CC in odd circumstances

[clausewitz2]

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So close to being done with coursework, but my advisor, who until now has had no problem with my taking one class a semester while finishing my Ph.D, has suddenly ordered me to withdraw from all classes and seems pretty unwilling to budge on this point. so much for completing them at my university.

However, he cannot control what I do on my own time, so I had the idea of trying to take the relevant class at night at the local CC. I know that you're not supposed to do CC work for the most part, but the vast majority of my work will have been at a 4 year. Do you think this would be a serious mistake (being unable to take classes now would basically mean I miss this application cycle).

Somewhat time-sensitive due to enrollment deadlines, so input appreciated!

 

[372146]

Surely, one class at a cc is not going to hurt you, especially if you have a good reason for taking it there. You're not taking the "easy" route - you hit a bump in the road and you're doing what you need to do to complete your courses. No shame in that! Just make sure you get a good grade.

 

[hopefuldoc97239]

Surely, one class at a cc is not going to hurt you, especially if you have a good reason for taking it there. You're not taking the "easy" route - you hit a bump in the road and you're doing what you need to do to complete your courses. No shame in that! Just make sure you get a good grade.

I agree with this sentiment, but having been in a similar position to you let me bring up two things to keep in mind:

1. If you have a PhD it will look really weird not to have a LOR from your dissertation advisor. So stay on your advisor's good side!

2. If you're supported by a fellowship like the NRSA or a GRFP, or whatever kind of grant the Department of Defense gives, you might be expected by your granting agency to give all of your time to your PhD program. This might go for other funding sources as well. So while they can't control what you do in your own time, be careful not to make them mad and give you a lot more free time (i.e., kicked out of school!). Not likely, but I'm just sayin'...

 

[clausewitz2]

I agree with this sentiment, but having been in a similar position to you let me bring up two things to keep in mind:

1. If you have a PhD it will look really weird not to have a LOR from your dissertation advisor. So stay on your advisor's good side!

2. If you're supported by a fellowship like the NRSA or a GRFP, or whatever kind of grant the Department of Defense gives, you might be expected by your granting agency to give all of your time to your PhD program. This might go for other funding sources as well. So while they can't control what you do in your own time, be careful not to make them mad and give you a lot more free time (i.e., kicked out of school!). Not likely, but I'm just sayin'...

Yeah, I'm doing my best to stay on his good side, so I withdrew from all classes on campus (other than the pro forma "dissertation research" class we have to be registered for), and don't plan to say a mumbling word about any extracurricular activities to anyone other than my SO.

While I was on a fellowship last year, this year I'm a bit more fancy free with regards to effort-reporting requirements (oh how I know them well). I am now submitting weekly summaries of all work products and work activities during the week, and, most importantly, minutes of all meetings and conversations with any member of my committee. I've discovered that interdisciplinary work can mean you get mau-mau'd by imperfect recollections of important meetings if you don't do something like this...

 

[fizzgig]

I'm doing this - I figure my prereqs I'm doing now are my newest extracurricular activity, essentially. My newest EC that I hate, that is.

 

[Quik]

I've addressed this very question with one admission's officer, who assured me a few courses at a CC would be no problem. However, these are two of the very basic pre-reqs, but frankly I wouldn't expect it to be a problem.