I've just failed an essay in my degree course really badly, help!?

Question

Has anyone else done badly in the second year,and then find they did well in the third year? Is there any hope for me??

Answer 1

Don't worry.

I did exactly the same as you in my 2nd year. I failed an essay because I didn't answer the question. I was so distraught, because I had worked really hard on it too. It's really hard and horrible when that happens, especially if you give a damn about your university education.

I made sure it was the only thing I ever failed at uni - if anything, it was the best time it could have happened as it meant from then on I wrote much better essays that ALWAYS answered the question!

I went on to get a 2:1 joint honours degree, so do not fear! Use this as an opportunity to improve your academic skill, talk to your tutor, find out where you went wrong, and I guarantee you that you can turn this around to your advantage!

Answer 2

All you need to do is look at what you did wrong and try to rectify it when you resit the essay. You will also need to bear in mind what went wrong with this one for future essays. No one will be perfect and write brilliant essays all the time, just seek some feedback as to why you did so badly this time and make sure you act on it! Remember that research is often the most important part of essay writing you can't write on a subject you don't know about. I failed some work in my second year and still graduated as a Physiotherapist in 2005 so don't worry there is hope!

Answer 3

there's always hope if you have the right attitude.
I barely scraped through the first year because of personal problems, so ended up having to change course because I didn't get the right technical grounding for what I wanted.

My second year was not good either because I had to choose something that I had no background in, but by the third year I did OK to get a 2.2

Not great but not that bad either considering my circumstances.

Now, looking back it it 15 years later, I'm doing fine and I have more than one professional qualification, so don't give up.

I felt like giving up at the time but glad I did not.

It's important to know why you failed and you address the issues. First thing to do is to talk to the prof, and ask for guidance. I'm sure they will advise better than anyone else here

Answer 4

Okay, so you have 'failed' at one assignment ... writing an essay. That doesn't mean that you are a 'failure' ... but you should 'study grammar, spelling, and punctuation' and learn to write 'well' ... and you should also study 'How to write an essay' ... as well as study a bit harder the 'class' that the course was. Yes, there is 'hope' for you ... and you may actually be 'ahead of the game' by taking this 'failure' at writing an essay and turning it into a 'total success' by looking at what you 'did wrong' and learning everything you can to 'make a better essay' the next time you are assigned to write one.

Answer 5

Hi Sammy,

Don't panic.
Talk to your tutor about the things you don't understand then re-submit the essay with the corrections. It is only one essay so don't panic. Messing up one essay and having to re-submit will not make a massive difference to your grade as there are a number of ways your final classification is worked out. One of these methods only chooses the best marks over two years out of the best 7 units.

Good luck.

Answer 6

I know how you feel, I'm in a similar predicament myself! Even in a previous degree course when things didn't go too well, I found the Uni to be most helpful and they'll surely be willing to help. People dropping out does not look good for their stastistics!! Stick with it, try studying with other people (works for me when motivation and boredom are issues) and good luck!

Answer 7

Dont worry, this happens loads. In your first year the workload is akin to A level, its in your second year and when your marks actually go towards your degree that things actually get hard. You need to really study hard in your second year. You will find your third year easier as it is no harder than your second whereas your second year is LOADS harder than your first.

Good luck

Answer 8

if you are doing a modular degree i.e cat points you will be fine so long as you plead for a resubmission just so you can just pass the essay. i totally screwed up by signing up to the wrong moduals. but as long as you work hard on the higher scoring moduals i.e your dissertation you will be fine, work a bit harder if you can it will be worth it! Good luck, and chill getting too stressed out will make it worse, start jogging/running it works for me, it helps you focus your mind.

Answer 9

my sister is doing a medicine degree... four year, and she got a third for her second year overall..... then in the third year she got a first..... and she is on to getting a first overall.... just need to pull your finger out.... saying that tho i just failed my first essay in the first year, but i am doing acting so it doesnt count for ****.

Answer 10

Every hope. My son had the same thing, and went on to get his honours. Resolve to work a bit harder! Good luck!