Senioritis is relevant in college as well! What should you do if you’re failing a class right before graduation?
Both High School and College is expensive and can be an incredibly testing few years. You work hard to get to graduation, but there might be a few unexpected obstacles along the way. So, what happens if you’re failing a class right before graduation?
If you’re failing a class before graduation, you won’t graduate. If you can’t adjust course and get a passing grade, or it’s too late, you’ll have to retake the class the following semester in order to get your degree (both for High School or College.)
But what if you’re failing but there’s still some time left in the semester. Is there anything you can do?
Understanding the steps you can take if you are failing a class right before graduation can help you recover from the fail, or find ways to get back onto the right track, without losing out on too much.
Here are some things you can do if you find yourself failing before graduation…
Failing A Class Right Before Graduation
Understand Your College/High School Policy
Every institute will have its own set of rules and guidelines on what happens if you fail, and how many classes you can actually fail. Many colleges allow for one or more fails, so if this is your first fail, it should not be too serious.
But if the course is mandatory for your college degree and you don’t have enough credits without this class, you won’t be walking across that stage.
You should have a look to see if the college you attend pays more attention to courses or units.
Understanding your college policy will definitely make it easier for you to determine how serious your fail is, and hopefully, give you peace of mind that it isn’t the end of your student career.
Speak To Your Professor
Your professor should be your first port of call if you are failing a class. Most often, professors are receptive to students coming to see them, but make sure to book an appointment or visit them only during their office hours.
Professors might be able to give you some guidance on what you could do to raise your grade in a last-ditch effort. There might be ways to just scrape a pass, or the professor could offer other opportunities for you to gain extra credit.
Your professor will be willing to help, as long as the reason you are failing is not from fault of your own, such as skipping class or just not bothering. If you put in the effort, they will be willing to help.
Take Advantage Of Student Services
Most campuses have student services that help to consult, mentor, and coach students. There might be a variety of issues as to why you are failing, and you could seek help through student services.
Whether it be a mentor or a counselor, student resources will be able to help you overcome any obstacles you might have when it comes to studying and working through your courses.
Find A Tutor
Again, you should utilize student services to try and find a tutor on campus. You could also look online to try to find a tutor, or visit a local academic help center.
There will be a tutor to help you, and you will really notice a difference with having someone work through course material with you.
Having a tutor help might be just what you need to pull up your grades, especially if you are failing due to finding the course work difficult.
Having someone else explain and monitor your study habits could be exactly what you need to get back on track.
Cut Out Bad Habits
You need to take an honest look at yourself and your study habits to understand why you are failing a class.
Is it because you are legitimately battling with the coursework? Are you overcommitted? Or are you not taking the class seriously and missing out on lectures and work.
Once you know why you are failing the course, you can work to pick it back up again and try to avoid failing or try to avoid it happening again.
If you are aware that it is bad habits leading to failing, then you need to decide if you are ready to change these habits, or if college is really the right place for you. College isn’t cheap, and while you should be having fun, the fun should not get in the way of your success in a course.
Find Help Online
There are so many resources that can be found online to help you with your course. Whether this is watching YouTube tutor videos (like Khan Academy), or other sites and apps, there will be a help. Read through extra material, do mock tests, and listen to others teaching the subject.
The extra exposure to the course material will really help and could be what you need to pull your marks up and potentially pass.
Talk To Other Students
Look for ways to connect with other students in your course.
If you are battling with the coursework, chances are that others are too. You could make a plan to meet up in person or online and go through the work together.
Creating an informal study group with others in your course allows you to bounce ideas off of each, find new ways of taking information in, and might offer up the information in a way that is easier for you to understand.
Not only does it help with understanding your course work better, but it creates a support group as well, with like-minded people who are likely going through the same thing, who can all help each other out.
Speak To Your Academic Advisor
If you have an academic advisor or are able to access one on campus, you should go talk to them. They will be able to help you plan out your academic path and help you address the prospect of failing.
Your academic advisor could help to advocate on your behalf and help you find ways to improve your grades.
They might also be able to help you implement more worthwhile and effective study strategies that could improve your marks going forward.
Keep Your Head Up
You will not be able to salvage your failing grade if you have a negative attitude. Chances are that this one failing grade is not the end of the world.
Take it as a lesson, and improve your attitude and your dedication to your course. Use it to improve your college experience, and you will make it to graduation.
Hopefully you enjoyed this post and can fix the trajectory you’re on. If you can’t please don’t beat yourself up! These things happen and it’s best to take this as a learning opportunity than to spiral.
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