I failed my final year exam.

[AmolP]

Folks,I witnessed the worst nightmare of my life yesterday.I failed my final year exam.To begin with I'm decent student who works hard for his marks.Apart from my educational woes I'm also grossly overweight.So here's my story:

I gave my final year B.Sc.[I.T.] exam 4 months ago,it took our great Mumbai University 4 months to check papers in the first place.While writing my papers or during the 4 month vacations,never did I feel that I would fail.I joined a course in ethical hacking and internet security during my vacation which is 6 days a week and now I'll have to either cut down on my schedule or take a break.And I truly enjoyed doing this course because first and foremost I was never good at programming and secondly I always loved learning more about internet.In fact,I was about to commence with my M.Sc in cyber securities as soon as I was done with my graduation.But now,at least for some time period,it is not going to happen.Education is taken very seriously in India[where I live] and people are not open minded like the ones in Western Countries.People who fail are ridiculed,teased and humiliated.In fact,I know people who lost their mental state due to this and there's an alarming rate of students in India who commit suicide due to failure.But I'll never stoop to that level.

Now,I need some advice from you guys over how I can start this over.I'm yet to know which paper[s] I have flunked in.I need to send it for rechecking,re-exam etc.Even when I clear my re-exams I'll get only a "pass" class despite good performance in my result due to university rules.

One of my deepest,darkest and most painful nightmare came true and now I fear that I'll never get a good job.I'm 21 and my only aim in life is to be successful in my career and support my parents when they are old.My parents laugh when I say so because both of them are financially independent but I've seen how hard they work for me.I hope this time period where I'm suffering from pain,anger,guilt and also me questioning my abilities and faith comes to an end.

[Clint Cora]

Yes, when you are so close to graduation, that's the first thing you should do. Do whatever it takes to complete your graduation and learn from whatever you failed to do during your last exam.

[Merr]

First of all, despite some of your negative beliefs I think it's great that you've turned somewhere for help rather than just accepted that failing an exam is the end of the world. Is there any way that you can go back and resit modules or redo your degree? This could be an option to think about if you think that your degree will not be much assistance to you in the professional world.

Although you believe that you cannot do a master's degree iny your own country, have you thought about studying elsewhere? Some countries will have lower entry requirements and you may be able to get a master's degree that way. Having a good master's degree will be enough to make your undergraduate degree mark less important in the eyes of employers.

Find out where you went wrong and see where you can learn from it - there's even a possibility that harsh marking took place and if you think that happened, appeal it. I don't know what the appeals process is like in India, but I imagine that you would need to move fairly to appeal if this is the case.

Whatever happens, good luck and know that you're not alone in failing an important exam. Most of us have done this at one time or another and although it doesn't feel particularly nice, it doesn't have to hold you back.

[lydianoel]

Originally Posted by AmolP

Folks,I witnessed the worst nightmare of my life yesterday.I failed my final year exam.To begin with I'm decent student who works hard for his marks.Apart from my educational woes I'm also grossly overweight.So here's my story:

I gave my final year B.Sc.[I.T.] exam 4 months ago,it took our great Mumbai University 4 months to check papers in the first place.While writing my papers or during the 4 month vacations,never did I feel that I would fail.I joined a course in ethical hacking and internet security during my vacation which is 6 days a week and now I'll have to either cut down on my schedule or take a break.And I truly enjoyed doing this course because first and foremost I was never good at programming and secondly I always loved learning more about internet.In fact,I was about to commence with my M.Sc in cyber securities as soon as I was done with my graduation.But now,at least for some time period,it is not going to happen.Education is taken very seriously in India[where I live] and people are not open minded like the ones in Western Countries.People who fail are ridiculed,teased and humiliated.In fact,I know people who lost their mental state due to this and there's an alarming rate of students in India who commit suicide due to failure.But I'll never stoop to that level.

Now,I need some advice from you guys over how I can start this over.I'm yet to know which paper[s] I have flunked in.I need to send it for rechecking,re-exam etc.Even when I clear my re-exams I'll get only a "pass" class despite good performance in my result due to university rules.

One of my deepest,darkest and most painful nightmare came true and now I fear that I'll never get a good job.I'm 21 and my only aim in life is to be successful in my career and support my parents when they are old.My parents laugh when I say so because both of them are financially independent but I've seen how hard they work for me.I hope this time period where I'm suffering from pain,anger,guilt and also me questioning my abilities and faith comes to an end.

I failed 10th grade because of biology and geometry at the same time. it happens. It will only make you stronger in the long run!

[AmolP]

Folks,thanks for your kind replies.First and foremost,I did check my result.I failed in C#.Now to begin with it was not the easiest paper but neither was it the toughest.I didnt feel that I'd fail tbh and the worst was when they gave me 18 marks out of 100,I didn't see that coming and no way I could have scored this low.Otherwise,I have over 60 marks in all other subjects.According to the university rule,you need 20 marks out of 100 for rechecking.The fact that I couldn't do much against this depresses me.Life goes on I guess.


To lydianoel and others who failed their major exams,
What steps you took to be successful after a major academic setback?Your replies would mean a lot.

Regards,
AmolP

[Cochonette]

Originally Posted by AmolP

Folks,thanks for your kind replies.First and foremost,I did check my result.I failed in C#.Now to begin with it was not the easiest paper but neither was it the toughest.I didnt feel that I'd fail tbh and the worst was when they gave me 18 marks out of 100,I didn't see that coming and no way I could have scored this low.Otherwise,I have over 60 marks in all other subjects.According to the university rule,you need 20 marks out of 100 for rechecking.The fact that I couldn't do much against this depresses me.Life goes on I guess.


To lydianoel and others who failed their major exams,
What steps you took to be successful after a major academic setback?Your replies would mean a lot.

Regards,
AmolP

I said screw academics for a while and focus on building inner strength.

[Merr]

I picked myself up, dusted myself off and asked myself, 'OK, what next?' You learn from the failure, then you put it behind you and take the next step whether it's resitting, doing exams at a higher level or something else altogether. In my case it was re-sitting, getting better results and then making sure I had feedback from teachers/professors throughout the rest of my academic career.

Even if you can't have your paper re-checked, I'd still arrange to meet with your professor to discuss the specifics on how you only ended up with 18. It's really important that you know where and why you went wrong.

[James81]

Yeah, failing just means you get up and figure out how to do it again.

During my undergrad, I failed an entire semester's worth of courses (plus 3 more after that semester...which ultimately put me on academic probation). I retook some classes up to 3 times before graduating with a 2.3 GPA. Got a job in my field and worked 8 years, wishing I could do a Master's program but talking myself out of it because of my low GPA. In fact, I was beginning to think that i would never succeed academically ever again.

As of right now in the Master's program (that I had to jump through major hoops to get into because of my GPA), I'm pulling a 4.0 (after finishing 6 grad classes in one summber) and of my 4 other courses (pre-requisite online math courses), I've got in a B in one so far. 3 more to go.

Education is really about being tenacious, willing to take a few brutal "beatings" gradewise and being willing to pick yourself up after such failures and forge onto success. I believe you can do it if you try again, and the fact that this has affected you so shows that you truly care.

[Cochonette]

Originally Posted by James81

Yeah, failing just means you get up and figure out how to do it again.

During my undergrad, I failed an entire semester's worth of courses (plus 3 more after that semester...which ultimately put me on academic probation). I retook some classes up to 3 times before graduating with a 2.3 GPA. Got a job in my field and worked 8 years, wishing I could do a Master's program but talking myself out of it because of my low GPA. In fact, I was beginning to think that i would never succeed academically ever again.

As of right now in the Master's program (that I had to jump through major hoops to get into because of my GPA), I'm pulling a 4.0 (after finishing 6 grad classes in one summber) and of my 4 other courses (pre-requisite online math courses), I've got in a B in one so far. 3 more to go.

Education is really about being tenacious, willing to take a few brutal "beatings" gradewise and being willing to pick yourself up after such failures and forge onto success. I believe you can do it if you try again, and the fact that this has affected you so shows that you truly care.

[AmolP]

Folks,thanks for your kind and motivating replies.Sorry to trouble you but I feel much better after hearing your encouraging feedback.In India,due to the very large population,there are many colleges afflicted to the universities.The first two years of the three year graduation are conducted by the College and the final year by the University.So,i cannot conduct a meeting with any official.Only thing I can do is ask for photocopy which would take at least November and we cannot question the university regarding why they have given less marks for certain answer,you can only question if the totaling of marks is wrong,and if at all they've missed the thing and somehow you end up getting over 20,you'll have to send it for rechecking,results of which would be out in march,phew.I intend to go through the procedure but deep down I know that not much can be done now and I need to reappear for the October exam.

I'll like to add that reactions from people have been surprising.Being a decent student all these years,I saw how "happy" some of my "friends" were to see me fail.Don't know what happiness people get from watching others fail?My parents are very supportive but they are shell shocked,especially my dad who always encouraged me.

[rawxstasy]

During times of trouble is when you learn who your true friends are. Those so called friends who seem happy to see you fail have low self esteem. If I were you I'd say something like, "you look so happy I failed - why is that?" and watch them get uncomfortable.

It's great your parents are supporting you. I think the idea of studying abroad if you can would be a good way to move past this and it would help you to get into a good job later.

[aelle]

It took my boyfriend 7 years instead of 4 to finish his bachelor (it's one of the top 3 degrees in aerospace in the world, but still, damn...). He cleared his Master's in under 18 months, thesis research, writing and defense included. Failing is part of the learning process. It teaches you humility, it teaches you to get up and get going again, and it helps you understand concepts more deeply. Trust me, your professional life will be full of failures, mistakes and setbacks. It's a good thing that you are learning to deal with failure now!

[cacheborn]

Failing is very disappointing but it's a temporary setback. Good thing is it can be undone. I have failed couple of times. Looking back, it's not that important i the long run. Use this negative energy to put yourself back in action. Analyze your weak points and spend double time in overcoming them.

Good luck.

[Merr]

Originally Posted by aelle

It took my boyfriend 7 years instead of 4 to finish his bachelor (it's one of the top 3 degrees in aerospace in the world, but still, damn...). He cleared his Master's in under 18 months, thesis research, writing and defense included. Failing is part of the learning process. It teaches you humility, it teaches you to get up and get going again, and it helps you understand concepts more deeply. Trust me, your professional life will be full of failures, mistakes and setbacks. It's a good thing that you are learning to deal with failure now!

This is true. A long time ago someone said to me that failures and mistakes were as important as successes and I thought that it was rubbish. Now, I realise just how much value there was in that comment and in failures. Aelle is right as well that to have an early failure like this actually puts you in good stead. You have a positive attitude in wanting to make things better and make a life for yourself. You'll pick yourself up from this and become a better person. People who don't experience failures and mistakes early in life have no idea what to do when it happens later in life.

[Merr]

I forgot to add... even if you cannot appeal or question your mark discussing WHY you got the mark you did with a professor will still be a very helpful experience. In fact, it's essential that you do this if you're planning on further education because you need to know what mistakes you made (if any) so that you can know how to correct them in the future.

[AmolP]

Originally Posted by Merr

I forgot to add... even if you cannot appeal or question your mark discussing WHY you got the mark you did with a professor will still be a very helpful experience. In fact, it's essential that you do this if you're planning on further education because you need to know what mistakes you made (if any) so that you can know how to correct them in the future.

First and foremost,a big thanks to you and others for the feedback.
In India,we have college's which come under a university.I live in Mumbai and the college that I go to is afflicted to Mumbai University.The University exam over here are conducted by sending us to some other college in the nearby area,bar-coding the paper to hide the identity of the student and the papers are checked by someone who is employed by the Mumbai university.So,couldn't really ask my professor about what went wrong,mainly due to the fact that he didn't check the paper.Although,he was shocked to see that I failed because the overall result was very good this year.I'm just hoping that they consider my plea for rechecking but that process takes at least 4 months and its better that I give my re-exam in october and simultaneously await for the revaluation and rechecking[if they consider my case].

Regards,
Amol

[LifeFirst]

Originally Posted by lydianoel

I failed 10th grade because of biology and geometry at the same time. it happens. It will only make you stronger in the long run!

He's in INDIA......hell of a lot different than western countries.