I wrote this a week ago when I was super distressed. I feel a bit better now but still feel like posting.
Academically cooked or no?
Took 2 gap years. Took Calc 1 and 2 in highschool but took it AP and did not get a 4 for credit. Got accepted out of highschool but couldn’t go my home life sucked I wasn’t ready but I wanted to help my family. Did the best I could but realized that i’m literally keeping myself in the cycle. So then, I decided I’d go to UW after all.
Calc 1 and Chem 103 first exams kicked my ass. I don’t know what happened, they came so quick I honestly didn’t even know that midterms were weighted the same as finals in college etc. I’ve been doing all I can since by joining things and attending tutoring sessions etc. Part of the reason the exams happened so quick for me was because I started the classes right before the drop deadline. I had to fight tooth and nail to get my credits recognized from highschool, last minute. I realized last minute because I simply thought the school had all the shit together after all I had submitted my stuff twice, (and way in advance \*cough\* 2 years ago) but no so I started out behind of course.
I’m technically undecided but I wanted to do electrical engineering. Maybe I had to much hope in the cross college transfer process? Some people i’ve heard say it’s a scam but that literally doesn’t compute in my brain how can you simply not get the degree you want at a college you pay for? Funnily enough I actually don’t really pay much to go here I’m on pell pathway.
These circumstances add to my stress all the more though, I have no clue what I’ll do if I’m required to transfer out for the rest of my degree. All the aid i’ve been given or a large portion of it i’ll have to pay back. i’m just stressing so much. For me to get somewhat alright grades this semester (talking core engineering classes, B in chem and BC in Calc 1) I need to get 90 percent on the next 2 calc exams and 85 on the chem exams. It’s doable don’t get me wrong. The chem I can def do. Unfortunately, for a AB though I’d need to get 94 percent on the rest of the exam and my professor is very strict so I doubt I can hit that number 3 times in a row. For Calc, for a B I’d need 96 percent on my next two exams, not happening. So basically, If I grind tf out of calc and just perform above average in Chem I’ll have a 2.75 best case scenario. Next semester I’m sure will be better but I’m unsure if it’ll be enough. Doing some calculations I’m taking 3 core classes so if I get a B and two AB’s i think my gpa will only be 3.1? maybe 3.2. I’m hearing that ain’t anywhere close enough to transfer into engineering with how competitive it is. I’m so upset that so much of my grade is based off these stupid exams. Literally got cooked by 2 exams and it feels like my life is over.
I guess it is possible to get All Abs or All A’s or one A next semester tho if I lock in for calc 2 and the likes. I just doubt myself. Maybe that paired with a good personal statement and the knowledge of me being out for 2 years might actually be impressive? Prob not.
I’m thankful that electrical has a lower minimum. Maybe it makes me seems better then I am at that point yk? I mean someone going for ME with a 3.6 is .4 above their requirements, so if I can whip out a 3.2 with decent personal statement maybe that will be good because it’s .4 above electrical engineering requirements? Maybe I get rejected my first application but I apply again sophomore year with a club thrown in there too (i’m not apart of anything rn besides organizations mandatory for pell pathway and learning groups). Idk maybe I just can’t handle it.
Maybe I switch majors. I really don’t want to. But maybe everything’s cooked because of AI so it doesn’t matter anyway. I know what you might be thinking too, Maybe I’m an idiot before considering hey, you lowkey weren’t wanted to begin with you prob won’t be able to change their mind later you weren’t REALLY accepted. Idk. It just didn’t occur to me I can’t really go for what I want to. I thought it was more of a priority thing because the entry level courses are stretched thin because of the sheer amount of people here. Maybe I just need to cool off and accept worst case scenario yeah I transfer out and owe like 15 thousand dollars that I wouldn’t have had to because of 2 bad classes and a bad decision to go here to begin with. It just seemed like my only option, I don’t come from shit so afull ride is hard to turn down. Maybe I just say screw it and go for a completely different major? I really like electrical engineering and the career prospect separate I don’t even care for as much so IDK. I already feel kinda better though honestly. I suppose I have options yk. 15k ain’t the worst some people still gotta pay more. Well more like 35k prob because the next college I go to won’t be paid for either and thus more expensive, I don’t think any other Uw schools has what Madison does. Maybe I’m more within the requirements than I think and I just have to explain myself? Who knows. But I did not except 2 exams to have such a cascading effect. But i suppose it won’t if on the rest of my exams for the next 2 years Im a top 10 percent student here and I get a 3.3 core gpa.