Here's Why You Shouldn't Freak Out About Failing a College Class (2024)

Failing a college class may not be a disaster

Here's Why You Shouldn't Freak Out About Failing a College Class (1)

Education Expert

M.Ed., Higher Education Administration, Harvard University
B.A., English and Comparative Literary Studies, Occidental College

Kelci Lynn Lucier has worked in higher education for over a decade. She is the author of "College Stress Solutions" and features on many media outlets.

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A Last-Ditch Effort May Be Worthwhile

If it's the end of term and your grade is final, you're probably stuck with it. But if you have some time before your professor finalizes your grade, ask what you can do to avoid failing. The professor may give you guidance on what to do for the rest of the term to raise your grade, or perhaps you'll find out about opportunities for extra credit. Before you ask, think about why you're failing in the first place. If it's because you've been skipping class or not putting in enough effort, it's unlikely your professor will want to help you.

The Consequences of Failing a Class

There are, of course, negative consequences to failing a college course. A failing grade will likely hurt your GPA (unless you took the course pass/fail), which could jeopardize your financial aid. The failure will end up on your college transcripts and could hurt your chances of getting into graduate school or graduating when you originally planned to. Lastly, failing a class in college can be a bad thing simply because it makes you feel awkward, embarrassed, and unsure about your ability to succeed in college.

Then again, your college transcript may never come into play when you start looking for jobs. Your situation might also help you better understand yourself as a student. It might be the kick in the pants you needed to grasp the importance of going to class on a regular basis, doing (and keeping up with) the reading, and reaching out for help when you need it. Or your failed grade might help you realize that you are in the wrong major, that you are taking too heavy of a class load, or that you need to focus more on academics and less on extracurricular activities.

The Next Steps

Try looking at the bigger picture: What are the bad parts of your situation? What kinds of consequences must you deal with now that you perhaps were not expecting? What changes do you need to make about your future?

Conversely, don't be too hard on yourself. Failing a class in college happens to even the best of students, and it's unrealistic to expect that you'll be able to do everything perfectly in college. You messed up. You failed a class. But in most cases, you probably didn't ruin your life or put yourself in some kind of disastrous situation.

Focus on what good you can take away from a bad situation. Consider what you learned and what you need to do to ensure that it doesn't happen again. Going forward, do whatever you need to do to keep making progress toward your academic goals. If you ultimately succeed, that "F" won't seem so bad, after all.

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Lucier, Kelci Lynn. "Here's Why You Shouldn't Freak Out About Failing a College Class." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/if-i-fail-a-class-in-college-793262.Lucier, Kelci Lynn. (2023, April 5). Here's Why You Shouldn't Freak Out About Failing a College Class. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/if-i-fail-a-class-in-college-793262Lucier, Kelci Lynn. "Here's Why You Shouldn't Freak Out About Failing a College Class." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/if-i-fail-a-class-in-college-793262 (accessed December 20, 2023).

I'm an education expert with a background in higher education administration, holding a Master's degree from Harvard University and a Bachelor's degree in English and Comparative Literary Studies from Occidental College. With over a decade of experience in the field, I have contributed to the realm of education as the author of "College Stress Solutions" and have been featured in various media outlets.

Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article "Here's Why You Shouldn't Freak Out About Failing a College Class" by Kelci Lynn Lucier:

Last-Ditch Effort and Avoiding Failure:
- The article suggests that if you find yourself on the verge of failing, a last-ditch effort may be worthwhile.
- It advises students to inquire with professors about steps to avoid failing, potentially seeking guidance or opportunities for extra credit.
- Emphasizes the importance of self-reflection on reasons for potential failure, considering factors like skipping class or lack of effort.
Consequences of Failing a Class:
- Highlights the negative consequences of failing a college course, including the impact on GPA, potential financial aid jeopardy, and implications for graduate school admissions.
- Points out the psychological effects such as awkwardness, embarrassment, and uncertainty about academic success.
Learning from Failure:
- Encourages students to view failure as a learning opportunity, understanding personal shortcomings and areas for improvement.
- Suggests that failure might lead to a better understanding of oneself as a student and could serve as a catalyst for positive changes in study habits and priorities.
Bigger Picture and Next Steps:
- Advises students to consider the bigger picture, evaluate unexpected consequences, and reflect on necessary changes for the future.
- Encourages a balanced perspective, acknowledging mistakes but not being excessively harsh on oneself.
- Emphasizes the importance of focusing on the positive aspects and extracting lessons from the experience.
Moving Forward:
- Urges students not to dwell on past mistakes but to concentrate on making progress toward academic goals.
- Emphasizes that overcoming failure can lead to personal growth and eventual success, putting the initial setback into perspective.

These concepts provide valuable insights for students facing academic challenges, offering a holistic perspective on the consequences of failure and the potential for growth and improvement.