.
