I fear that I will flunk out of grad school.

[coloradodem2005]

I got back my second stats test today and it was still kind of crappy. It was given a D at 48. I just don't understand why I can't seem to make anything work. I cannot find a job that I can deal with. I can't seem to make it through school. I have been on a downward spiral these last two years and I don't know how to get out of it.

[Metatron]

1. I'm sorry that you're having troubles.

Have you talked to an advisor?

[HEIL PRESIDENT GOD]

2. What are you in school for?

Is there no way around stats? Some people just can't do 'em.

[coloradodem2005]

I am there for Stats.

Why do I always blow it in areas where I am doing it? Am I destined to spend my life flipping burgers at McDonalds?

[HEIL PRESIDENT GOD]

10. Doh!

I was hoping you'd say Sociology or something. There are a lot of fields that use stats that can also be qualitative.

How did you get into grad school for stats without understanding them? If you swung that, there must be some trick you can pull to stay in!

If not, please find something more productive to do than Mickey D's... I'm sure there's a nonprofit that would hire you to do office work at similar wages.

[coloradodem2005]

13. Like what?

Though, I would like to be paid more than similar wages to McDonalds. I have an undergrad in Math, and have taken a coulpe of stats classes, but not a Math Stats class. But, what nonprofit?

[HEIL PRESIDENT GOD]

16. With a BA/S you can do basic admin work

If you have a local free weekly--something like the SF Bay Guardian or the Village Voice--you can usually find nonprofit jobs in the classifieds. You can work for an environmental cause, for social justice, for peace, etc. Some of this is canvassing which may not be your cup of tea. Their office support pays less than similar jobs in the corporate world, but you get to work around nothing but good people and know at the end of the day that you're helping. Just a suggestion!

[coloradodem2005]

19. Could I work for the DCCC?

n/t

[HEIL PRESIDENT GOD]

22. Check the web, see if they have an opening!

I think you might do better with a smaller concern, though. There are a lot of people willing to volunteer for the party already.

[kaitykaity]

3. Hm.

Please don't take this wrong, but how much do you
use mind-altering substances?

How much, how often, what kind, etc., etc. Sometimes
that won't be the problem, but it'll sure help you
ignore a problem, and make other problems, etc., etc.

[coloradodem2005]

4. I don't

Why would it help me. I am a failure.

[kaitykaity]

6. No, it won't help.

But it'll sure get in the way of fixing the problem.

The defeatism doesn't help either. You gotta fix that
that kind of thinking -- self-fulfilling prophecy and all
of that.

"My name is Thelma Lou. I ain't got no friends and nobody
likes me." You need to shut that tape off now.

[HEIL PRESIDENT GOD]

11. Then again

Maybe he ought to smoke a joint and take a second look at his stats. Things might fall into place.

[kaitykaity]

14. lol.

You're bad. Bad. Bad.

:hippie:

[Be Brave]

5. How much do you want a grad school degree?

I think if you really, really want it, then you will find the perseverance and stuborness to make it work, even if the work is hard and long. In this case I cheer you on to go for it. But maybe you don't really want it that bad and your heart is somewhere else? Only you can answer that.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. All right. Lay it on us. Where are you now and where would

you like to be in your life now? Let's sort it out and see what you can do about it.

*hugs*

~Jen

-----------------------------------
Would Jesus love a liberal? You bet!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/

[coloradodem2005]

9. I would like to have a decent job.

That pays me at least $30,000 a year. And my own apartment next year.

[GreenPartyVoter]

17. What exactly entails a decent job? Does it matter type of work is

involved or are you only concerned with what it pays?

[coloradodem2005]

23. A couple of things I do not want to do.

-Work in a store or resturaunt of any kind. A book store may be the only exception.

-Do anything involving asking people for money. Either selling them something or fundraising.

-Teach

I would like to do something that requires a brain. Administrative work would not be bad. It would be nice to do something that I feel is beneficial to people. But something that I don't feel emotionally drained by. At least not all the time.

[sbj405]

8. I flunked out of grad school and later got back in!!

My grades were fine, but I failed the comprehensive exam (for a Master's degree). So after 2 years and only 2 months from completion I was shown the door. A year later, I heard they got rid of the comps requirement. I got back in, did a semester, and got the stupid piece of paper. :-)

Hang in there. Grad school sucks, but either way it'll be ok.

[Magrittes Pipe]

12. A D at 48?

I would've gotten an F at 69.

Of course, I was a philosophy major....

[sbj405]

34. I remember an exam in grad school where a 32 was a B

The good ole bell curve.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

35. yes.....philosophy.....

:eyes:

[MissMarple]

15. That sounds discouraging. Here's a big group hug.

:grouphug: Now, reach out. This will work out. Yes, it will.

Grad school can seem like a very lonely place. But you do have resources.

[Wat_Tyler]

18. Isn't this a regular post?

You're always fearful of your academic future. Deal with the fear, and maybe you'll have more of a future.

[coloradodem2005]

20. Yeah.

Though my fears have been justified in the last couple of years.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

31. Self-Fufilling prophecy

I do the same thing...always put this "Im not good enough" thing on myself. People always tell me "well...don't do that!" and it's just not that easy. I completely understand where you're coming from. I always feel like if I say I did well, I will jinx myself.

Hang in there...If you want it, screw everything else until you get it. That's what I tell myself...I haven't listened yet though..but I think Im starting to. :hug:

[Surikat]

21. The problem with stats is that...

...it is a very poorly organized branch of mathematics with a lot of smoke and mirrors thrown in. I mercifully approached it through physics where we developed the seminal concepts from first principles. After that I never found myself intimidated by either the field or its savants.

The problem with stats is that when you're taking courses it it it is typically taught like it is a universe unto itself by people who are just barely comfortable with it themselves. It isn't. It's merely a small fraction of the much larger field of modeling and simulation.

It's not magic. It's just a tool for getting some things done, rather like a hammer.

The point is, don't get overawed. If you are having trouble with it you probably have the wrong lecturer. Drop the course and get another one. Ask around for good "Statistics for Idiots" sort of books. My old Shaum's Statistics review book has been on my bookshelf ever since I left university decades ago. I still use the thing even though it is falling apart.

Get yourself a good stat pack like, for example, Statistica. Use it all the time. It's like driving. The more you do it, the more comfortable you are doing it.

This is coming from someone who uses statistics of one flavour or another just about ever day in my consulting practice.

Here's a tip. Half those tests that statisticians use to assure themselves that their derived models are reliable... don't bloody work. I've done a hell of a lot of modeling with single and double blind tests. Even when all the measures of reliability look good half the time you apply your model to the rest of the universe of data you'll find that the damned thing turns around and bites you in the ass anyhow. LOL!

[FuzzySlippers]

24. Are there perhaps some emotional problems

getting in the way of your doing well? In other words, do you believe the material is fundamentally too difficult for you, or are you just having trouble concentrating. Maybe you're depressed? Your department must have thought you had the potential to do graduate level work or you wouldn't have been admitted.

[drdon326]

25. CD...Simple question...

what do you love?...What job would you wake up in the morming and just
cant wait to get to work?

[drdon326]

26. kick

.

[tjdee]

27. Me too!!

I was wondering how you were doing.

In my case, family sicknesses put me behind and I never caught up. In addition, I've been getting sick a lot lately... it's just a really sucky few months, and my schoolwork suffered. I can't concentrate on my work, I'd rather do anything else. :(

I'm going to get a few C's, which is the same as failing because I will get kicked off financial aid, and my school won't allow me to continue the program because C's are just not 'grad school level'.

I'm coming down with something nasty, to boot.

But you know what? It's not failure. It's something that didn't work out. Sure, I will feel like a failure when my cousin gets her second master's, and I will feel like a failure when my parents hear about it, and when I have to pay my loans back, but getting stuck in failure mode isn't going to help anything.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

32. You're getting kicked off financial aid for...c's?

Woah...is it like a school scholarship?

[tjdee]

33. No...I don't get it either.

I have to keep a 3.0 average to get my Stafford loans, according to the Financial Aid dept. Two C's will bring it below that.

I'm starting to look at the positives of it, though. At least I'll be able to come home from work and rest instead of reading 29381098098349248 pages on strategic marketing.

[alarimer]

28. I feel for you

I am taking a grad level stats class too (via distance learning- so it is all on the computer and I am 200 miles away from the school). the first test I made a 57 because I could not get the stupid little syntax files to run (we use SPSS); I started to panic and ran out of time. Fortunately there was a generous curve on this and I ended up with an 83; the second test I only made a 72. This time I thought I did much better. Now I am in a position of having to be nearly perfect on the paper and on the final in order to get a decent grade. So I definitely know where you are coming from. It is really frustrating when I normally do well in classes. Just try to do you best and maybe ask the professor for some extra help if you need it.

[linazelle]

29. Find some "friends" in your Stats class...fast!

Whenever I had a hard time grasping a subject, I sought out the smarter people in class and formed study groups. Communicating and exchanging ideas about the topic(even if you only have a 48% understanding) helps them and you to crystallize your thinking and build a foundation for what you need to learn. Everybody learns differently and study groups takes you away from one-way lectures and reading, which, depending on the instructor, can be a hindrance in and of themselves.

Stats was the most difficult of my grad classes. I spent a week with two other classmates, staying up all night and reviewing the entire semester's assignments before the finals. I am happy to say I aced the class--but it wasn't easy.

May I also suggest that you stop focusing on finishing "grad school" and just concentrate on passing Stats? One hurdle at a time is doable--take baby steps.

[liontamer]

30. if you're worried about flunking

harass your ta for extra help. That's what I do. But if you're only in grad schol to get a slightly better job, maybe you shouldn't bother.

with an undergrad in math you should be able to get some kind of finance job that would pay pretty well.

If you feel emotionally drained, maybe you're depressed and that's what's causing you so much difficulty. Why don't you check to see if your school has free counseling you can use?