U Grade Now What?
Bad grades can happen to good students. Take a deep breath, gather the information you need and focus on your next steps.
Review your syllabus to understand how your grade is calculated.
What is the highest grade I can still earn?
Is that grade acceptable?
If not, what are my options?
Schedule a meeting during office hours or make an appointment to discuss your progress.
Consider asking:
- What can I do to improve my performance?
- What should I focus on for the rest of the semester?
- Are there additional resources or study strategies you recommend?
You don’t have to navigate this alone. Take advantage of the academic resources available to help you get back on track.
Helpful resources include:
- Tutoring
- Skills Hub
- TCU Pro Skills
Use what you’ve learned to create a realistic plan for the rest of the semester.
Your plan might include:
- Creating a weekly study schedule
- Meeting with a success coach
- Attending tutoring sessions
- Visiting office hours regularly
- Tracking upcoming assignments and exams
Additional Information
Academic Advising
Work with your academic advisor to plan your degree, explore academic options and stay on track for graduation. Advisors are here to help you make informed decisions throughout your TCU journey.
Faculty office hours
Connect with your professors during office hours to ask questions, receive feedback and deepen your understanding of course material. Office hours are one of the best resources for academic success. Look at your syllabus, D2L, or ask your professor for their office hours. Have a question or two in mind, such as, what would you recommend I do to improve my performance? What do you think the most successful students in your class have in common? Can you recommend additional practice problems/readings/study strategies based on my performance in your class? While catching them before or after class might seem convenient, your professors are not always able, or prepared, to give you the attention they’d like to as they are transitioning in/out of the classroom, but office hours are for this exact purpose.
Peer2Peer Tutoring
Get free one-on-one support from trained peer tutors for select courses. Whether you need help with a challenging assignment or ongoing support, tutoring can help you build confidence and succeed.
TCU Pro Skills
Build academic, personal and professional skills through self-paced online modules. Earn digital certifications and incentives while strengthening skills like executive functioning, study strategies, time management and more.
Skills Hub
Quickly build essential academic skills with short, research-based videos and infographics. Learn practical strategies for studying, time management, organization and prioritization, in two minutes or less.
Student Success Coaching
Meet one-on-one with a success coach for personalized support. Whether you need help with time management, organization, study strategies or reaching your goals, coaching can help you build the skills to succeed.
Dean of Students
The Dean of Students Office helps students navigate academic, personal and campus concerns. Whether you need support, guidance or aren’t sure where to start, the team is here to help.
Student Organizations
Get involved, meet new people and discover opportunities outside the classroom. Explore TCU Engage to find student organizations, clubs and leadership opportunities that match your interests.
Student Activities
Make the most of your TCU experience by attending campus events, traditions and activities throughout the year. Find what’s happening on campus with What2Do@TCU.
Dropping, electing pass/no credit, and related academic policies
Be aware of important policies and dates each semester such as drop dates, deadlines to elect pass/no credit, etc.
https://registrar.tcu.edu/calendars.php
For advice about your specific situation, reach out to your academic advisor, your department chair, or the Office of Academic Advising.
Financial aid, loan, scholarship, and satisfactory academic progress considerations
Be aware of implications to your financial aid, loans and scholarships if you earn poor grades, drop courses, etc. This can include your future eligibility for student loans.
https://financialaid.tcu.edu/consumer-information/policies/index.php
For individualized assistance and advice regarding your financial aid, make an appointment: https://financialaid.tcu.edu/contact.php
Retaking a course
https://registrar.tcu.edu/current-students/enrollment/policies.php#accd23e72-repeating-a-course