2nd Trimester

Dropping this class

Tongue Tied Hi all.  I am very stressed out over a statistics class I am taking.  I generally love math but many students are failing (I am one of them). I spend hours on the homework and I still dont understand it.  The professor is very strict and doesnt even allow calculators.  He states that the first test is 4 hours long and no calculators allowed, yet he never gives us any examples so that we can understand the work.  We ask questions, but he talks around it and says statistics is common sense and easy.  His avg quiz grade is 40%.  Ive graduated college and need this class for a higher degree, and during college I maintained a 3.7 GPA. I have never had a problem like this before.

My husband wants me to drop the class because it is stressing me out and he is concerned about me and the baby, as we recieved some news about baby today in relation to his health (more tests are to be done). Of course now I am freaking out about the baby.But if I drop this class I will feel like a quitter, but I dont want to risk the health of the baby either.  So torn.....

Re: Dropping this class

  • i would drop it and try it again after you get settled with baby.  i am not one for extra stress though.  :)  good luck with your decision!
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  • I suggest you talk to the department head or dean about this before you drop it. If the teacher is being unreasonable, they need to know about it. It could prompt an observation, and then coaching for the professor so they can do better. Just because people have PhDs doesn't make them a good teacher, and if your professor isn't a good teacher, then his superiors need to know sooner than later. They don't want you to feel like your tuition dollars are wasted, because then you won't spend them there anymore. 

    If its too much stress, drop it and take it with another prof later, but PLEASE sit down and voice your concerns to the dean before you do so.  

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  • How far into the class are you at this point? And would you be stuck with the bill from the class if you quit now? If you are more than halfway done and have to pay for the class I would stick it out. Go talk to the teacher during his office hours for help. He can't fail EVERYONE. There must be a curve.

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  • I'd drop it and take it again with a different prof. I could not imagine stats without a claculator.
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  • Can you get a tutor? I had a tutor in college for accounting and it was the best decision I ever made.
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  • This sounds like it's potentially a weed out class.  They're pretty common in masters and above degrees.  I'd find out if: (1) it is a weed out class, (2) if any other professors teach it, and (3) what the consequences are for you dropping it and whether they're more or less than you failing it.  If you can take it again later from another professor, especially if that other professor actually uses modern equipment such as, gasp, calculators, and it won't hurt you academically to drop it (some schools highly discourage dropping classes), then I'd drop it.  It's not worth the stress to deal with this fool.  If it's a weed out class, chances are he's the only one that teaches it or they all follow similar teaching philosophies. 
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  • I would drop it for now. I took statistics, not a math person and I had more trouble with that class than any other undergrad class. It was so frustrating and time consuming. GL!
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  • Thanks everyone for the advice.  The drop date for this class isnt until Mar 21st so I'm not half way through.  The only problem with getting a tutor is trying to find a schedule in which I dont have my other children, or when husband is off - also because the school is an hour drive this is nearly impossible.  I will definitely talk to an academic advisor or the mathematics head before I drop.  I am sure there is a curve but the stress is overwhelming.  I can take it again with another professor at a later time. I just hate feeling like I'm giving up.

  • I wouldn't drop it.  IMO - thats what separates the A students from everyone else.  You're an A student, act like it.  Study more, study harder, get outside help - stop making excuses and blaming the professor on you failing.  If others are passing, you can be too. 

    I would talk to an advisor about options, but since its still really early in the semester - you have time to turn your grade around. 

    Sorry, that might not be the advice you wanted.  

     

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  • imageShaynnon:

    I wouldn't drop it.  IMO - thats what separates the A students from everyone else.  You're an A student, act like it.  Study more, study harder, get outside help - stop making excuses and blaming the professor on you failing.  If others are passing, you can be too. 

    I would talk to an advisor about options, but since its still really early in the semester - you have time to turn your grade around. 

    Sorry, that might not be the advice you wanted.  

     

    I think more than the failing its the stress.  We got some bad news today in relation to the baby and my husband wants me to drop the class because of that.  I know there is always a way to bring up a grade, because I have done it.  The major point here isnt the grade, but the health of the baby and me.  Thanks for the advice though.

     

  • imageMekBlizz:

    Thanks everyone for the advice.  The drop date for this class isnt until Mar 21st so I'm not half way through.  The only problem with getting a tutor is trying to find a schedule in which I dont have my other children, or when husband is off - also because the school is an hour drive this is nearly impossible.  I will definitely talk to an academic advisor or the mathematics head before I drop.  I am sure there is a curve but the stress is overwhelming.  I can take it again with another professor at a later time. I just hate feeling like I'm giving up.

    Is there another professor that teaches the class?  When I struggled with a math class with a professor who I just couldn't understand I asked another professor who taught the same class for help.  Our styles were much more in-sync and I passed with a B.

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  • can you pass/no credit it? 
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  • FutureMrs, that makes total sense.  I am going to the school tomorrow.  I dont feel that bad about my grade because the class avg is 40%, and on the last quiz the highest grade was a 60 and the lowest was a 35.  Based on those Stats, I only imagine 1-2 people passing and Im sure no one has an A.  Also, its a small night class at a community college and thats the avg. So its safe to say this class has no A students, and I being a person with 2 science degrees I know that just because a person is a professor doesnt mean they can teach, and no matter how much you study if you dont understand the basics, and how to answers his tests (his favorite line is, "Ha, Ha that was a trick question") passing can be very difficult.  This is coming from an "A" student. Ive never dropped a class before, but darn if Im going to let a class stress me out and people me and my babys health at risk.
  • I dont know if I can do that, tomorrow I will talk to an advisor to see what my options are.  Sorry, if Im a little emotional guys - after the phone call from the doctor today, Im a little on edge. Embarrassed
  • Quit the class. It doesn't make you a quitter. It makes you a mom who can make tough decisions. Take it later when you focus. Good luck!
  • imageMekBlizz:
    imageShaynnon:

    I wouldn't drop it.  IMO - thats what separates the A students from everyone else.  You're an A student, act like it.  Study more, study harder, get outside help - stop making excuses and blaming the professor on you failing.  If others are passing, you can be too. 

    I would talk to an advisor about options, but since its still really early in the semester - you have time to turn your grade around. 

    Sorry, that might not be the advice you wanted.  

     

    I think more than the failing its the stress.  We got some bad news today in relation to the baby and my husband wants me to drop the class because of that.  I know there is always a way to bring up a grade, because I have done it.  The major point here isnt the grade, but the health of the baby and me.  Thanks for the advice though.

     

    In that case I eat my words. :( I hope everything is okay with the baby.

    If at all possible though, I would try to finish it out if you can.  It's a hard class to take and won't be any easier when you have an infant to worry about. 

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  • As a current grad student myself, I say drop it! Your teacher sounds rediculous. No teacher should be willing to accept a 40% avg on his/her tests, this is a reflection that what their doing isn't working. Best of luck!
  • I would drop it. I took stat in highschool and while highschool curriculum and college curriculum are different, I couldn't imagine stat without a calculator. It was hard enough with the graphing calculator.
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