Are you struggling with a class and worried that you might fail? What happens if you fail a class in college? Is it a big deal?
I know that it can be intimidating when your grades drop or you screw up on a test.
However, failing a class IS NOT the end of the world.
Stuff comes up, you get swamped with classes, social life, etc. Or you might be going through a difficult time.
Let’s debunk some myths about failing a class and hopefully make you feel more relieved after the article.
What Happens If You Fail a Class In College
Many students fail a class at least once in their academic career. It might be more common than you realize and it does not mean that they failed in life.
College is when adulting happens and it is inevitable that you will get pulled in various directions.
From juggling your social life to academics, to preparing for an internship or job, and to clubs and organizations, sometimes classes get overlooked.
Especially if you are in your freshman year, then it can be easy to take more classes than you can handle. Don’t overestimate yourself in your first quarter or semester of college.
Here are some ideas and suggestions to remediate a failed class.
Drop It Early
If you are still in your drop deadline, then you can drop the class.
However, I don’t recommend dropping classes all the time as it can become a bad habit to escape.
Don’t rely on dropping a class since you might try and fall back on this option all the time.
But, if you screwed up big time and think you won’t recover from the drop, then you can decide to drop the class.
Talk with your Professor
Chat with your professor and see if there are any other ways to bump up your grade.
Is there a large project, paper, or exam that is worth a lot of points?
If not, then discuss options like retaking the class or seeing if other classes counts as the same credit.
Discuss any circumstances that you are going through or what might help you do better in class.
Retake the Class
If you pass the drop deadline, then consider retaking your failed class.
And don’t feel discouraged or stressed because a failed class is not the end of the world.
Stuff happens and it is totally ok!
Try to retake the class next quarter or semester and set up a better plan to approach the class.
If you don’t understand the concepts, then attend office hours, go to study sessions, or get tutoring.
Take the Class at a Community College
Sometimes the same class might be offered at a community college.
It might be easier to try taking it at a community college.
Some community college classes offer more flexibility and more instruction time so it might be easier to pass the class.
Discuss with your academic advisor to see if courses are transferrable and it counts as credit before taking the jump.
Change the Grading Option
If you are within the time limit, then you can try to change your grade into pass/no pass class.
Also, at some universities and colleges, pass or no pass courses does not affect your GPA.
Discuss with your academic advisor to change your grading option if you missed the time to change it.
Interested on how to improve your grades? Check out How to Study Last Minute and Still Ace Your Test.
It’s OK!
And take a breather, it is not the end of the world if you fail a class.
As long as you take next steps or be proactive about improving, then it’s a great learning opportunity.
Hopefully, this will be a gentle reminder for you to take your future classes more seriously or cautiously.
Navigating college can be hard and I’m all here for you!
Instead of dwelling on a failed class, try to identify positive occurrences.
Did you take care of your mental health? Learned a new recipe? Met a new friend? Joined an organization? Discovered a new study spot or coffee shop?
Take note of the great things that are happening in your life and look towards the optimistic side!
