What to Do If You Think You’re Going to Fail a Class

First: if you’re worried you might fail a class, you’re absolutely not alone. Almost every student hits a class at some point that feels impossible and that's totally chill. Just remember that your professor is also human and in the end, that single thought is what made things work out. It also wont always workout but that's the cost of playing the game!

If you’re at Santa Monica College (SMC), bookmark the Dates & Deadlines page for your term (drop deadline / withdrawal deadline). If you act early, you usually have more options.

1) Get a clear picture of where you actually stand

Before panicking, you need numbers. Look at the syllabus and figure out:

• How much each assignment/exam is worth.
• Which grades are already locked in.
• What’s still coming up (tests, projects, participation, etc.).

From there, estimate: “What grade do I need on what’s left to pass?” Sometimes the answer is “I’d need a 120% on the final,” which tells you it’s time to look at withdrawal options. Other times, it’s more like “I’d need a strong C on the final,” which is hard but doable. In fact, I've run into situations where after talking to a professor about the final, they said I didn't need to take it because I already racked up more than enough through extra credit so me taking the final didn't matter anymore because even if I scored a zero, I'd still have an A.

That's really the mindset that we should be going into each class with. It's a battle of points-- which is to say the better you do earlier on, the less you need to do later on!

2) Talk to your professor (even if it’s uncomfortable)

Office hours exist for exactly this moment. You don’t have to give a big speech. Something as simple as:

“Hi Professor, I've been struggling in this class and I'm worried I might not pass. I wanted to ask what my options are and what I should focus on for the rest of the term.”

Ask them directly:

• What is my current grade (right now)?
• Realistically, what grades would I need on remaining work to pass?
• Are there any assignments I can still turn in or re-do for partial credit?
• What’s the single best thing to do this week to improve my grade?

3) Know your drop vs. withdrawal deadlines (this is the turning point)

Most colleges have:

• An early drop deadline (class disappears from your transcript), and
• A later withdrawal deadline (shows up as a W instead of a letter grade).

A W is almost always better than an F. For SMC terms, verify exact dates on the Dates & Deadlines page.

4) If you stay in the class, shrink the problem (make it winnable)

Decide: “I’m staying in and aiming to pass.” Then make the class as small and structured as possible:

• List every remaining assignment and exam with dates.
• Circle which ones move your grade the most.
• Block off non-negotiable study time for those.
• Do the next most valuable task first (not the easiest one).

Then add support. If you’re at SMC, use tutoring / academic support and consider meeting with counseling to protect your long-term plan (especially if this is a prerequisite).

5) If you withdraw: make a “next attempt” plan immediately

If you decide to drop/withdraw, don’t treat it as quitting. Treat it as strategy:

• Pick the next term you’ll retake it.
• Adjust your schedule (fewer heavy classes together).
• Find a better fit (different professor/time, more tutoring built in).
• Start earlier next time (week 1 habits matter a lot).

6) Whatever happens, a bad grade is not the end of your story

One class, one term, or even one semester does not define you.

You’re allowed to struggle. You’re allowed to adjust. You’re allowed to ask for help. Failing a class doesn’t make you a failure.

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