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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Katey on January 14, 2002, at 14:00:57
i shouldve studied more, i freely admit that. but beyond that, i blame the welbutrin not kicking in because i couldnt make myself focus on the problems i knew how to do. it wasnt fun. when my dad asked how it went and i told him, he gave me a rather dirty look. good day, no?
Posted by noa on January 15, 2002, at 20:15:45
In reply to the physics of failing a final, posted by Katey on January 14, 2002, at 14:00:57
Reminds me of college. My focus would vary depending on my mood. I ended up having to drop courses when I bombed tests. But I finished college pretty close to on time (only one summer after graduation), so it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be back then.
Hang in there. Is there an advisor or tutor who could help you organize yourself and catch up on work you've fallen behind on?
Posted by Mair on January 16, 2002, at 9:43:50
In reply to the physics of failing a final, posted by Katey on January 14, 2002, at 14:00:57
Katey - am I being dense or was this a physics exam? If so, aren't you a bit ahead of the curve to be taking physics as a junior anyway? In my son's school, it's mostly a course for seniors.
Besides, in the grand scheme of things....
When I was in college, the worse course grade I ever got (by a long shot) was a D in an Old Testament course. I really despised the professor. My father was a minister and taught religion in a college. I sort of got around an over reaction on his part by acting extremely pleased that I got a D because I was certain, I told him, that I had flunked so a D was good fortune. He didn't know quite what to make of this (plus my piercing criticisms of the prof) so he pretty much shut up. Maybe you should remind your father that you could always do worse, and that it's not for lack of effort that you haven't done better.
Mair
Posted by Katey on January 16, 2002, at 12:01:22
In reply to Re: the physics of failing a final » Katey, posted by Mair on January 16, 2002, at 9:43:50
physics now is a pretty even split between juniors and seniors. i found out today that i failed the semester, which means i have to start over completely next year. im trying to figure out how to handle this because ive never actually failed a class before. my father isnt happy with me at all now.
> Katey - am I being dense or was this a physics exam? If so, aren't you a bit ahead of the curve to be taking physics as a junior anyway? In my son's school, it's mostly a course for seniors.
>
> Besides, in the grand scheme of things....
>
> When I was in college, the worse course grade I ever got (by a long shot) was a D in an Old Testament course. I really despised the professor. My father was a minister and taught religion in a college. I sort of got around an over reaction on his part by acting extremely pleased that I got a D because I was certain, I told him, that I had flunked so a D was good fortune. He didn't know quite what to make of this (plus my piercing criticisms of the prof) so he pretty much shut up. Maybe you should remind your father that you could always do worse, and that it's not for lack of effort that you haven't done better.
>
> Mair
Posted by Mair on January 16, 2002, at 16:49:01
In reply to Re: the physics of failing a final, posted by Katey on January 16, 2002, at 12:01:22
Katey -
1) Maybe you just bit off more than you could chew, particularly now. Why did you take physics? Did it have anything to do with any recommendations made by your dad, or some sense on your part that he would approve?
2) Why start all over? Do you have aspirations that make physics a necessity? Were you really interested in it? Besides, this is hardly something you need to decide now, right? You may feel entirely different about your ability to cope this spring or next fall. Could you take it over the summer if it's that important?
3) Do you have to fill in another course or can you just go now with a lighter course load? If so, find something purely fun or of interest and not something you think you need.
Mair (intruding yet again)
Posted by Noa on January 16, 2002, at 18:34:39
In reply to Re: the physics of failing a final » Katey, posted by Mair on January 16, 2002, at 16:49:01
Katey, are you in high school or college?
Do you have a guidance counselor? Could that person help you strategize about these decisions as well as about how to talk to your Dad about all this?
Mair's questions were good too.
Posted by mair on January 17, 2002, at 8:19:01
In reply to Re: the physics of failing a final » Katey, posted by Mair on January 16, 2002, at 16:49:01
Katey
I was rereading my post and became concerned that it may have inadvertantly conveyed a message that I was unsympathetic or unappreciative of how important this may seem for you. Nothing could be further from the truth. I think my questions are mostly geared towards finding out what the practical consequences are of what's happened.
Sorry
Mair
Posted by Katey on January 17, 2002, at 10:04:33
In reply to Re: the physics of failing a final » Katey, posted by Mair on January 16, 2002, at 16:49:01
> Katey -
>
> 1) Maybe you just bit off more than you could chew, particularly now. Why did you take physics? Did it have anything to do with any recommendations made by your dad, or some sense on your part that he would approve?
>
i took physics for a few reasons. for one, in my district, its the next logical stept after chemistry. i also wanted to get it done and out of the way so that i wouldnt have to take any science my senior year. for the most part, my parents have been very uninfluential (sp?) in my scheduling since i entered high school, leaving me up to my own devices has proved, for the most part, wonderful.
> 2) Why start all over? Do you have aspirations that make physics a necessity? Were you really interested in it? Besides, this is hardly something you need to decide now, right? You may feel entirely different about your ability to cope this spring or next fall. Could you take it over the summer if it's that important?
>
i need three years of science to get into most colleges, and physics is generally singled out. i'm not at all interested in it, im an artsy person. my dad is waiting for my guidance counselor to call him back so that we know my options. i'll probably end up taking it at the community college or in summer school, anything to not have to take it my senior year.> 3) Do you have to fill in another course or can you just go now with a lighter course load? If so, find something purely fun or of interest and not something you think you need.
>
no, i dont, but i probably will. when life gives you lemons, make lemonade, no? i'll probably fill it in with a fluff science course, if i can find one that will fit into my schedule. atleast then when i graduate i'll have 3.5 years of science instead of the 3 that i had intended on.mair, i dont think youre intruding at all, nor do i think that your being unsympathetic, youre just being reasonable and rational. two things my teenage mind hasnt mastered yet, so i appreciate atleast one of us doing it. you have a lot of valid points, and very sincere advice, which i appreciate greatly.
Katey
Posted by Katey on January 17, 2002, at 10:08:55
In reply to Re: the physics of failing a final, posted by Noa on January 16, 2002, at 18:34:39
> Katey, are you in high school or college?
i'm *sigh* still in high school. my dad already knows. i told him as soon as i got the message, because then atleast it wouldnt look like i was hiding it from him. i called him at work and left him a message, which was good. it gaveh him time to come back to reality, and he's atleast an hour commute from home, so i could have been long gone if things had gone badly. but he's not usually that gets me to leave. we're waiting for my counselor to call back so that we know my options, and then i'm not sure where we'll go from there. thank you for taking an interest, the support helps immensely.
Katey
>
> Do you have a guidance counselor? Could that person help you strategize about these decisions as well as about how to talk to your Dad about all this?
>
> Mair's questions were good too.
Posted by Mair on January 17, 2002, at 20:53:51
In reply to Re: the physics of failing a final » Noa, posted by Katey on January 17, 2002, at 10:08:55
> > Katey - I'm glad you're dad is helping you out with this, and that you're letting him.
Mair
Posted by Katey on January 18, 2002, at 10:27:57
In reply to Re: the physics of failing a final » Katey, posted by Mair on January 17, 2002, at 20:53:51
I honestly didn't ask for help, this is just the way my dad is. when he feels he has a responsibility, he takes charge. for now, i'm in the passengers seat. can you tell my dad is a boss?
Katey
> > > Katey - I'm glad you're dad is helping you out with this, and that you're letting him.
>
> Mair
Posted by finelinebob on January 24, 2002, at 22:30:35
In reply to Re: the physics of failing a final, posted by Katey on January 18, 2002, at 10:27:57
HaH! Phailing physics phinals ... the memories that brings back... you know, as an undergrad I was a physics major. Also deeply, suicidally depressed and in complete denial of the existence of any sort of problem. So there I was, Physics 401 -- the first "senior-level" class everyone who was a physics major basically had to nail -- and I was failing miserably. Too late to withdraw without still having to pay for the course and still getting a big fat W on my transcript, and the last thing I wanted on my transcript was a D. Funny thing was that if I failed, I could take the class a second time and they'd average the grades ... could still theoretically pull off a C.
So I intentionally tried to fail the final. Sat there for a couple of hours, tried to do a problem or two, wound up mostly writing "I repeat myself when under stress." over and over on the desktop.
Stupid cuss of a professor gave me a C- for my final grade. Chicken didn't have the guts to fail me. Sheesh!
Then there was my third semester of calculus. Got something like 5% correct on the first test (after having been a straight-A student in HS ... yikes!). But the prof allowed us to substitute our homework grades for our lowest test score.
Anyway, with two weeks left in the term, he tells us that he wanted to give us three tests over the course of the term plus our final. He had given us one test to date. So, the plan was to have an in-class exam on the last day of class, pick up a take-home on the way out, then drop that off after the weekend and take a few days to study for the final.
Two sessions, three exams.
My overall homework score was something like a 96/100. With extra credit on the first two tests, my average was over 100 going into the final.
We spent the entire semester studying theoretical stuff. The final was entirely on applications of the theoretical stuff. I was SO depressed after the final I went home and slept for about 20 hours or so.
I got a B+ in the class ... that's how bad my final was.
-----
Now, having also been a high-school physics teacher, I can tell you this: physics is especially important for "artsy" people, perhaps more than any other science, but 99.9% of the physics being taught out there ain't going to be taught how you need it to be taught. So if you ever need an example of how topic X in physics applies to your particular flavor of "artsy", drop me a line.The more real it is, the easier (and more enjoyable) it is to learn.
cheers,
flb
Posted by Katey on January 25, 2002, at 9:14:35
In reply to Re: the physics of failing a final » Katey, posted by finelinebob on January 24, 2002, at 22:30:35
i appreciate the thoughts, im now taking zoology, which is pretty much the easiest science class my school offers, but atleast its interesting
> HaH! Phailing physics phinals ... the memories that brings back... you know, as an undergrad I was a physics major. Also deeply, suicidally depressed and in complete denial of the existence of any sort of problem. So there I was, Physics 401 -- the first "senior-level" class everyone who was a physics major basically had to nail -- and I was failing miserably. Too late to withdraw without still having to pay for the course and still getting a big fat W on my transcript, and the last thing I wanted on my transcript was a D. Funny thing was that if I failed, I could take the class a second time and they'd average the grades ... could still theoretically pull off a C.
>
> So I intentionally tried to fail the final. Sat there for a couple of hours, tried to do a problem or two, wound up mostly writing "I repeat myself when under stress." over and over on the desktop.
>
> Stupid cuss of a professor gave me a C- for my final grade. Chicken didn't have the guts to fail me. Sheesh!
>
> Then there was my third semester of calculus. Got something like 5% correct on the first test (after having been a straight-A student in HS ... yikes!). But the prof allowed us to substitute our homework grades for our lowest test score.
>
> Anyway, with two weeks left in the term, he tells us that he wanted to give us three tests over the course of the term plus our final. He had given us one test to date. So, the plan was to have an in-class exam on the last day of class, pick up a take-home on the way out, then drop that off after the weekend and take a few days to study for the final.
>
> Two sessions, three exams.
>
> My overall homework score was something like a 96/100. With extra credit on the first two tests, my average was over 100 going into the final.
>
> We spent the entire semester studying theoretical stuff. The final was entirely on applications of the theoretical stuff. I was SO depressed after the final I went home and slept for about 20 hours or so.
>
> I got a B+ in the class ... that's how bad my final was.
>
> -----
> Now, having also been a high-school physics teacher, I can tell you this: physics is especially important for "artsy" people, perhaps more than any other science, but 99.9% of the physics being taught out there ain't going to be taught how you need it to be taught. So if you ever need an example of how topic X in physics applies to your particular flavor of "artsy", drop me a line.
>
> The more real it is, the easier (and more enjoyable) it is to learn.
>
> cheers,
> flb
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