Wow I'm Not Good at Econ

I thought I was going to be an economics concentrator - I love finance - but got a 55% on the first midterm! I studied so hard; I guess I just can't do it.

Signed,

Wow, I'm Not Good At Econ

Welcome to Brown, where that score may mean with the curve you actually passed the exam. The professor probably posted the breakdown of the scores in Canvas or in an email message to the class.

That being said, just because you got that score and grade, it certainly doesn't mean your hopes of being an economics concentrator are dashed.

Have you heard of the term "growth mindset"? Simply put, a growth mindset is one in which you believe that intelligence develops with effort and a dedication to learning over time. In contrast, a fixed mindset assumes that people are "born with" a predetermined amount of intelligence or capacities. Plenty of upperclassmen will tell you of their own experiences with bombing a first exam and improving as time goes on.

Analyze more concretely what you did get right and what points you lost for the other 45% of the test. Were they simple errors on your part, or are there concepts that you still don't understand? Don't hesitate to meet with the professor and/or course TA to ask about the concepts you're still struggling with and for advice on strategies for better preparing for the next exam.

Wait until the course is over to reflect on whether econ is your thing. It's too early to make a judgment call on that one.

CRCer Ruth says:

I got a 64% on my first-ever midterm at Brown. In some STEM classes, this would be a good score... This was not one of those classes. I was well below the median. After the exam, I took some time and just let myself feel bummed out, but after that, I started to reflect on how I prepared for the exam. I realized that I didn't give myself enough time to prepare and that a lot of the time I spent studying wasn't very focused. For the next two exams, I put a lot more time and effort into really knowing the material. I ended up doing super well in the class. A bad score on the first midterm doesn't mean you're doomed for the rest of the semester, I can tell you that from experience. Now is a great time to talk to the professor or a TA about ways you can improve your study habits!

CRCer Dorothy says:

It can be frustrating and discouraging to see a dissatisfying score on the first midterm, but you're definitely not alone. There are plenty of TAs - even professors - who have stories of how they failed the first tests and papers in classes of their respective fields. Your performance on this exam does not reflect on how you will do in the rest of the class or in the department. This can be a great opportunity to seek extra support from and build relationships with TAs, tutors, professors, and friends!