| 
 
	| 
	
		
What happens if you do REALLY bad in a course?
 
	
	
		
	
		
	
		|  08-24-2011 at 07:14 PM | #1 |  
	| Member 
				
				
				
				Join Date: Jan 2011 
			Posts: 75
		 
Thanked: 
		
			
				2 Times
			
		
	Liked : 
		
			
				57 Times
			
		
	   
 
 
 
 | 
				What happens if you do REALLY bad in a course?
			 I decided to take two courses this summer along with having a full time job. 
 I ended up getting a D in one of the course, which is the lowest mark I've gotten at Mac (my 2nd is B-...). Reason for doing so poorly is because I didnt have any time to study for the course because of work from 7-5, then class at 6...
 
 Anyways, I was wondering if theres a way to upgrade your mark? What happens if I retake the course in normal school in the fall and end up doing way better?
 
 Thanks
 |  
	
		
	
		
	
		|  08-24-2011 at 07:28 PM | #2 |  
	| Elite Member 
				
				
				
				Join Date: Mar 2010 
			Posts: 370
		 
Thanked: 
		
			
				33 Times
			
		
	Liked : 
		
			
				173 Times
			
		
	   
 
 
 
 | It will be the average of the 2 marks. 
				__________________Honours Chemistry Co-op (09-14)   |  
	
		
	
		
	
		|  08-24-2011 at 07:43 PM | #3 |  
	| Senior Member 
				
				
				
				Join Date: Jun 2008 
			Posts: 168
		 
Thanked: 
		
			
				17 Times
			
		
	Liked : 
		
			
				19 Times
			
		
	   
 
 
 
 | If you're only in second year, you're better to just suck up the fact that you got a bad mark and continue to do well during term. I know tons of people who have grades 1-4 but also have grades 10-12 so its not going to be that harmful overall. |  
	
		
	
		
	
		|  08-24-2011 at 07:57 PM | #4 |  
	| Elite Member 
				
				
				
				Join Date: Apr 2008 
			Posts: 1,034
		 
Thanked: 
		
			
				143 Times
			
		
	Liked : 
		
			
				98 Times
			
		
	   
 
 
 
 | if you repeat a course, both the initial and second attempt will count in your GPA. It's not an average of the two marks nor is it the best of two. Unless you need a particular mark, it would be a waste of money. |  
	
		
	
		
	
		|  08-24-2011 at 08:00 PM | #5 |  
	| Moderator   
				
				
				
				Join Date: Jun 2008 
			Posts: 12,484
		 
Thanked: 
		
			
				1,629 Times
			
		
	Liked : 
		
			
				604 Times
			
		
	   
 
 
 
 | 
	Quote: 
	
		| 
					Originally Posted by sinthusized  Unless you need a particular mark, it would be a waste of money. |  Or if you need to re-learn the material for upper level courses.
				__________________Jeremy Han
 McMaster Alumni - Honours Molecular Biology and Genetics
 Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University Third Year - Doctor of Optometry
 |  
	
		
	
		
	
		|  08-24-2011 at 09:28 PM | #6 |  
	| Crazy Physicist 
				
				
				
				Join Date: Jul 2008 
			Posts: 556
		 
Thanked: 
		
			
				61 Times
			
		
	Liked : 
		
			
				313 Times
			
		
	   
 
 
 
 | a low mark will scar you forever at mac.
 
 Put your schooling in high gear and the grade may go to the way-side
 
				__________________Alumni
 |  
	
		
	
		
	
		|  08-24-2011 at 09:32 PM | #7 |  
	| Elite Member 
				
				
				
				Join Date: Aug 2008 
			Posts: 5,014
		 
Thanked: 
		
			
				406 Times
			
		
	Liked : 
		
			
				2,312 Times
			
		
	   
 
 
 
 | [quote=BeAll_EndAll;27  2078What happens if you do REALLY bad in a course?[/quote]
 You die! Its painful!
 |  
	
		
	
		
	
		|  08-25-2011 at 10:01 AM | #8 |  
	| Account Locked 
				
				
				
				Join Date: May 2011 
			Posts: 284
		 
Thanked: 
		
			
				12 Times
			
		
	Liked : 
		
			
				121 Times
			
		
	   
 
 
 
 | 
	Quote: 
	
		| 
					Originally Posted by BeAll_EndAll  I decided to take two courses this summer along with having a full time job. 
 I ended up getting a D in one of the course, which is the lowest mark I've gotten at Mac (my 2nd is B-...). Reason for doing so poorly is because I didnt have any time to study for the course because of work from 7-5, then class at 6...
 
 Anyways, I was wondering if theres a way to upgrade your mark? What happens if I retake the course in normal school in the fall and end up doing way better?
 
 Thanks
 |  shoulda used common sense. if you have to go to class at 6 pm then wake up early for work at 7 (depending on how long your commute is), that doesn't leave much time to study.........unless your job is really easy and you can get a lot of your studying done then.			 Last edited by tyrant : 08-25-2011 at 10:06 AM.
 |  
	
		
	
		
	
		|  08-25-2011 at 11:42 AM | #9 |  
	| Elite Member 
				
				
				
				Join Date: Jul 2010 
			Posts: 1,172
		 
Thanked: 
		
			
				89 Times
			
		
	Liked : 
		
			
				338 Times
			
		
	   
 
 
 
 | 
	Quote: 
	
		| 
					Originally Posted by thedog123123  a low mark will scar you forever at mac. |  Um...how so?   |  
	
		
	
		
	
		|  08-25-2011 at 12:10 PM | #10 |  
	| Senior Member 
				
				
				
				Join Date: Jul 2010 
			Posts: 120
		 
Thanked: 
		
			
				12 Times
			
		
	Liked : 
		
			
				67 Times
			
		
	   
 
 
 
 | The way gpa is weighted a low mark does more harm then you would think honestly. I think an important lesson you learn here is that you don't have to do everything in one summer, and it can do more harm then good overall. |  
	
		
	
		
	
		|  08-25-2011 at 01:20 PM | #11 |  
	| Senior Member 
				
				
				
				Join Date: Jun 2008 
			Posts: 168
		 
Thanked: 
		
			
				17 Times
			
		
	Liked : 
		
			
				19 Times
			
		
	   
 
 
 
 | 
	Quote: 
	
		| 
					Originally Posted by Faer  Um...how so?   |  It won't.
 
	Quote: 
	
		| 
					Originally Posted by Chandlerowns  The way gpa is weighted a low mark does more harm then you would think honestly. I think an important lesson you learn here is that you don't have to do everything in one summer, and it can do more harm then good overall. |  It really doesn't effect it that much. Even getting a 1 in something will only drop your GPA for the year about 1 point, i.e. a B+ to a B. 
 
Since OP said their next lowest grade is a B-, hypothetical marks could look something like this: "7,8,9,11,7,7,8,10,9,  8" (before the horrible summer grades). The GPA for this would be an 8.4. If they took two classes in the summer, let's assume they got a 7 in one of them and that the horrible mark is a 1, that bring their average down to a 7.6. In the course of 4 years (or more), 1 or 2 bad marks is not going to ruin you. |  
	
		
	
		
	
		|  08-25-2011 at 01:22 PM | #12 |  
	| Crazy Physicist 
				
				
				
				Join Date: Jul 2008 
			Posts: 556
		 
Thanked: 
		
			
				61 Times
			
		
	Liked : 
		
			
				313 Times
			
		
	   
 
 
 
 | 
	Quote: 
	
		| 
					Originally Posted by Chandlerowns  The way gpa is weighted a low mark does more harm then you would think honestly. I think an important lesson you learn here is that you don't have to do everything in one summer, and it can do more harm then good overall. |  
what he said
 
 
Not going to explain it but if you think about it you will see why lower marks kill you compare to higher marks when aiming for high average.
				__________________Alumni
 |  
	
		
	
		
	
		|  08-25-2011 at 01:40 PM | #13 |  
	| Member 
				
				
				
				Join Date: Sep 2009 
			Posts: 10
		 
Thanked: 
		
			
				0 Times
			
		
	Liked : 
		
			
				0 Times
			
		
	   
 
 
 
 | I agree with this! However, take note that if  you're considering dropping a course, one 'cancel' on your transcript won't do any harm for applications to professional programs, etc. Of course, having 2-3  or more 'cancel's would be harmful. |  
	
		
	
		
	
		|  08-25-2011 at 03:54 PM | #14 |  
	| Member 
				
				
				
				Join Date: Jan 2011 
			Posts: 75
		 
Thanked: 
		
			
				2 Times
			
		
	Liked : 
		
			
				57 Times
			
		
	   
 
 
 
 | 
	Quote: 
	
		| 
					Originally Posted by thedog123123  what he said
 
 Not going to explain it but if you think about it you will see why lower marks kill you compare to higher marks when aiming for high average.
 |  
So...what happens if I redo the course this fall and get a 12? |  
	
		
	
		
	
		|  08-25-2011 at 04:08 PM | #15 |  
	| Account Locked 
				
				
				
				Join Date: May 2011 
			Posts: 284
		 
Thanked: 
		
			
				12 Times
			
		
	Liked : 
		
			
				121 Times
			
		
	   
 
 
 
 | 
	Quote: 
	
		| 
					Originally Posted by katrinabell  It won't.
 
 
 
 It really doesn't effect it that much. Even getting a 1 in something will only drop your GPA for the year about 1 point, i.e. a B+ to a B.
 
 Since OP said their next lowest grade is a B-, hypothetical marks could look something like this: "7,8,9,11,7,7,8,10,9,  8" (before the horrible summer grades). The GPA for this would be an 8.4. If they took two classes in the summer, let's assume they got a 7 in one of them and that the horrible mark is a 1, that bring their average down to a 7.6. In the course of 4 years (or more), 1 or 2 bad marks is not going to ruin you.
 |  so no graduate school for you then? lol jk....kind of. |  
	
		
	| Thread Tools | Search this Thread |  
	|  |  |  
	|  
	|  Posting Rules |  
	| 
		
		You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts 
 HTML code is Off |  |  |  
 
McMaster University News and Information, Student-run Community, with topics ranging from Student Life, Advice, News, Events, and General Help.
 Notice: The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the student(s) who authored the content. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by McMaster University or the MSU (McMaster Students Union). Being a student-run community, all articles and discussion posts on MacInsiders are unofficial and it is therefore always recommended that you visit the official McMaster website for the most accurate up-to-date information. 
 |  |