"I can also take a version of the class I didn't grasp the material of online during the summer courtesy of a state school, when I can focus on it as my only class -- that wouldn't take away the D, but that way I could devote as much study time as I needed without hurting other grades (a version of the class is a prereq to a couple of grad programs on my might-apply list, but not most of them)."
Am I reading you correctly that this class you got a D in due to not understanding the material is [a version of] a prereq for your intended graduate study?
If so, I must question *why* you think you should get an advanced degree in this subject. Based on your GPA, it appears you couldn't handle a not-so-difficult major very well, and you can hardly grasp prereqs for the subject you want to study intently.
No, I'm not calling you dumb. I have no idea how intelligent you are. It's just that not everyone is meant for grad school.
Let me get this straight: your school allows you to re-take classes and to replace a previous low grade? damn. My school certainly did not provide that luxury.
So...umm...why *aren't* you re-taking them? If you're really worried about the GPA, you might want to consider staying an extra semester to make sure that you do bring up the grades. If the workload is tough...well, quite frankly, grad school will probably be tougher.
I don't know your field, but for mine...while the GPA isn't everything, 2 D's in my major will look very bad.
Re-taking classes is one thing. If you didn't get the material the first time, it makes sense to give you a second chance...but replacing the grade seems a bit questionable. "averaging" the two grades, or incorporating both into the GPA makes more sense--after all, you earned both. Maybe I'm being elitist about this, but I believe in standing by your screw-ups/mistakes/lessons, and taking the hits for them.
Is there any way for you to retake the classes through your current school over the summer? That way, you can still take the classes you want to during the semester and your grades will be replaced
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Why do people who receive D's in their major think that they're grad school material? Absolutely baffling. "
Does the act of leaving bad grades un-redeemed give a bad impression to admissions committees, or should I continue to do what's best for my overall GPA?"
Don't waste too much time pondering the question; you're toast either way.
(never actually received D in my major (I think the worst was D+ when I didn't attend the class) and am switching majors for grad school, but still)
not everyone has D's because they don't understand the material. Is the existence of people who just don't do well in a classroom that baffling to you ? I'm sure people with D's in their majors aced their subject GREs before, had research experience and whatnot. Some people have had relatives die, or need a lot of study time to take a test, or come from other educational systems where the tests are much different. America isn't the be-all and end-all of evaluation. Some people were just overwhelmed with college because they were suddenly all alone (moreso for first-generation students). Not everyone has it easy.
I felt like I needed to respond to this because its incorrect in that it is far too brittle of a statement. There are always exceptions to every rule and, as stated above, not everyone receives D's because they're incapable of handling the material. I'm willing to put myself out as an example
( ... )
I did get a D in my major once, but it wasn't my fault. The Prof hated me. (She really did, even other students commented to me and to other profs on how she treated me in class). The dept chair looked over all my work and grades and even going off the grades she gave me, there was no way the math worked out to a D. They changed my grade to a C. Of course she was asked not to come back and I will retake the class, just to prove that it was the conflict with the Prof and not the fact I couldn't grasp the material.
I don't know if the D will show up (I'm thinking it wont) but this situation still bothers me. I never challenged a grade before and I didn't even know you could until the dept chair came up to me and said, "I have heard somethings and I want to look over your notes, papers and exams." I always thought you got the grade you earned and that's it.
Reading your comment makes me worried about having this grade changed for when I go to apply to grade school.
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Am I reading you correctly that this class you got a D in due to not understanding the material is [a version of] a prereq for your intended graduate study?
If so, I must question *why* you think you should get an advanced degree in this subject. Based on your GPA, it appears you couldn't handle a not-so-difficult major very well, and you can hardly grasp prereqs for the subject you want to study intently.
No, I'm not calling you dumb. I have no idea how intelligent you are. It's just that not everyone is meant for grad school.
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So...umm...why *aren't* you re-taking them? If you're really worried about the GPA, you might want to consider staying an extra semester to make sure that you do bring up the grades. If the workload is tough...well, quite frankly, grad school will probably be tougher.
I don't know your field, but for mine...while the GPA isn't everything, 2 D's in my major will look very bad.
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Yeah, this was unheard of to me before browsing this forum. I wonder how common this policy is...
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Does the act of leaving bad grades un-redeemed give a bad impression to admissions committees, or should I continue to do what's best for my overall GPA?"
Don't waste too much time pondering the question; you're toast either way.
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not everyone has D's because they don't understand the material. Is the existence of people who just don't do well in a classroom that baffling to you ? I'm sure people with D's in their majors aced their subject GREs before, had research experience and whatnot.
Some people have had relatives die, or need a lot of study time to take a test, or come from other educational systems where the tests are much different. America isn't the be-all and end-all of evaluation. Some people were just overwhelmed with college because they were suddenly all alone (moreso for first-generation students). Not everyone has it easy.
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I don't know if the D will show up (I'm thinking it wont) but this situation still bothers me. I never challenged a grade before and I didn't even know you could until the dept chair came up to me and said, "I have heard somethings and I want to look over your notes, papers and exams." I always thought you got the grade you earned and that's it.
Reading your comment makes me worried about having this grade changed for when I go to apply to grade school.
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