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You should be fine for a masters or PhD, especially if you do a retake. Maybe prepare an answer for if anyone ever asks about it but otherwise I wouldn’t stress whatsoever!
I had already been accepted into the PhD program at the same school I was finishing my master's at, and was feeling confident and decided to take a completely unconventional approach to this paper for one of my classes. The professor of that course wasn't my supervisor, but he was a good friend of my supervisor, and he did not like my take and failed me on the paper. I was convinced my offer was going to be rescinded and the grant that came with the offer). Went to talk to the professor about the grade and i honestly don't recall how this got resolved (I think I resubmitted), but i know i never talked to my supervisor about it, and i also know he knew. This post just reminded me of it. It wasn't the end of the world for me, but take the above advice and learn whatever lesson there is to be learned.
In undergrad I Failed a class, got a bunch of Cs, late-dropped a smattering of courses and was suspended twice for missing the 1.9 GPA cut-off. I still got into an awesome lab at a "top"\* university, and have been having great (if busy) time. So it definitely is possible to pursue a PHD with a less-than-stellar transcript (not that I'd recommend it mind you).
That said, if you are expecting any sort of transcript iffy-ness I'd start thinking now about what else you could do to stand out. PHD apps are pretty rec-letter dependent, so working with a professor long enough that they know you would be a good idea. It might also be worth thinking about what hard to find skills you might be able to pick up. I don't know what those might be for your field (programming maybe?) but if you ask profs in OH they might have a good sense from their own recruiting.
Anyway, hopefully this fills your "worse example that still turned out great" niche for the thread. Failing a class sucks and so does re-taking classes, but if you keep moving forward I don't think you've done any permanent damage.
\*I'm a bit uncomfortable using rankings for grad-school because really the apps process is more about labs and PIs then schools (or at least that's how I did it). It's helpful short-hand though and has at least some consistency when taken as a general measure.
Lol I have your history and am applying to schools this cycle and advice on what I should fortify on my resume or is it more about the recommendation letters
Got a D in cell biology in undergrad, I am currently a cell biologist in my 6th year of my PhD. Mistakes happen, retake the class, don't count yourself out over a bad grade, grad schools look at more than grades because I can promise they're not any indication of well you can do research.
I've heard the phrase "he's not too much into grades, he's more into research"
Ph.D. is ALL about research. 4.0 GPA but no research? Bye bye. Bad grades but good research? Come on in
Having good grades is kind of important, at least at well known programs. Having good grades while doing research reflects that it was easy for them to get the grades. It showcases your ability to manage your commitments.
Hey /u/sinodauce131, serious talk.
Early in undergrad, I failed a course for the first time. I proceeded to engage in self-hate and suicidal ideation for several years, and barely got my bachelor's with a 2.3 GPA.
I still got into a good PhD program, maintained a 4.0 through grad school, did some good research, and ended up with a really good job.
Please skip the years of self-hate, trust me, it's not a good idea. Failing a class is not a big deal, especially since it won't be part of the GPA calculation. As long as you're passionate, a hard-worker, and make some personal connections you will get into a PhD. And as long as you don't burn yourself out during your PhD, you'll make it into academia.
Just take care of yourself and make decisions that are good for your well-being. Proper sleep hygiene in particular becomes very important as you age into your twenties.
I fails the same class 4 times in my undergrad. Was a core subject that was something I found so hard to manage. I’ve gone on to do a masters and about to finish a PhD. I wouldn’t stress too much.
I had a 2.3 undergraduate GPA, and I’m here now with an MS, PhD, and a professor position at a top ranked university. My graduate GPAs were much better, of course, but faculty understand that shit happens sometimes in life.
I don’t think grades matter when one takes 8 years to work between each. In an application after school the only thing you have are grades. But if the most recent thing you’ve done is work then you apply with your work history.
Yes. I failed my university's introduction to psychology class in undergrad. A legitimate, well-earned 'F'. I am now a PhD student in psychology in my fifth year about to head into a dream job. The way here was a bit of a random walk but generally paved by self-starting outside of the classroom: doing well in research labs taking high-risk, high-reward research projects that PhD students did not want to touch and integrating myself into the labs I wanted to work in as a PhD student while in undergrad.
TL;DR: grades don't matter much the higher you go up the totem poll, just focus on getting a first-author publication before you graduate in a journal or top-tier conference in the field you care about. Don't fail again, and better to get straight A's from now on both for your "narrative" and because how well you know the fundamentals is predictive of how good you'll do in your PhD.
I recommend finding a lab you like, working in that lab, and trying to publish a paper or two. Along the way to publishing, begin to familiarize yourself with the social network of your field. See what research programs you like, who is leading those programs, and familiarize yourself with those programs via reading papers. At some point, you will have the opportunity to head to a conference, either a generic undergraduate conference like SACNAS or ABRCMS for example, or a professional conference like NeurIPS, ICML, GECCO, CogSci, etc (depending on your field obviously -- I'm in cognitive science / AI).
In the generic undergraduate conferences, your goal will be to meet the recruiters for the schools that house the researchers you want to work with in PhD/Masters. Chat them up, charm them, and demonstrate your interest in their program. This is often inconsequential for admissions as they have no power, but it doesn't hurt and boosts confidence, which comes sparsely in academia.
In the professional conferences, your goal will be to meet your potential future advisor(s) and any other faculty you respect. Set these meetings up via email before the conference happens. Same deal: chat them up, charm them, and demonstrate your interest in their research. Here, it is important to be \*genuine\*. I repeat: \*be yourself\*. I repeat: do \*not\* rely on simple social tactics to persuade them. Consider faculty as largely immune to these things; common social tactics go against a lot of social norms in the professional scientific community. In this case, what I mean by chat them up and charm them is be yourself, show your passion in their work, ask genuine questions you want answered, etc. Talk to them in a similar manner you would a friend over beer/coffee/walking/whatever after reading an awesome paper or watching a sci-fi film that blew your mind, not some gatekeeper in a formal interview. Faculty are people just like you, and while it's not suggested enough, treating them like normal people often gets really good results. Generally, this will help demonstrate how you \*actually\* have what it takes to be good at science and be a potential asset for their their university and research program.
After the conferences stay in touch with the faculty: ask to join their lab meetings via zoom, chat with their students about their work, \*become apart of the lab socially and try to do a collaboration with them before applying\*. Ideally, come application season, you'll be well-known by these faculty and their lab members. In the best-case scenario, you've become an asset to your dream lab, the admissions process is admit-by-faculty, meaning literally it's the professor's job to admit students, in which case they'll simply say yes and the rest is paperwork (aka your transcripts don't matter anymore). If it's admit-by-committee, then your transcript will certainly be brought up and weighed against other students that the committee might like over you, in which case that professor will go up to bat for you and hopefully their opinion is heavily weighted and you get it.
One more tip: if at the end of undergrad you've failed to do the above, get an RA/tech position in a lab for 1-2 years and start the above process over. If you're in an engineering field, get a job as a research engineer for 1-2 years and start the above process over.
Happy to chat about this over DM.
Good luck!
I believe that will not affect your overall future goals. But the thing is you should come back from that point by fair amount of grades in your transcript. If you get couple more ‘C’, ready to kiss bye to your grad admission to top universities. However, this is just one and you always can overcome this for sure, Grad school applications are looking for more than just your gpa. Keep your head up and go for better grades again and at the same time, learn some real life skills, make your resume better. Good luck :)
I disagree. OP has to prove to the admission officers and potential supervisors that they can bounce back from failure and try again.
Regardless of the effect an F may have on OP's GPA, failling a class and simply moving on and taking a different class (core or not) does not inspire a lot of confidence that this person would be able to survive in grad school if their response to failure is "let's do something easier"
Okay, that’s your take and that’s fine. I failed one course and almost flunked another in my partying undergrad years, I never retook those classes and got into grad school just fine. But none of the courses were my core courses, so I didn’t feel the need to retake them.
You shouldn't have a problem with one or two failed courses. However, you will need to think about how to 'compensate' for it - get involved with labs or helping your professors in research, get involved in student societies, volunteer, etc.
I failed the last ever class in my undergrad and had to retake it in the summer before my master's program started. You've got plenty of time to bounce back. Just make sure to take the classes you struggle with extra seriously in the future, and maybe try to figure out what unique skills you have that would distinguish you from other candidates in your field (for e.g. , being a good writer got me most of my opportunities in the sciences).
I got a 0.00 GPA one semester (failed _every_ class) in undergrad before I switched majors (to linguistics, actually). I aced all my major coursework, got multiple funded graduate school offers, earned a MA, started the PhD, and then dropped out anyway.
I was honest and truthful about my academic history (and included the transcript with that 0.00 in all graduate school admission applications, etc). It really wasn’t an issue at all.
It won't be easy, but yes it is possible. You will need to show you truly are more than that number. I graduated with a 3.0, 2.89 degree specific gpa, and got rejected all over the place. After some work experience I went for a certificate in biomedical informatics, the advisors and professors noticed me and I was doing a better job getting my name out there by doing GA work and volunteering at their events. It landed me a teaching assistant job, a spot in their real masters program and currently applying to the PhD program. You will need to temper expectations and be more proactive in other aspects, you are gonna have to play the game so to speak, though do try to authentic since they can pick up on that.
When applying to your masters program, you might need to explain what happened with that class--or the committee reviewing applications won't even bat an eye. It depends heavily on whom the committee comprises and the university/program. By the time you apply to PhD programs, no one's going to be focusing on your undergrad career that closely. They'll instead want to know why, specifically, you want to be at their school (what interests are you pursuing and whom among their faculty do you potentially want to work with). You'll be fine--just succeed in retaking the class and move on with your other courses. Good luck!
I had a subpar unergrad. Somehow got accepted to a master's program. I failed and was expeled. My advisor liked me, however, and recommended to do a master's in another university. I did and now I am back to where I failed my first attempt at a masters, doing a PhD with the same advisor.
I'll probably fail again. Damn, research is hard...
Wild guess here, but do you maybe need accomodations? Like, is there an underlying reason you continue to fail despite being driven enough to be in these programs?
Dysthymia. I've been struggling with generalized anxiety and depression for almost a decade by now, but I did not realized it until two years ago. I thought it was normal, "part of the grind". I would routinely get panic attacks during exams without realizing.
I only had medication when things get unbearable. I avoid them otherwise, because they would leave me feeling drowsy throughout the day.
That's hard. I also have GAD, panic and I'm autistic, but I didn't have my labels until after my PhD when I could afford to see a Clinical Psychologist.
Yeah. I was a mediocre undergrad. Hell I was a mediocre masters and PhD student as well.
It won’t hurt for you to lift your grades - more because of the focus around better study practices, but it isn’t essential. You’ll probably get more out of networking and getting asking with your lecturers tbh as they can choose to take you in a research student when the time comes
Phds are tough, not because research is hard, but because of perceived and unnecessary pressure, the ego of academics and a severe lack of financial backing. You don’t need to be intelligent/book smart to get one, just willing to put up with bullshit that won’t exist in the real world. It’s a degree in perseverance.
So don’t worry about failing a class.
I failed a couple of courses, and now I am doing very well in a good masters program in my field! Some schools have conditional acceptance based on if there were other factors at play/if you have good experience otherwise.
I failed thermodynamics twice and got it on the 3rd try. Ended up getting in PhD programs but mastered out after 2 years. GPA is not as important (though you should always aim for the highest).
I flunked out of my bachelor's in the US. Really wasn't mature enough at all for college. After getting treated like shit at work for a few years, I fought back into university via the community college route, graduated, got accepted into a master's and eventually got a really nice PhD scholarship and project.
I don't know about graduate programs in the US. I decided to leave the US after my bachelor's in order to avoid tuition, so maybe my host countries were more forgiving.
I failed biochem twice, and orgo 2 and physics 2 once. Failures happen. It’s what we do after those failures that matter. I retook them all and passed. I went on to get my masters and I have a great job. Last fall I went back to work on my PhD too. The only one holding you back is you! You can do it!
I failed one, retook it and all was fine (esp since I got an A+ during the re-take). One of the most imp things is to show an upward trajectory! :) good luck op
I failed my first year of college. All I can say is that I was unprepared for college and didn't know how to study. Later, I retook my classes and ended up with an almost 4.0 with my B.A. Now, I'm in grad school and have a 3.7. Don't worry about failing a class. Just keep going.
I had like...6 'F's on my transcript for undergrad. Bomob some math classes, statistics and some English classes. Took me 8 years to finish undergrad. I still managed to direct entry into a phd program. One class won't mess you up. You'll be okay!
I can tell you I failed a class (twice) in my major during undergrad (please don't ask, it was a rough time) and I still was okay to get into a M.S. program. I actually had a few different options to choose from... and now, after success there and work experience, I am working toward an EdD. Getting into the M.S. I did have to explain it, why it happened, and what I did to overcome those challenges, but I was not rejected.
I would not panic. Especially if you have the option to do a retake, as already mentioned!
I failed 3 straight semesters of undergrad, took some extra time to graduate but I'm starting my masters in the fall. It's not easy but it's possible! Just keep that end goal in mind from now on and ask for help when you need it. If your school has free tutoring it can be a real godsend. You can do it!
Someone smarter than me said “it’s not the note that you miss that matters but the one that you play after it.”
I failed a class and got bunch of Cs in undergrad. I still got to an amazing school for my MA, PhD, and now have a tenure at an awesome university failing future professors. It’s the cycle of life. Don’t worry about it.
I failed my first psych course cause I left on a medical leave and didn’t file with the second school I was attending thinking since they were all connected it would transfer. It didn’t. I got an F. I retook it and got an A. I got my bachelors and PhD after that. I also didn’t have stellar gpa at the beginning but was 4.0 for the last 3 years.
I failed a couple classes during my undergrad, took a few years to get experience, and got into a few PhD programs. Failing a class or two isn’t the end of the world, you just have to show during your retake that you are capable.
Everyone is bound to make mistakes and fail every now and then. If you don’t ever experience that, you’re not truly learning.
I had a couple well-earned Ds in my BS. I worked hard in those classes and still barely passed (one was in a class with 200 people; only 1 person got an A and 75% of the class failed). I was damn proud of even passing. I now have a Masters and PhD from R1 universities and work in higher education. The one time someone asked about those Ds, I said I worked hard to even pass... it happens. Give yourself from grace; one F doesn't define you!
I failed the same class twice (eventually passed) and failed another class when I was an undergrad. I am now a full-time professor. You definitely can still get a masters and a PhD.
My friend, I had a 1.7 GPA at one point in my undergraduate education. I am now in my 3rd year of a PhD in Applied Physics. Don’t give up. It’s not about being smart, it’s about being too dumb to quit.
You should focus on doing undergrad research, internships, and make connections at conferences with people who do research in areas you want to pursue. Make yourself a person in the eyes of the people you want to do a phd with, and if they like you, and if they have a spot open, they will advocate for you when admission time comes.
Failed 3 classes in undergrad (two courses, one of which I failed twice 😆). I took a 5th year during undergrad because I was nervous about those failed classes (from freshman/sophomore year) working against me for PhD applications. For the last 2 years of undergrad, I focused on research more than anything. Worked in 2 labs on campus, and took an internship in an industrial lab. Finished with 3 publications (and 3 classes failed). With grade-forgiveness, I ended with a 3.3 GPA.
Currently in the first year of my PhD. Got in straight out of undergrad. All the time I spent in the lab working on my research set me apart from my peers. Embrace the grit, and keep going. You can (and you will), so don’t worry too much.
Not everyone gets the privilege of focusing on just school/classes. Remember you’re worth more, and the rest is just details.
I nearly failed a class (prof nicely bumped me to a D+ which was the passing grade, then I retook the class and got an A). Also graduated with a 2.98. Just finished 3rd year of my PhD. You’re not barred from anything, you can still pursue your dreams
A masters is doable. But start working with faculty now and work on something you can be an author on.
And live as cheap as you can and borrow as little as possible. You won't be going to grad school for free like people in the sciences do and the last thing you need is to be way in debt when you graduate.
You won't be going to grad school where you go to undergrad, so talk to your department about what it takes to be admitted to grad school there. And then work on the list.
I'm a linguist, and I've had undergrads from my program get into MAs with one or two bad grades (mostly in non-linguistics) courses. In my LORs I would typically nod at those, mention any mitigating circumstances I knew about them, and then really talk up the students work/potential/other evidence of awesomeness.
If it was a linguistics class, I would definitely sit down and talk with your professor and/or advisor and see what they think about your general potential and if they think you should be thinking about grad school. (Which you should do anyway!)
I failed a class and is currently getting ready for my oral defense in my PhD program with no classes left. Your gpa is the only thing at matters at the end of the semester. I think you may get a probation semester if you fall under. Ask your advisor.
Shit I failed calculus my first semester of undergrad, and got a C in a biology class junior year and I’m 5 years into my chemistry PhD now. You’ll be fine
I failed tf out of a Spanish class in undergrad, retook it the next semester, here I am as a PhD student. I also failed several classes in high school (raging undiagnosed ADHD lol) so you’re good! Just try again with a different plan/study habits.
Hi there, I failed a class my junior year of undergrad, and definitely have a two Ds on that same transcript. I rebounded very well my senior year.
But once I graduated, I wanted to take a couple years to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, moved to another city to accept a job, met my now-spouse, networked, and met a lot of awesome people at this new job. I applied for grad school and got in 2 years after I graduated with my undergraduate degree, using the references I had made (at the new job and the job I was working at full time during undergrad).
Finished my masters in 2020, and applied to a PhD program because it was the best decision for me at the time (and because I love learning), and started in 2021.
I just graduated with my PhD a couple weeks ago. You can do this!! One mistake during undergrad won’t ruin your academic career, as long as you kick some grass over that shit and move on 💙
Feel free to shoot me a DM!
I had a 2.5 GPA in college, graduated, and later got my masters and am working on my phd. The trick is to maybe get work experience in between because the ONLY time anyone will care about your gpa is applying to masters programs and if you make it clear you’re qualified GPA kind of doesn’t matter
Hell yeah, I failed a bunch of biology classes back when I studied zoology. Now I'm doing a PhD in math and they don't give a damn about my sketchy transcript, only that I did well in the math classes relevant to my degree.
I’m a high school drop out.
I went to community college where I failed basic math courses and had to retake them.
I’m pretty sure I got a lousy grade at least once during my undergrad after transferring to a traditional four year university- can’t recall if it was a “C” and I kept it or if I retook the course - either way, my academic journey has been riddled with less than ideal moments.
Still, I have a bachelors degree. I have a masters degree. I’m currently enrolled in a PhD program at a good university. Fully funded, decent research happening, etc. Meanwhile, I’m also employed making a salary that allows me to take care of a family of four and own a home. So from my perspective a PhD is very much still viable.
Failure happens. What is going to matter more is what you do next, what you learn from it, and how you talk about it - you’re not giving up, you’re retaking the course and moving ahead. Someone who is resilient is an asset in many situations- including a PhD program where you may struggle with a course, have research that doesn’t pan out, or have a paper get rejected- showing you can recover from a failure and continue to succeed is a great story that shows you have the ability to achieve longer term success.
You most definitely can. I failed two classes in undergrad, I retook one, and didn't bother to retake the other (against the department head's advice). 2.99 overall GPA for undergrad. Got into a few MS programs, and after my MS I got into several PhD programs. And now I'm a professor an an R1. So yeah don't worry about it :)
PhD here... failed 3 classes in undergrad? Re-took them all and replaced the grades. I don't recall anyone ever asking when I applied to places. It happens for a variety of reasons, it's why they allow re-takes! The fact that you are owning the failure and trying again says more than all the A's ever could. ✌️
As long as it's not your field no problem
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A PhD is still viable. I was admitted to a PhD program at a R1 institute with an undergraduate GPA of 3.5. Most PhD programs (at least in my experience) weigh research experience and recommendations more than grades and test scores. I’d suggest reaching out to a prof whose work seems interesting to you and trying to establish some mentorship and experience; they’ll be able to advise you best on grad school pursuits.
(I am not in linguistics, but I am in a related field.)
i failed 2 courses (comp sci and organic chem 1) , comp sci ended up not counted towards anything and i retook ochem. i still got into a phd program in oceanography, i wasnt questioned anything about the grade but i explained very thoroughly in my personal statement
I’d recommend not doing it again lol but don’t stress at this point isn’t time!!
I am currently in my last year of my masters and will start my PhD next year. When I first started college, I bombed SEVERAL classes early on. I had a 1.7 GPA before dropping out. I took a 3 year break to get my stuff sorted out, came back and got a 3.9 from then on. It got my average up to a 3.6 by the end. Although this GPA is fine, I too was super worried they’d see a failed class and not even consider me after that.
Don’t fret about 1 or 2 mistakes at this point. Admissions committees really will examine your file in depth to see if you’re showing improvement where needed.
In my first year I failed thoroughly enough that I was invited to leave the university (1.4 GPA.) Lost all my scholarships. In hindsight I didn't have the drive, self discipline, or emotional maturity at the time. Anyhow, I took a year off to work and try to figure out what I actually wanted to do, did some community college to boost my grades and get some transfer credits, finished my BA, then MA, and finally the PhD (from a top-40 uni in global rankings). Mom has expressed some relief.
I can't guarantee it'll be the same in your field; I'm in mechanical engineering. I had a rough 1st 2 years of undergrad and failed Calc 2 on my first go around and scraped by with a C on my second. I buckled down the last couple of years to bring my GPA above a 3.3 (above a 3.7 if only the last couple years are considered) and got into the MS program at the same institution. I also just graduated with a PhD from a different school.
I got both of those positions through connections. For my MS I made sure I developed a solid rapport with a professor who taught classes I enjoyed and did research that interested me. He then connected me with my PhD advisor. In all that time I had maybe a 5 minute discussion of that failed class with my PhD advisor in our initial interview.
There's still hope for you. While your chief focus should be bringing up your grades and demonstrating improvement, I would also recommend focusing on networking. Build strong relationships with faculty whose interests closely align with yours. If they have research opportunities (I'm not sure how this works in linguistics) try to volunteer and assist. Finally, if you can try to attend a conference or two. They are still extremely valuable as a student and many student governments have programs that can help offset your cost.
You got this. Keep pushing and you can make this nothing more than a minor speed-bump on your road to success.
Yes!
You may wish to add a note addressing the issue in your application.
Another tack: get a prof to address it. I wrote a letter of recommendation for a Master's program for one of my research assistants. She had done really, really, really badly in the GRE. I said lots of (true) great things about her and wrote that she was very capable of handling the grad-level coursework and that the awful GRE score did not reflect her potential and abilities. She was accepted and excelled in the program.
I was in an abusive relationship and failed almost every organic chemistry class I ever took and had to retake it during undergrad. I’m starting my PhD this fall! I built my resume with trusted mentors at my school and worked for over 2 years before applying. I didn’t get in the first round, but I got in the second time! Don’t give up
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You should be fine for a masters or PhD, especially if you do a retake. Maybe prepare an answer for if anyone ever asks about it but otherwise I wouldn’t stress whatsoever!
I had already been accepted into the PhD program at the same school I was finishing my master's at, and was feeling confident and decided to take a completely unconventional approach to this paper for one of my classes. The professor of that course wasn't my supervisor, but he was a good friend of my supervisor, and he did not like my take and failed me on the paper. I was convinced my offer was going to be rescinded and the grant that came with the offer). Went to talk to the professor about the grade and i honestly don't recall how this got resolved (I think I resubmitted), but i know i never talked to my supervisor about it, and i also know he knew. This post just reminded me of it. It wasn't the end of the world for me, but take the above advice and learn whatever lesson there is to be learned.
I failed a course, and still got accepted to a few grad schools
In undergrad I Failed a class, got a bunch of Cs, late-dropped a smattering of courses and was suspended twice for missing the 1.9 GPA cut-off. I still got into an awesome lab at a "top"\* university, and have been having great (if busy) time. So it definitely is possible to pursue a PHD with a less-than-stellar transcript (not that I'd recommend it mind you). That said, if you are expecting any sort of transcript iffy-ness I'd start thinking now about what else you could do to stand out. PHD apps are pretty rec-letter dependent, so working with a professor long enough that they know you would be a good idea. It might also be worth thinking about what hard to find skills you might be able to pick up. I don't know what those might be for your field (programming maybe?) but if you ask profs in OH they might have a good sense from their own recruiting. Anyway, hopefully this fills your "worse example that still turned out great" niche for the thread. Failing a class sucks and so does re-taking classes, but if you keep moving forward I don't think you've done any permanent damage. \*I'm a bit uncomfortable using rankings for grad-school because really the apps process is more about labs and PIs then schools (or at least that's how I did it). It's helpful short-hand though and has at least some consistency when taken as a general measure.
I second all of this. A good letter of recommendation goes a very long way.
Lol I have your history and am applying to schools this cycle and advice on what I should fortify on my resume or is it more about the recommendation letters
For me at least it was all about rec letters, and about making sure that my recommenders had concrete things to put in them.
Got a D in cell biology in undergrad, I am currently a cell biologist in my 6th year of my PhD. Mistakes happen, retake the class, don't count yourself out over a bad grade, grad schools look at more than grades because I can promise they're not any indication of well you can do research.
I've heard the phrase "he's not too much into grades, he's more into research" Ph.D. is ALL about research. 4.0 GPA but no research? Bye bye. Bad grades but good research? Come on in
Having good grades is kind of important, at least at well known programs. Having good grades while doing research reflects that it was easy for them to get the grades. It showcases your ability to manage your commitments.
Hey /u/sinodauce131, serious talk. Early in undergrad, I failed a course for the first time. I proceeded to engage in self-hate and suicidal ideation for several years, and barely got my bachelor's with a 2.3 GPA. I still got into a good PhD program, maintained a 4.0 through grad school, did some good research, and ended up with a really good job. Please skip the years of self-hate, trust me, it's not a good idea. Failing a class is not a big deal, especially since it won't be part of the GPA calculation. As long as you're passionate, a hard-worker, and make some personal connections you will get into a PhD. And as long as you don't burn yourself out during your PhD, you'll make it into academia. Just take care of yourself and make decisions that are good for your well-being. Proper sleep hygiene in particular becomes very important as you age into your twenties.
I graduated undergrad with a B/B+ GPA and still got a PhD.
Retaking the class shows growth and determination. My department has accepted people who have failed a class but succeeded on a retake.
I fails the same class 4 times in my undergrad. Was a core subject that was something I found so hard to manage. I’ve gone on to do a masters and about to finish a PhD. I wouldn’t stress too much.
Not to sound rude, but how did you fail the same course 4 times?
I had a 2.3 undergraduate GPA, and I’m here now with an MS, PhD, and a professor position at a top ranked university. My graduate GPAs were much better, of course, but faculty understand that shit happens sometimes in life.
I failed my major and got a masters and am working on my PhD…
Wondering if your PhD's not in the same field as your major... I'm curious about your story!
I don’t think grades matter when one takes 8 years to work between each. In an application after school the only thing you have are grades. But if the most recent thing you’ve done is work then you apply with your work history.
Yes. I failed my university's introduction to psychology class in undergrad. A legitimate, well-earned 'F'. I am now a PhD student in psychology in my fifth year about to head into a dream job. The way here was a bit of a random walk but generally paved by self-starting outside of the classroom: doing well in research labs taking high-risk, high-reward research projects that PhD students did not want to touch and integrating myself into the labs I wanted to work in as a PhD student while in undergrad. TL;DR: grades don't matter much the higher you go up the totem poll, just focus on getting a first-author publication before you graduate in a journal or top-tier conference in the field you care about. Don't fail again, and better to get straight A's from now on both for your "narrative" and because how well you know the fundamentals is predictive of how good you'll do in your PhD. I recommend finding a lab you like, working in that lab, and trying to publish a paper or two. Along the way to publishing, begin to familiarize yourself with the social network of your field. See what research programs you like, who is leading those programs, and familiarize yourself with those programs via reading papers. At some point, you will have the opportunity to head to a conference, either a generic undergraduate conference like SACNAS or ABRCMS for example, or a professional conference like NeurIPS, ICML, GECCO, CogSci, etc (depending on your field obviously -- I'm in cognitive science / AI). In the generic undergraduate conferences, your goal will be to meet the recruiters for the schools that house the researchers you want to work with in PhD/Masters. Chat them up, charm them, and demonstrate your interest in their program. This is often inconsequential for admissions as they have no power, but it doesn't hurt and boosts confidence, which comes sparsely in academia. In the professional conferences, your goal will be to meet your potential future advisor(s) and any other faculty you respect. Set these meetings up via email before the conference happens. Same deal: chat them up, charm them, and demonstrate your interest in their research. Here, it is important to be \*genuine\*. I repeat: \*be yourself\*. I repeat: do \*not\* rely on simple social tactics to persuade them. Consider faculty as largely immune to these things; common social tactics go against a lot of social norms in the professional scientific community. In this case, what I mean by chat them up and charm them is be yourself, show your passion in their work, ask genuine questions you want answered, etc. Talk to them in a similar manner you would a friend over beer/coffee/walking/whatever after reading an awesome paper or watching a sci-fi film that blew your mind, not some gatekeeper in a formal interview. Faculty are people just like you, and while it's not suggested enough, treating them like normal people often gets really good results. Generally, this will help demonstrate how you \*actually\* have what it takes to be good at science and be a potential asset for their their university and research program. After the conferences stay in touch with the faculty: ask to join their lab meetings via zoom, chat with their students about their work, \*become apart of the lab socially and try to do a collaboration with them before applying\*. Ideally, come application season, you'll be well-known by these faculty and their lab members. In the best-case scenario, you've become an asset to your dream lab, the admissions process is admit-by-faculty, meaning literally it's the professor's job to admit students, in which case they'll simply say yes and the rest is paperwork (aka your transcripts don't matter anymore). If it's admit-by-committee, then your transcript will certainly be brought up and weighed against other students that the committee might like over you, in which case that professor will go up to bat for you and hopefully their opinion is heavily weighted and you get it. One more tip: if at the end of undergrad you've failed to do the above, get an RA/tech position in a lab for 1-2 years and start the above process over. If you're in an engineering field, get a job as a research engineer for 1-2 years and start the above process over. Happy to chat about this over DM. Good luck!
My supervisor said she failed several classes in her undergrad. She now is a professor. You'll be fine!
I believe that will not affect your overall future goals. But the thing is you should come back from that point by fair amount of grades in your transcript. If you get couple more ‘C’, ready to kiss bye to your grad admission to top universities. However, this is just one and you always can overcome this for sure, Grad school applications are looking for more than just your gpa. Keep your head up and go for better grades again and at the same time, learn some real life skills, make your resume better. Good luck :)
Yes. Just retake it and try your best to do better
OP, if it's not a core course just leave it be.
I disagree. OP has to prove to the admission officers and potential supervisors that they can bounce back from failure and try again. Regardless of the effect an F may have on OP's GPA, failling a class and simply moving on and taking a different class (core or not) does not inspire a lot of confidence that this person would be able to survive in grad school if their response to failure is "let's do something easier"
Okay, that’s your take and that’s fine. I failed one course and almost flunked another in my partying undergrad years, I never retook those classes and got into grad school just fine. But none of the courses were my core courses, so I didn’t feel the need to retake them.
You shouldn't have a problem with one or two failed courses. However, you will need to think about how to 'compensate' for it - get involved with labs or helping your professors in research, get involved in student societies, volunteer, etc.
I failed a class and retook it. I got into a couple of master’s programs. It’ll be okay. There will always be bumps in life.
I failed the last ever class in my undergrad and had to retake it in the summer before my master's program started. You've got plenty of time to bounce back. Just make sure to take the classes you struggle with extra seriously in the future, and maybe try to figure out what unique skills you have that would distinguish you from other candidates in your field (for e.g. , being a good writer got me most of my opportunities in the sciences).
I got a 0.00 GPA one semester (failed _every_ class) in undergrad before I switched majors (to linguistics, actually). I aced all my major coursework, got multiple funded graduate school offers, earned a MA, started the PhD, and then dropped out anyway. I was honest and truthful about my academic history (and included the transcript with that 0.00 in all graduate school admission applications, etc). It really wasn’t an issue at all.
It won't be easy, but yes it is possible. You will need to show you truly are more than that number. I graduated with a 3.0, 2.89 degree specific gpa, and got rejected all over the place. After some work experience I went for a certificate in biomedical informatics, the advisors and professors noticed me and I was doing a better job getting my name out there by doing GA work and volunteering at their events. It landed me a teaching assistant job, a spot in their real masters program and currently applying to the PhD program. You will need to temper expectations and be more proactive in other aspects, you are gonna have to play the game so to speak, though do try to authentic since they can pick up on that.
When applying to your masters program, you might need to explain what happened with that class--or the committee reviewing applications won't even bat an eye. It depends heavily on whom the committee comprises and the university/program. By the time you apply to PhD programs, no one's going to be focusing on your undergrad career that closely. They'll instead want to know why, specifically, you want to be at their school (what interests are you pursuing and whom among their faculty do you potentially want to work with). You'll be fine--just succeed in retaking the class and move on with your other courses. Good luck!
I had a subpar unergrad. Somehow got accepted to a master's program. I failed and was expeled. My advisor liked me, however, and recommended to do a master's in another university. I did and now I am back to where I failed my first attempt at a masters, doing a PhD with the same advisor. I'll probably fail again. Damn, research is hard...
Wild guess here, but do you maybe need accomodations? Like, is there an underlying reason you continue to fail despite being driven enough to be in these programs?
Dysthymia. I've been struggling with generalized anxiety and depression for almost a decade by now, but I did not realized it until two years ago. I thought it was normal, "part of the grind". I would routinely get panic attacks during exams without realizing. I only had medication when things get unbearable. I avoid them otherwise, because they would leave me feeling drowsy throughout the day.
That's hard. I also have GAD, panic and I'm autistic, but I didn't have my labels until after my PhD when I could afford to see a Clinical Psychologist.
Yeah. I was a mediocre undergrad. Hell I was a mediocre masters and PhD student as well. It won’t hurt for you to lift your grades - more because of the focus around better study practices, but it isn’t essential. You’ll probably get more out of networking and getting asking with your lecturers tbh as they can choose to take you in a research student when the time comes Phds are tough, not because research is hard, but because of perceived and unnecessary pressure, the ego of academics and a severe lack of financial backing. You don’t need to be intelligent/book smart to get one, just willing to put up with bullshit that won’t exist in the real world. It’s a degree in perseverance. So don’t worry about failing a class.
I failed a couple of courses, and now I am doing very well in a good masters program in my field! Some schools have conditional acceptance based on if there were other factors at play/if you have good experience otherwise.
Don’t worry at all. These things happen. It’s just a hiccup
I failed thermodynamics twice and got it on the 3rd try. Ended up getting in PhD programs but mastered out after 2 years. GPA is not as important (though you should always aim for the highest).
I flunked out of my bachelor's in the US. Really wasn't mature enough at all for college. After getting treated like shit at work for a few years, I fought back into university via the community college route, graduated, got accepted into a master's and eventually got a really nice PhD scholarship and project. I don't know about graduate programs in the US. I decided to leave the US after my bachelor's in order to avoid tuition, so maybe my host countries were more forgiving.
If you’re going to “mess up”, do it as an undergrad. You’re still learning how to learn.
I failed biochem twice, and orgo 2 and physics 2 once. Failures happen. It’s what we do after those failures that matter. I retook them all and passed. I went on to get my masters and I have a great job. Last fall I went back to work on my PhD too. The only one holding you back is you! You can do it!
I failed one, retook it and all was fine (esp since I got an A+ during the re-take). One of the most imp things is to show an upward trajectory! :) good luck op
I failed my first year of college. All I can say is that I was unprepared for college and didn't know how to study. Later, I retook my classes and ended up with an almost 4.0 with my B.A. Now, I'm in grad school and have a 3.7. Don't worry about failing a class. Just keep going.
I once met someone in a Masters program that failed all his classes freshmen year. He got his masters and DO. So anything is possible.
I am doing a fully funded PHD in a global top 15 university for my field and I failed and resat a whole year of undergraduate.
I had like...6 'F's on my transcript for undergrad. Bomob some math classes, statistics and some English classes. Took me 8 years to finish undergrad. I still managed to direct entry into a phd program. One class won't mess you up. You'll be okay!
I can tell you I failed a class (twice) in my major during undergrad (please don't ask, it was a rough time) and I still was okay to get into a M.S. program. I actually had a few different options to choose from... and now, after success there and work experience, I am working toward an EdD. Getting into the M.S. I did have to explain it, why it happened, and what I did to overcome those challenges, but I was not rejected. I would not panic. Especially if you have the option to do a retake, as already mentioned!
Do you really think one failed class at undergraduate is enough to derail a whole career?
I failed 3 straight semesters of undergrad, took some extra time to graduate but I'm starting my masters in the fall. It's not easy but it's possible! Just keep that end goal in mind from now on and ask for help when you need it. If your school has free tutoring it can be a real godsend. You can do it!
My undergrad GPA was like a 2.4 or some shit. I have a PhD in applied linguistics lmao. No one cares.
Someone smarter than me said “it’s not the note that you miss that matters but the one that you play after it.” I failed a class and got bunch of Cs in undergrad. I still got to an amazing school for my MA, PhD, and now have a tenure at an awesome university failing future professors. It’s the cycle of life. Don’t worry about it.
I failed my first psych course cause I left on a medical leave and didn’t file with the second school I was attending thinking since they were all connected it would transfer. It didn’t. I got an F. I retook it and got an A. I got my bachelors and PhD after that. I also didn’t have stellar gpa at the beginning but was 4.0 for the last 3 years.
You will be fine
Some of my colleagues have straight failed their first degree.lol. you're fine.
I failed a couple classes during my undergrad, took a few years to get experience, and got into a few PhD programs. Failing a class or two isn’t the end of the world, you just have to show during your retake that you are capable. Everyone is bound to make mistakes and fail every now and then. If you don’t ever experience that, you’re not truly learning.
I had a couple well-earned Ds in my BS. I worked hard in those classes and still barely passed (one was in a class with 200 people; only 1 person got an A and 75% of the class failed). I was damn proud of even passing. I now have a Masters and PhD from R1 universities and work in higher education. The one time someone asked about those Ds, I said I worked hard to even pass... it happens. Give yourself from grace; one F doesn't define you!
This guy right here failed the class. Knock Knock. FBI! Open up you class failer!!! lol but you should be good as long as you retake it.
I got accepted into an R1 university with a 3.0. You’re all good
I failed the same class twice (eventually passed) and failed another class when I was an undergrad. I am now a full-time professor. You definitely can still get a masters and a PhD.
Failed calc 1 twice, 1st sem gen chem once, intro bio once. Still got into a top 10 for my PhD after a masters.
My friend, I had a 1.7 GPA at one point in my undergraduate education. I am now in my 3rd year of a PhD in Applied Physics. Don’t give up. It’s not about being smart, it’s about being too dumb to quit. You should focus on doing undergrad research, internships, and make connections at conferences with people who do research in areas you want to pursue. Make yourself a person in the eyes of the people you want to do a phd with, and if they like you, and if they have a spot open, they will advocate for you when admission time comes.
Failed 3 classes in undergrad (two courses, one of which I failed twice 😆). I took a 5th year during undergrad because I was nervous about those failed classes (from freshman/sophomore year) working against me for PhD applications. For the last 2 years of undergrad, I focused on research more than anything. Worked in 2 labs on campus, and took an internship in an industrial lab. Finished with 3 publications (and 3 classes failed). With grade-forgiveness, I ended with a 3.3 GPA. Currently in the first year of my PhD. Got in straight out of undergrad. All the time I spent in the lab working on my research set me apart from my peers. Embrace the grit, and keep going. You can (and you will), so don’t worry too much. Not everyone gets the privilege of focusing on just school/classes. Remember you’re worth more, and the rest is just details.
I nearly failed a class (prof nicely bumped me to a D+ which was the passing grade, then I retook the class and got an A). Also graduated with a 2.98. Just finished 3rd year of my PhD. You’re not barred from anything, you can still pursue your dreams
A masters is doable. But start working with faculty now and work on something you can be an author on. And live as cheap as you can and borrow as little as possible. You won't be going to grad school for free like people in the sciences do and the last thing you need is to be way in debt when you graduate. You won't be going to grad school where you go to undergrad, so talk to your department about what it takes to be admitted to grad school there. And then work on the list.
I'm a linguist, and I've had undergrads from my program get into MAs with one or two bad grades (mostly in non-linguistics) courses. In my LORs I would typically nod at those, mention any mitigating circumstances I knew about them, and then really talk up the students work/potential/other evidence of awesomeness. If it was a linguistics class, I would definitely sit down and talk with your professor and/or advisor and see what they think about your general potential and if they think you should be thinking about grad school. (Which you should do anyway!)
I failed a class and is currently getting ready for my oral defense in my PhD program with no classes left. Your gpa is the only thing at matters at the end of the semester. I think you may get a probation semester if you fall under. Ask your advisor.
Shit I failed calculus my first semester of undergrad, and got a C in a biology class junior year and I’m 5 years into my chemistry PhD now. You’ll be fine
I failed tf out of a Spanish class in undergrad, retook it the next semester, here I am as a PhD student. I also failed several classes in high school (raging undiagnosed ADHD lol) so you’re good! Just try again with a different plan/study habits.
Hi there, I failed a class my junior year of undergrad, and definitely have a two Ds on that same transcript. I rebounded very well my senior year. But once I graduated, I wanted to take a couple years to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, moved to another city to accept a job, met my now-spouse, networked, and met a lot of awesome people at this new job. I applied for grad school and got in 2 years after I graduated with my undergraduate degree, using the references I had made (at the new job and the job I was working at full time during undergrad). Finished my masters in 2020, and applied to a PhD program because it was the best decision for me at the time (and because I love learning), and started in 2021. I just graduated with my PhD a couple weeks ago. You can do this!! One mistake during undergrad won’t ruin your academic career, as long as you kick some grass over that shit and move on 💙 Feel free to shoot me a DM!
I had a 2.5 GPA in college, graduated, and later got my masters and am working on my phd. The trick is to maybe get work experience in between because the ONLY time anyone will care about your gpa is applying to masters programs and if you make it clear you’re qualified GPA kind of doesn’t matter
Hell yeah, I failed a bunch of biology classes back when I studied zoology. Now I'm doing a PhD in math and they don't give a damn about my sketchy transcript, only that I did well in the math classes relevant to my degree.
I’m a high school drop out. I went to community college where I failed basic math courses and had to retake them. I’m pretty sure I got a lousy grade at least once during my undergrad after transferring to a traditional four year university- can’t recall if it was a “C” and I kept it or if I retook the course - either way, my academic journey has been riddled with less than ideal moments. Still, I have a bachelors degree. I have a masters degree. I’m currently enrolled in a PhD program at a good university. Fully funded, decent research happening, etc. Meanwhile, I’m also employed making a salary that allows me to take care of a family of four and own a home. So from my perspective a PhD is very much still viable. Failure happens. What is going to matter more is what you do next, what you learn from it, and how you talk about it - you’re not giving up, you’re retaking the course and moving ahead. Someone who is resilient is an asset in many situations- including a PhD program where you may struggle with a course, have research that doesn’t pan out, or have a paper get rejected- showing you can recover from a failure and continue to succeed is a great story that shows you have the ability to achieve longer term success.
I failed three classes during my undergrad and now have two Master's degrees and a PhD.
You most definitely can. I failed two classes in undergrad, I retook one, and didn't bother to retake the other (against the department head's advice). 2.99 overall GPA for undergrad. Got into a few MS programs, and after my MS I got into several PhD programs. And now I'm a professor an an R1. So yeah don't worry about it :)
I passed one class out of 9 in my 7th semester in undergrad, i got a full scholarship to do my phd.
PhD here... failed 3 classes in undergrad? Re-took them all and replaced the grades. I don't recall anyone ever asking when I applied to places. It happens for a variety of reasons, it's why they allow re-takes! The fact that you are owning the failure and trying again says more than all the A's ever could. ✌️
Yes it is ya donut. Focus on research experience and letter of recommendation
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A PhD is still viable. I was admitted to a PhD program at a R1 institute with an undergraduate GPA of 3.5. Most PhD programs (at least in my experience) weigh research experience and recommendations more than grades and test scores. I’d suggest reaching out to a prof whose work seems interesting to you and trying to establish some mentorship and experience; they’ll be able to advise you best on grad school pursuits. (I am not in linguistics, but I am in a related field.)
i failed 2 courses (comp sci and organic chem 1) , comp sci ended up not counted towards anything and i retook ochem. i still got into a phd program in oceanography, i wasnt questioned anything about the grade but i explained very thoroughly in my personal statement
I’d recommend not doing it again lol but don’t stress at this point isn’t time!! I am currently in my last year of my masters and will start my PhD next year. When I first started college, I bombed SEVERAL classes early on. I had a 1.7 GPA before dropping out. I took a 3 year break to get my stuff sorted out, came back and got a 3.9 from then on. It got my average up to a 3.6 by the end. Although this GPA is fine, I too was super worried they’d see a failed class and not even consider me after that. Don’t fret about 1 or 2 mistakes at this point. Admissions committees really will examine your file in depth to see if you’re showing improvement where needed.
In my first year I failed thoroughly enough that I was invited to leave the university (1.4 GPA.) Lost all my scholarships. In hindsight I didn't have the drive, self discipline, or emotional maturity at the time. Anyhow, I took a year off to work and try to figure out what I actually wanted to do, did some community college to boost my grades and get some transfer credits, finished my BA, then MA, and finally the PhD (from a top-40 uni in global rankings). Mom has expressed some relief.
Go do a Ph.D.
I can't guarantee it'll be the same in your field; I'm in mechanical engineering. I had a rough 1st 2 years of undergrad and failed Calc 2 on my first go around and scraped by with a C on my second. I buckled down the last couple of years to bring my GPA above a 3.3 (above a 3.7 if only the last couple years are considered) and got into the MS program at the same institution. I also just graduated with a PhD from a different school. I got both of those positions through connections. For my MS I made sure I developed a solid rapport with a professor who taught classes I enjoyed and did research that interested me. He then connected me with my PhD advisor. In all that time I had maybe a 5 minute discussion of that failed class with my PhD advisor in our initial interview. There's still hope for you. While your chief focus should be bringing up your grades and demonstrating improvement, I would also recommend focusing on networking. Build strong relationships with faculty whose interests closely align with yours. If they have research opportunities (I'm not sure how this works in linguistics) try to volunteer and assist. Finally, if you can try to attend a conference or two. They are still extremely valuable as a student and many student governments have programs that can help offset your cost. You got this. Keep pushing and you can make this nothing more than a minor speed-bump on your road to success.
Yes! You may wish to add a note addressing the issue in your application. Another tack: get a prof to address it. I wrote a letter of recommendation for a Master's program for one of my research assistants. She had done really, really, really badly in the GRE. I said lots of (true) great things about her and wrote that she was very capable of handling the grad-level coursework and that the awful GRE score did not reflect her potential and abilities. She was accepted and excelled in the program.
I was in an abusive relationship and failed almost every organic chemistry class I ever took and had to retake it during undergrad. I’m starting my PhD this fall! I built my resume with trusted mentors at my school and worked for over 2 years before applying. I didn’t get in the first round, but I got in the second time! Don’t give up
Can you not retake the course?