Your stomach sinks until it feels like it’s on the floor. That midterm grade you were waiting for? It’s posted, but it’s not even close to what you were expecting. It’s bad. Really bad. Now what?

Experts from our Academic Advising Centre share some of their best advice when it comes to picking up the pieces when things don’t go as planned.

1. Take a breath

First of all, you’re not alone. Our academic advising staff talk to students in this situation every single semester. They say that it’s perfectly natural to feel a bit raw after getting a grade that’s lower than you thought it would be. It’s also okay to wait a day or two to let those first feelings go. The worst thing you can do? Withdraw emotionally, try to ignore what happened and think that it will just go away.

So what should you do when it feels like your academic career is plummeting toward certain failure? Being realistic is key.

2. It’s reality check time

Think about what happened – and be honest. Ask yourself: Is this an academic issue? Was I  doing what I needed to do to be where I want to be? Have I been going to classes, keeping up on readings and doing the assignments and practice questions? Was I truly prepared? Or is there something in particular I didn’t understand?

If you answered yes to any of the above, then it’s probably time to talk to your prof – see tip three. If you answered no to all of them, the issue might go beyond academics and into life balance. Check out tip six.

3. Talk to your prof

This is probably the last thing you feel like doing when you’re not on the A-list, but talking to your prof and reviewing the exam or assignment with them is a good idea.

Our advisors say that most people cringe when they suggest this – students often feel reluctant or embarrassed and think, “I’m a terrible student. Why would my prof want to talk to me?” but that’s what they’re there for. This may feel like a very intimate and personal problem to you, but for them, it’s really not. They see hundreds of students a year, and you’re certainly not the first or only student who is having trouble.

Remember those office hours on the syllabus? Talk to your prof, find out what you need to work on and make a plan.

4. Make a plan

If what you did last time didn’t give you the results you wanted, this is the time to try something new. And our advisors say that many people’s least favourite task – budgeting – just might help you boost your grades.

Making a time budget – a plan for what you need to do when – can make a big difference. If you know you have a lab or assignment due on Friday, map out your time and what you need to do each day to get it done. And planning to do everything Thursday night isn’t actually a plan. Advisors suggest studying in little bursts and often. It’s easier to set aside a half-hour chunk every day than it is to study all day Saturday.

There are also lots of resources on campus that can help you bolster your marks. Here are a few:

• Writing Centre Services, Math and Stats Learning Centre: Check out their hours and see if they can provide the type of help you need.
• Improve your study skills: Download expert guides, attend group workshops or schedule personalized coaching to discover strategies, tools and techniques that will set you up for academic and future success.
• Study groups: Many classes form study groups at the beginning of the semester, and some disciplines have informal meetings or networks where you can connect with other people in your program.

5. Do the math

Take some time to think about where you are and where you want to be. 

A bad grade can make you feel, well, bad. But think about this example: if you bombed your first midterm and it's worth 25 per cent of your final grade, you still have 75 per cent of your course to bring that mark up.

You should also consider how this program fits within your program requirements. 

One of the best things you can do is to talk to a program-specific academic advisor to best understand this, and what options you have regarding continuing on, or withdrawing without academic penalty. 

Make sure you know the Drop/Withdrawal process (not attending a course isn’t the same as dropping it), and don’t forget to look at the Academic Schedule so you know the deadlines.

6. Something’s got to give

If the issue you’re having is more about juggling than studying, you may have to look at scaling back.

You may need to reduce your working hours, extracurricular activities, family commitments or course load.

Deciding what’s best for you means putting all of your priorities on the table and looking at what is most important.

If you need to finish your program in a certain timeframe, then you might need to work less. If you need to work to pay your expenses, or if your family is your priority, then maybe you need to take one less course each semester. If taking four courses a term is going to make a happier, healthier, more successful you, do it! It’s okay. And you can always look at Spring or Summer courses if you feel like you need to make up for lost time.

And if you need some extra help figuring things out, Wellness and Psychological Services is a good place to get it.

7. Be kind to yourself

According to our advisors, too often students have preconceived ideas of what makes a good student. We need to accept that we all have different strengths and weaknesses. You’re not the same as your friends or the other students in your class, and you may need to try different things until you find what works best for you.