first-year grades don't count towards my degree, so ofc I have great ones now

[cosmolinguist]

My final grades for my first-semester classes have finally appeared!

I only have two (because I have one first semester class that is also a second semester class).

I got 81 for one (psycholinguistics) and 77 for the other (morphology and syntax).

(The way this semester is going, that is not going to continue! So I'll enjoy the feeling while I can!)

Honestly though I think my biggest achievement is just figuring out how to access the damn grades. It is not obvious and no one tells you how.

Comments

[miss_s_b]

GO you!

[strange_complex]

Well done you! Also, I see a lot of individual students' overall mark profiles and trajectories, both as a personal tutor and in exam board meetings, and I can very definitively say that they do not tend to go backwards over the course of their degrees. Marks over 80 are unusual at any level, but I can't think of a single case I've seen involving these sorts of marks in first year which didn't continue with the student staying in the 70+ band for their rest of their studies. So take heart and keep up the good work! :-)

[cosmolinguist]

That is good to hear.

I felt like both first-semester lecturers were mindful that they were dealing with people straight from high school, so the assignments and exams were laid out really clearly, what was asked of us was incredibly straightforward, and so it seemed easy to do well.

This semester, the things being asked of me are less clear and more demanding. There seems an impatience with all that we don't know yet (including things we didn't have the chance to take until this semester!). It feels much more intimidating, and I've been running to stand still all semester whereas I only felt like that the last couple of weeks last time.

Maybe my pessimism will end up being unfoinded, I'd be fine with that! But I feel I came by it honestly. :) So thanks for offering the encouragement of your experience.

[cosmolinguist]

Oh, I forgot: maybe another reason for my pessimism is that this is what I did last time I tried university: I got good grades freshman year, but by my third year was failing out. Obviously I've put a lot of work and thought into attempting to avoid that this time! But it's hard not to be reminded of that a little bit.

[theandrewhickey]

You didn't have me helping then. I may be useless at many things, but I'll be able to help you through your course.

[cosmolinguist]

Oi! You are not useless at many things!

[sfred]

Wow! Congratulations!

[worlds_of_smoke]

Congratulations!!

[jesse_the_k]

Raises her cup of tea in salute!