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Tanking Out?

by Corey Weedmark

We all have tough semesters, the ones that we honestly think will never end. Lets be honest, getting out of bed every day is a task in itself when all you have to look forward to are classes and homework. It becomes a chore and a true demonstration of self-discipline when you have to drag yourself to a class that’s mandatory and beyond your realm of understanding or interest.
So what do you do when you have no clue what is going on in that one bad class, midterms are close, and you don’t want to explain to mom and dad why your failing? All college students, fresh out of high school, enjoying their newfound freedom, have a difficult time asking for help. Lets face it, we’re stubborn, sometimes lazy, and horrible at admitting we’re wrong. But, if you want to pass that class, you have to swallow some pride and just ask for help. Any college campus makes it incredibly easy for students to find help, offering tutors, math/science centers, and even writing centers.
The first thing to do when you’re getting the gut feeling that you’re failing, is to talk to your professor. It can’t be stressed enough, making contact with your professor during their office hours will prove to them that you’re serious about the class and you want to improve. If you’re shy about heading right into the professor’s office, and want a less intrusive way of asking for help, e-mail them. We’re in the twenty-first century, professors live and die by their e-mail so don’t be afraid to send one out, ask for some help.
Another thing you can do when you talk to your professor is to ask if there are any extra credit assignments that you can do. Some professors have plenty of things you can do for extra credit, and while you’re doing those assignments you might find that you’re beginning to understand the material better. The more practice you have the more it starts to sink in. You can always ask your professor if they will let you make revisions to past assignments that you didn’t do to well on, if they do you would be a fool not to make the corrections and hand it back in again. But either way, it can’t hurt to ask.
Another idea, Mary Davidson, Public Relations student at Utica College, has to offer is to start a study group. Chances are if you do not understand what’s going on in the class than there are other people who don’t either. So catch a couple of the other students before class and ask if they want to be part of a study group. Exchange IM names and cell phone numbers, figure out a time, and get studying.
Tutors are students who have been hand picked by professors and are an extremely underutilized resource. Any tutor will work with you to figure out a time that you two can get together and get started. They’ll also work with your professor to figure out what parts of the class you’re having the most trouble with. A tutor will be able to explain things in different ways, which might help you to get a better understanding of everything that’s going on in the class.
The biggest piece of advice that anyone can offer a student who might be failing out of classes is to talk to their professors. Make it known that you want to do better and you’re willing to work at it. Ask for extra credit, ask if you can correct past assignments, and get a tutor. Consider study groups, five people are a lot smarter than one person. The most important thing to do is to take the initiative, ask for help, and stop trying to be so independent. One of the best things you’ll get out of college is the knowledge that you can’t do it all, and sometimes you just need a little extra help.