I had a similar situation this semester. After squeaking by in Physics all semester (three previous tests averaging 72%), the final totally kicked my ass – I answered 7 out of ten problems, completely bullshitting all but three of them.
I had prepared myself for my impending certain doom until I checked my grades and discovered I had been given a B. Obviously, I didn’t exactly earn that, but the Gods are apparently smiling down on me and I’m not about to argue.
The moral of the story is that it’s a good kick in the ass to remind you not to screw around in the future. Lightning (and miracle grades) don’t strike twice, and all that.
ronin, I pass my good luck onto you and will be keeping my fingers crossed for a positive outcome.
My Georgia Tech years are all a blur. The only thing that’s really clear in my memory is that giant phallax that stood in front of the student center. The “shaft”. Is that thing still there?
Sounds like it is.
I used to have dreams about some nerdy organic chemistry student blowing up Boggs and starting a massive chain reaction spreading out to Cherry Emerson all the way to Skiles. No more Physics building. No more Chem Annex. All the computers and the test scores stored on them permanantly wiped out. Everyone happy and free. Forever.
I know it seems like the end of the world right now. But you will live through this.
ronincyberpunk, please don’t take this as a criticism, or an accusation of failure, but only as a question asked with the sincerest of good intentions in mind: Have you considered that college may not be for you?
I don’t think college is for everyone, and that’s okay. Are you in school because it’s something you truly want to do, or because it’s something that’s expected of you? Perhaps you might be better served finding a challenging job that interests you. City Year, or working on a science station in Antartica, or Club Med. The way you mention your semester after semester of “marginal grades” makes me think that your heart isn’t in it. Or perhaps it’s Georgia Tech in particular, and not college in general, that’s not inspiring you. Would you consider transferring to another school, maybe one with a radically different teaching style?
I don’t think you’re a failure in any sense, nor do I think you should just give up. Nor am I saying that college isn’t important. But sometimes life calls us in other directions. There’s nothing wrong with that. You’re welcome to email me if you’d like to talk.
Dunno anything about your studies, but sometimes the solution is to downshift into an easier course of study – say, from electrical engineering to material, mechanical, or structural engineering.