A Thorough Analysis

I have calmed down a little bit since earlier this afternoon and now I can sort of explain what happened.  Last week I had four mid-terms.  It was my first test in organic chemistry and physics.  My second test in biology and spanish.  I haven't taken a chemistry test in like 3 years, so it was a lot to handle all at once.  My first spanish test I got an A which was expected.  My first biology test of the quarter I got exactly the average, a C.  So I figured, not great, but I have another chance to bring it up.  I'll just do better next time. 

I left for the weekend for a well-needed vacation after all those tests.  When I came back, I got all my tests back.  I got an 89 on spanish which is like the lowest score I've ever gotten on a spanish test.  I expect better from  myself.  Then I got an email from my chemistry professor telling me I got 80/125 on my midterm.  That's a 64%.  I almost had a heart attack.  So I went to his office to pick up my test and take a look at it.  He sat down with me and went through the entire test.  He explained to me that although it looks like a really low score (you think?), I actually didn't do that badly.  The average was a 61%.  Wow.  So I still beat the average.  He said that he could tell I understood the material based on my homework that I turned in, but maybe the stress of the test got to me a little and I wasn't as careful as I should have been.  There was a question or two that he told me I was one of only a couple people that got it right.  Then he showed me what I did wrong on all the rest.  It was nice to see exactly what I did wrong.  I couldn't believe he was so patient and did all of that for me.  He really is a great professor.  He also told me that though he doesn't exactly curve grades, a 64% will probably not be my final grade on this test.  And he has a policy where if the final exam score is higher than any one of the mid-terms, it counts for that mid-term instead.  So there is not one person who couldn't still get an A in the class.  I left his office feeling much encouraged.

Then this morning, I got my biology test back.  This is the one I felt the most confident about.  I studied a lot for it, and felt like I knew the material.  I got a 79% after the curve.  That is NOT good.  So after two tests, I have a C average in the class.  That is unacceptable.  I cannot get a C.  There are two mid-terms left, and a final exam for me to bring up my grade.  And I need to do really really well on every test that's left.

I haven't gotten my physics test back yet.  But my professor said that he doesn't like to give out any grades below a C.  Whatever that means.  He really wasn't clear at all.  I'm not sure if he's going to curve them, or just add like 10% to every grade to get them all above a C, or what.  But it seemed like I was more confident about my test than most of the others in the class.  

Today in lab I talked to my O Chem TA and he said that a 60% average on an O Chem mid-term is not unusual.  It's actually about right.  So I shouldn't be really upset about a 64%.  I'm sorry, but I will NEVER be okay with a D on a mid-term.  The other O Chem class (taught by a different professor) had an 80% average.  That's crazy.  They had a completely different test, so I can't really compare my score to that average.  It's not fair though. 

I feel a little calmer than I did earlier today, but something has to change.  I haven't quite figured out what exactly.  I have thought about forcing myself to study for 30 minutes for each class every day.  But that's a whole 2 hours and honestly I don't know what I would do for 30 minutes.  Just read my notes until I remember it?  But obviously my current study methods aren't working.  Now I have to think about next quarter and what I'm going to do.

Because of choir, NATS class that I TA for, and my labs, my schedule is very limiting.  I have to take my chemistry and biology classes which is 9-11am.  Then I have labs Monday and Wednesday 2-5 and 2-6pm.  And I have NATS Tuesday and Thursday 2-4pm.  So that leaves everyday 11am-2pm open.  I need to have lunch from 11am-12pm, so now I'm down to 12-2.  My possibilities are Core and Psychology.  Child Development is MW 12-2.  Done.  Now I have one more class that HAS to fit in TR 12-2 slot.  None of the core classes or psychology classes sound interesting.  The one possibility is statistics for psychologists which sounds terribly boring.  So I could just take 14 credits (including choir).  My parents think that's a great idea.  But, I also thought that maybe I should take an art history class before we go to Europe so that I will have background information about all the art we're seeing.  There's one art history class at the women's college on Wednesday nights from 6pm-9:30pm.  Eek.  That's a  loooong time to be looking at paintings and analyzing them.  And with all my other classes, plus NATS and choir and work, maybe 14 credits would be a good idea.  But then I would really like to have more knowledge about art before we go to Europe.  So I don't know.  Maybe I shouldn't take choir and that will free up another 4 hours a week.  But I like choir.  Or rather, I like performing at the end of the quarter and having a class with a bunch of my girl friends.  I don't know what to do!!  I have exactly one week to decide.

I have also thought about signing up for choir and art history and then just dropping one if I decide after the first week or two that it's too much or I don't like the class.  Any input?