The adjustment to college can be overwhelming. You may be wondering, “In college, what is a passing grade?” If the adjustment has been tough, you also might be wondering what happens if you don’t do well in your first year of college. The first thing you should know is that your perceived failures or shortcomings will not and do not define you. Also, you can always improve! But, in this article, I’d address that first question.
In college, what is a passing grade?
We often think of failing as earning an “F” in a course. Once you are in college, to pass a course and consider it complete, you need to earn a “C” or better. If you earn less than a “C,” you will not qualify to take other courses that require the current course as prerequisite.
What if I am currently failing a course?
If you are currently failing a course, you may be able to drop that course! The course syllabus should have a “drop date.” If you are not doing well, you can drop the course before that date and a grade will not be recorded on your transcript. Instead, a “W” or “Withdraw” will appear. In most cases, it is better to drop a course than to earn a failing grade. A withdraw will have a lesser impact on your transcript, grade point average, and financial aid*.
*The caveat to financial aid depends on if you are a full-time student. If you are a full-time student and receiving financial aid, you need to check with the financial aid department to make sure dropping the course will not make you ineligible the following semester. Most full-time students need to end the semester with at least 12 successful units.
What if I am failing a course and the drop date has passed?
If you check the syllabus and the drop date has passed (it is usually around mid-term), you will be earning a grade in the course regardless. At this point, do your best to raise your grade. I recommend utilizing on-campus tutoring services, attending office hours, and speaking to your professor to see if there are opportunities to correct work. As a tip, professors generally are more sympathetic if you demonstrate a hard work ethic (attend class, go to tutoring, take advantage of office hours, and ask about opportunities to raise your grade earlier rather than later). Communication is key, and the earlier the better!
Can I retake a class?
Policies vary from college to college, but most institutions allow students to retake courses if they earned an D or F. If you earn a C or higher, you will likely be ineligible to retake the course.
If the course you are taking is a prerequisite for another course (for example, you are taking English 101 and it is required before you can take English 102), you will be required to retake the course until you earn a “C” or higher.
Can I retake a course multiple times?
Again, the policy varies from college to college; however, most colleges will allow a student to attempt a course up to three times. So, if you have taken Biology and have failed it twice, you usually will have a third attempt at the same course. If you fail a course three times, you typically must go to another institution to reattempt it and can then transfer it to your college.
Remember….
College is tough, and even if you have had a rough semester or a tough class, you can still be successful! Very few successful professionals have flawless college transcriptions. And, once you enter your profession and have a few years of experience on your resume, rarely will your transcript or GPA get attention anyway! You can do it! Stay the course and keep working hard!
Hi! I’m Loren.
Welcome to my blog! I’m a College and Career Coach for students! I’ve worked in higher education for 10+ years and love helping students. If you are struggling with what to do next academically or professionally, I can help.to chat with me; no strings attached.
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