deadbeat advisor...

[verynice]

So, I have the worst advisor on the planet. I do not know what to do. I had a physics research class on my schedule, but due to time constraints, I decided I wanted to drop it. I asked him to do that in the first week. He completely ignored me!! I eventually had to get another teacher to do it and now I have a W on my transcript because he was lazy and ignored me. I mean, I even confronted him about it asking if he was going to take care of it and he literally said in an irritated tone, "I'll get to it some time" and just walked away from me. I don't know what to do at this point. Should I just leave it? It is only a one hour course and I don't have any other W's on my transcript. But then again, it isn't a deserved W. I am just irritated and am to the point of switching advisors.

Any suggestions are welcome

Thanks

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[1TB4RKSB4CK]

Looks like a personal problem to me.
I'm not sure how SDN can help you on this...

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

I hardly ever do what my advisers tell me. Some of them are awful. Either get a new one and get it fixed or tell the department chair.

 

[verynice]

Looks like a personal problem to me.
I'm not sure how SDN can help you on this...

If you didn't have advice, you didn't have to post anything.

 

[GoZags]

If you didn't have advice, you didn't have to post anything.

I would imagine that you should be able to call a meeting with the dean or arts and sciences but I would work up the chain first. Talk to physics dept chair, then dean of A+S, then after that idk lol. But honestly I wouldn't be surprised if they tell you that you should've followed up on the matter before it was too late. Nonetheless, I don't think a W in a 1 credit class will torpedo your app.

 

[CoolWhipp]

If you told your advisor to drop the class within the appropriate time, and he or she didn't do it then you should talk to the dean to take the W off.

 

[verynice]

I hardly ever do what my advisers tell me. Some of them are awful. Either get a new one and get it fixed or tell the department chair.

I guess I'll go to the chair and try to get it fixed then. Thanks

 

[verynice]

I would imagine that you should be able to call a meeting with the dean or arts and sciences but I would work up the chain first. Talk to physics dept chair, then dean of A+S, then after that idk lol. But honestly I wouldn't be surprised if they tell you that you should've followed up on the matter before it was too late. Nonetheless, I don't think a W in a 1 credit class will torpedo your app.

Sweet, thank you. Yeah, I just have somewhat of an issue with have one W on a one hour class lol. I'll talk to the chair and then see if I can get it removed.

 

[EBTrailRunner]

Out of curiosity, why couldn't you drop the course yourself? Why did it have to be done through an advisor?

 

[kexy]

Do you have proof that you asked your advisor before the deadline (like an email)? If so, I imagine you could forward it to the registrar to get the ball rolling..

 

[235788]

So, I have the worst advisor on the planet. I do not know what to do. I had a physics research class on my schedule, but due to time constraints, I decided I wanted to drop it. I asked him to do that in the first week. He completely ignored me!! I eventually had to get another teacher to do it and now I have a W on my transcript because he was lazy and ignored me. I mean, I even confronted him about it asking if he was going to take care of it and he literally said in an irritated tone, "I'll get to it some time" and just walked away from me. I don't know what to do at this point. Should I just leave it? It is only a one hour course and I don't have any other W's on my transcript. But then again, it isn't a deserved W. I am just irritated and am to the point of switching advisors.

Any suggestions are welcome

Thanks

self-advise yourself. You don't need him!!

 

[kpcrew]

You sound somewhat judgmental, hyperbolic and needy. Your adviser is probably very busy with his own problems (shocking, isn't it? It's almost as if he too is a person with a life). It sounds like you confronted him in a hallway instead of scheduling an appointment or visiting during office hours with a problem that you could have probably handled yourself. You should have been aware of your time commitments before finalizing your schedule. Take responsibility for your actions. JohnnyRomanes is a good poster. Signing up this month and denigrating users that are calling you out fairly is not very impressive.

 

[verynice]

Out of curiosity, why couldn't you drop the course yourself? Why did it have to be done through an advisor?

At my school, you have to have a drop/add form signed by your advisor. I actually do have an email with a time stamp on it, so I can definitely use that as evidence!

 

[verynice]

You sound somewhat judgmental, hyperbolic and needy. Your adviser is probably very busy with his own problems (shocking, isn't it? It's almost as if he too is a person with a life). It sounds like you confronted him in a hallway instead of scheduling an appointment or visiting during office hours with a problem that you could have probably handled yourself. You should have been aware of your time commitments before finalizing your schedule. Take responsibility for your actions. JohnnyRomanes is a good poster. Signing up this month and denigrating users that are calling you out fairly is not very impressive.

I appreciate the sentiment, however, this professor and I have had a very good relationship through my undergraduate career. Also, this professor does not schedule meetings. He has an open door policy. Granted, I did catch him in the hallway and he might have had something going on, but to ignore me for two weeks when I needed something done does not explain his actions.

As far as JohnnyRomanes being a good poster, this has no bearing on his attitude to new members. Frankly, your denigrating attitude towards me was unimpressive.

Correct me if I am wrong, but this website is for giving advice. I had a problem and posted it. If it was entirely inappropriate the mods would have taken it down by now and I wouldn't have gotten any responses. I appreciate your concern for new members, but next time, MYOB 🙂

 

[maybemed2013]

Why couldn't you drop the course yourself.

 

[verynice]

Why couldn't you drop the course yourself.

because my school forces us to get drop/add forms signed in order to do anything with our schedules. It is super annoying. (I go to a small private school so they are all weird and stuff.)

 

[kpcrew]

mods aren't very overbearing here and this isn't livejournal
he's not looking down on you for being a new member, he's looking down on you for sharing a petty problem that is unrelated to the purpose of this board. we're not here as your personal support group; we're here as people who are trying to get into medical school and may have useful nuggets of information to share with one another. this is not the place to cry about situations that you should have handled youself but didn't and end up trying to blame other people for your mishaps. if you don't want people minding your business, don't post your business on a public forum 🙂

 

[Double Trouble]

You sound somewhat judgmental, hyperbolic and needy. Your adviser is probably very busy with his own problems (shocking, isn't it? It's almost as if he too is a person with a life). It sounds like you confronted him in a hallway instead of scheduling an appointment or visiting during office hours with a problem that you could have probably handled yourself. You should have been aware of your time commitments before finalizing your schedule. Take responsibility for your actions. JohnnyRomanes is a good poster. Signing up this month and denigrating users that are calling you out fairly is not very impressive.

Lmao... I like how you are blowing this way out of proportion

 

[kpcrew]

Lmao... I like how you are blowing this way out of proportion

kthx

 

[Double Trouble]

mods aren't very overbearing here and this isn't livejournal
he's not looking down on you for being a new member, he's looking down on you for sharing a petty problem that is unrelated to the purpose of this board. we're not here as your personal support group; we're here as people who are trying to get into medical school and may have useful nuggets of information to share with one another. this is not the place to cry about situations that you should have handled youself but didn't and end up trying to blame other people for your mishaps. if you don't want people minding your business, don't post your business on a public forum 🙂

There is no "we" and "him". We are all part of SDN. And believe it or not, there are groups on here that are VERY closely knit and support each other through personal problems.

 

[kpcrew]

There is no "we" and "him". We are all part of SDN. And believe it or not, there are groups on here that are VERY closely knit and support each other through personal problems.

good story

 

[235788]

kthx

Lmao... I like how you are blowing this way out of proportion

you guys should hug it out

 

[Double Trouble]

good story

But did you hear the one about little red riding hood? That one's even better.

 

[wholeheartedly]

The poster is pre-med and is concerned about having a W on his transcript. Guess I'm not sure how that isn't potentially related to applying to medical school...

OP, I'd talk to someone, be it registration or what have you about getting the W removed. I'd also see about getting a different advisor if possible. Obviously a professor will have other time commitments, but he should still know and value the importance of getting something like that in by a deadline. If he did say he'd do it and didn't, that's a problem. If he said he wasn't sure you should drop it and would think about, that's a whole different issue. Sounds like the former though.

Also, as far as people remembering to do stuff I've found I've had the best success with a verbal request followed by an email reminder with the deadline, flagged priority if you can. That way people can leave it in their inbox as pending or transfer it to a computer to do list with a reminder or something. You also have documentation that you did make the request, maybe that they responded and how, and so forth.

That said I don't know that one W is going to kill your app. but still try to get it removed if you can.

 

[Cinclus]

You mean your school doesn't allow students to drop and add classes by themselves during the first week? Whaaaaaaat?

 

[Double Trouble]

You mean your school doesn't allow students to drop and add classes by themselves during the first week? Whaaaaaaat?

I know lol, every other school I know has an online system for students to handle that themselves.

 

[Starlightembers]

I know lol, every other school I know has an online system for students to handle that themselves.

My small, technology adverse liberal arts college has the same system. We have to initially register and add classes in person, too.

OP, this is a situation in which you need to be proactive. If you have not already, schedule a meeting with your advisor and explain why this situation upset you. It is possible he may not necessarily be aware of the ramifications of his actions (ie, a W, the impact a W may have on how one's transcript is viewed, etc) or he may have some genuine reason why he failed to sign the slip in a timely manner. Discussing the matter could bring insight to both of you. If, however, he acts uninterested, uncaring or displays a lack of understanding of why you are upset during this conversation, I would concur with everyone's else's suggestion of making an appointment and talk with dean. Explain the situation, see if it is possible to get the W off your transcript and, most importantly, ask for a different advisor. In both these conversations, remember to be respectful and to contain your anger; getting on anyone's bad side is not going to help you.

G'luck.

And to the posters here criticizing the OP, as someone at a school with a similar system, I do not feel his concerns are petty at all. Beyond the fact a W does not look great on a transcript, when one's advisor has this level of control or responsibility on a student's academic life, it is reasonable to want one who is willing to meet that responsibility.

 

[Stumpyman]

Why don't you just switch advisers? I hardly ever go see them anyways, but if your school forces you to, then just switch...

 

[pre med 2014]

I have never spoken to a pre med advisor. Any pre med questions can be answered effectively on SDN

 

[Scalpels]

I would get the matter checked with by someone just to ensure that you're going to get a full refund for the class.

If you wanted to drop the class within the designated time for a full refund and you didn't get it, plus got a W, I'd be greatly irritated.

Plus, if that happened to me, my wife would kill me until I fixed it. But she's a penny-pincher. I digress...

But, OP, I do get the feeling that you can probably be overly annoying, pushy, and a braggart. Maybe you rubbed your adviser the wrong way at some point. I'd fix that, if I were you, but unfortunately you're going to be making it worse by going to the chair to fix the other issue, so you may just be SOL.

 

[verynice]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the detailed responses and have already scheduled a meeting with the chair. Hopefully this will get resolved and can get that W taken off.

I guess I will have to change advisors which sucks because my school is so small, so I won't be able to avoid awkward moments lol.

 

[Stumpyman]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the detailed responses and have already scheduled a meeting with the chair. Hopefully this will get resolved and can get that W taken off.

I guess I will have to change advisors which sucks because my school is so small, so I won't be able to avoid awkward moments lol.

Good luck. On a related note, I recently got a W taken care of this semester (not for the same issue, but kind of the same).

 

[circulus vitios]

You mean your school doesn't allow students to drop and add classes by themselves during the first week? Whaaaaaaat?

To register for classes I have to print off a course registration form, write down the classes I want to take, and make an appointment with my adviser so he can sign off the classes and unlock my account so I can register for classes. Just a few years ago we couldn't print off the forms ourselves. We had to pick up triplicate carbon copy form at the department secretary's office. 👎

Add/drop is probably just as painful. I don't know, I've never done it. I did switch majors a few years ago. I had to print out a form and get signatures (in person) from my adviser, the department head, the department head for my new major, and the dean of academic affairs or something. They couldn't just do it over e-mail. 👎thumbdown👎

 

[chemhead123]

You have to know what you want to take. I never listened to my advisory, well I did, but then I would do what I thought was best. 99 out of 100 times, they aren't going to know what they are talking about. You have to take responsibility for your college experience. They are more than likely not going to know what you have to do. I would sit their quietly listening to them. I wouldn't argue, but when they finished their piece I would say I would think about it. Then I would come back the next day (they would more than likely have forgotten what they told me by then) and I tell them that I had made up my mind and appreciated their assistance. Signature please...

 

[TheGloaming]

you sound somewhat judgmental, hyperbolic and needy. Your adviser is probably very busy with his own problems (shocking, isn't it? It's almost as if he too is a person with a life). It sounds like you confronted him in a hallway instead of scheduling an appointment or visiting during office hours with a problem that you could have probably handled yourself. You should have been aware of your time commitments before finalizing your schedule. Take responsibility for your actions. Johnnyromanes is a good poster. Signing up this month and denigrating users that are calling you out fairly is not very impressive.

lmao... I like how you are blowing this way out of proportion

View attachment Proportion.jpg

 

[sliceofbread136]

No matter how big a piece of garbage OP may be, the advisor still should've done his job (I mean, his job isn't hard, you'd think he could atleast do this...). I would talk to someone higher up.

 

[tantacles]

mods aren't very overbearing here and this isn't livejournal
he's not looking down on you for being a new member, he's looking down on you for sharing a petty problem that is unrelated to the purpose of this board. we're not here as your personal support group; we're here as people who are trying to get into medical school and may have useful nuggets of information to share with one another. this is not the place to cry about situations that you should have handled youself but didn't and end up trying to blame other people for your mishaps. if you don't want people minding your business, don't post your business on a public forum 🙂

Hold on. Don't hate on LJ. I love LJ.

You don't want to say anything you can't take back.

 

[zma21]

You sound somewhat judgmental, hyperbolic and needy. Your adviser is probably very busy with his own problems (shocking, isn't it? It's almost as if he too is a person with a life). It sounds like you confronted him in a hallway instead of scheduling an appointment or visiting during office hours with a problem that you could have probably handled yourself. You should have been aware of your time commitments before finalizing your schedule. Take responsibility for your actions. JohnnyRomanes is a good poster. Signing up this month and denigrating users that are calling you out fairly is not very impressive.

This was the most irrational and unnecessary post I've read thus far today. That's a tie for the most assumptions made in one paragraph. Keep up the good work. 👍

OP, print a hard copy of the email with the time stamp, make an appointment with the dean and be as polite as possible. If you're an ass about it the dean can find an excuse to be an ass to you. Good luck.

For what it's worth, I had a professor add a class that I didn't sign up for. I asked him why he added a class that I had already taken (And got an A), and he proceeded to drop it from my schedule. I have an ever-permanent W for that class now. I'm anticipating the confusion from an adcom already.

 

[kpcrew]

This was the most irrational and unnecessary post I've read thus far today. That's a tie for the most assumptions made in one paragraph. Keep up the good work. 👍

thanks

 

[Hotshy]

You sound somewhat judgmental, hyperbolic and needy. Your adviser is probably very busy with his own problems (shocking, isn't it? It's almost as if he too is a person with a life). It sounds like you confronted him in a hallway instead of scheduling an appointment or visiting during office hours with a problem that you could have probably handled yourself. You should have been aware of your time commitments before finalizing your schedule. Take responsibility for your actions. JohnnyRomanes is a good poster. Signing up this month and denigrating users that are calling you out fairly is not very impressive.