Fifth Week Flags & Beyond

A Fifth Week Flag is an early warning email alert sent by the instructor of a class to any freshman whose work is below a grade of C at the fifth week. The flag is an alert to let you and your advisor know that you need to improve your performance in one or more subjects.

Flags are sent right after the fifth week of the term, by which time you've had several quizzes and problem sets. At this point it's still early enough in the term for you to improve your performance. Fifth Week Flags are for your information; no notation is made on your external record.

• What is the Fifth Week Flag process
  
• What to do if you receive a Fifth Week Flag

Fifth Week Flags Process

Flags are sent via email to you from your instructor or TA, with a copy to your freshman advisor, and a copy to the Undergraduate Advising and Academic Programming office (UAAP).

Dean Donna Friedman of the UAAP will follow up each flag with a separate personal email to the freshman and the advisor, encouraging the student to seek assistance and providing a list of helpful resources,

What to do if you receive a Flag

A flag notice is your opportunity to improve your performance and go on to pass the class. The earlier you respond to the flag, the more likely it is that you'll pass your classes with flying colors.

• The flag is nothing to be embarrased about; roughly 18% of freshmen are flagged in any one term.
  
  
• What is critical is to be proactive and take positive steps to address the issue.
  
  
• Don't wait until the end of the term to respond to a Fifth Week Flag -- by then it will be too late. MIT subjects cannot be learned in the last few weeks of a term.

• Ask for help. Statistically, freshmen who receive Fifth Week Flags and access helping resources are far more likely to improve their performance and go on to pass the subject(s) in which they were flagged.
  
  
• Most important is to make an appointment with your TA or recitation instructor as soon as possible to discuss ways in which you can improve your performance.

• Be in touch with your advisor, who will also want to know what steps you are taking.

• Go to subject review sessions. These are advertised in your subject syllabus.
  
  
• Review the Learning to Learn website for useful tips on time management, test-taking skills, finals prep, and other topics.

• Take advantage of the free tutoring resources available.
  
  
• If you still believe you are in serious trouble in a subject, and may possibly fail it, meet again with your advisor and instructor.
  
  
• You might also consider meeting with the counseling deans in Student Support Services. They can, if necessary, advocate on your behalf and/or direct you to other helping resources.

If you receive two or more flags, you may need to think about possibly dropping a class in order to save your performance in your other subjects. Take a look the information about making the decision to drop a subject or not. 

You should also consult your advisor and/or Dean Donna Friedman, in the UAAP, room 7-104, firstyear-www@mit.edu, about your options.