[retro_chic]

I'm just so average at uni and it is really bothering me. The grading system at my uni ranges from 7-0 (7 is a high distinction and 0 is a fail). My GPA is a five. I wanted to try and improve it this last semester but I don't think I did (I haven't got all my grades back yet). I tried my best all year too so it is really depressing that my best is so average. Before I started uni at the beginning of the year my goal was to get all 6's and 7's but I completely messed that up. Ugh. There is no real point to this post, I just wanted to vent.

[atomicc]

You can always improve! I had a 1.7 GPA due to a drug and alcohol addiction and now I'm graduating with a 3.5 and straight A's for two years. Just keep at it.

[TheNextOne]

Yeah my GPA in bachelors was mid 2's and then in my masters it went up to 3.7 (ceiling is 4.0 here AKA marks above 80 for every subject) because I had a reason to try (I couldn't get a job with my 2.5's). Motivation and effort are the primary reasons that some people score higher than others, it's not that much to do with being "average" that's more of a put-down and excuse for not pushing yourself more and believing in yourself.

[davie08]

The key is to keep giving 100% even when it only gives you say 70% in grades, because as your brain adjusts to you working this way it will get easier. You will find that your 100% effort becomes more efficient and it will take less effort to get that 70%.

[retro_chic]

Uh, thanks for the replies I guess.

[mazing]

Sorry to hear you didn't get the grades you were hoping for! It can be extremely hard when you set a goal and don't manage to achieve it but don't give up. I am not 100% sure how the grading works but from what I can see 5 is still a decent mark.

Can you try focusing on one or two of your favourite subjects and aim for higher marks in those? It is extremely challenging to get extremely high marks in everything - we all have things that we are better or worse at than others - but it is often easier to do the extra study etc if it is something you are really interested in.

[Perna]

Your maths needs a bit of work? Last time I figured it, "average" on a 7-point scale would be about 3.5? Five sounds pretty good! But I would not look at the grade, I'd look at what you are learning and what you'd like to learn better? You don't need distinction from them, just from yourself and for your purposes, come up with your own goals for the courses you are taking. If they cannot see how brilliant you are, that's their loss Do your tests or papers come with feedback?

I am about to get my second paper back (got a 59 on my first, 60 is "excellent" so I know where you are coming from :-) but my tutor sent everyone a page telling us how we could improve and I made sure I did everything on that paper! I'd better get at least a 65 on this one :-) It's a game, play it the best you can by their rules but don't forget you are playing for yourself and what you are doing/learning may not necessarily correspond to what they want you to do/learn. Experiment, play, enjoy yourself!