Dropping a class, BUT DOING GOOD IN THE COURSE

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SevoInduction

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Ok this isn't the typical "I'm making a C, should I take the C or withdraw and get a W on my transcript" question..

I'm taking an American Government class, and my teacher is not teaching American government. Today we took a "culture quiz" which had questions along the likes of "If an Ethiopian woman opens the door for a man it means.." (the answer was she wants to have sex with him).. What the hell does that have to do with American Government?

We also have a paper to write about "Is Wal-Mart good for America?" A GREAT topic for Economics, but American Government??

I have been in the class for two months, and have never even heard the names George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, etc. We aren't learning "normal" American government topics because (in this instructor's words), "That stuff is boring to non-political science majors."

This teacher also thinks the pilgrims left England to get away from the persecution of the Catholic Church. Maybe she didn't do well in World History?

I LOVE political science.. I was really excited about this class, but it has now become boring and frankly a waste of my time. I actually have an A in the class, but I want to withdraw because I'm learning absolutely nothing. It's just a waste of my time.

I'm also a non-trad (31 years old)... Yeah I could waste my time and get an A, or drop it and take it from an instructor that will actually teach me political science...

What would you do?
 
I would withdraw from the class because I hate BS classes like that. I don't think med school adcoms will care because it's not a pre-req. You should fine tune your BS radar so you can sniff out classes like these during the add/drop period. I came across one and dropped it immediately.

This teacher also thinks the pilgrims left England to get away from the persecution of the Catholic Church.
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Wait, I thought that WAS the reason the Pilgrims left England? Granted the last time I learned about Pilgrims was middle school, so my history may be a bit off.
 
Why would you want to waste a whole 2 months of your time? Finish the class. You can always take another class if you want. This is a no brainer.
 
schrizto said:
I would withdraw from the class because I hate BS classes like that. I don't think med school adcoms will care because it's not a pre-req. You should fine tune your BS radar so you can sniff out classes like these during the add/drop period. I came across one and dropped it immediately.



Wait, I thought that WAS the reason the Pilgrims left England? Granted the last time I learned about Pilgrims was middle school, so my history may be a bit off.
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anglicans... also, i think you need to tune down your "advising"....


OP, I personally would keep the A, if only so I don't have to explain the W
 
bleargh said:
OP, I personally would keep the A, if only so I don't have to explain the W
Click to expand...

Definitely. Double definitely if it's a required class for your degree. Unless you already have a 4.0, take any free A's that you can get.
 
you'd be nuts if you took a W when you're going to get an A. If you're planning to become a doctor you're going to be doing a lot of seemingly useless things along the way, this class is just one of them.
 
oh, I almost forgot... the GPA BOOST factor :S.
 
If you won't get a W by dropping it, then drop it. Otherwise (i.e., if you'd get a W and/or not get your money back), you're better off keeping the class. Getting a W is going to make everyone assume you were failing or near failing (D or F) and there's no reason to take the chance of a W hurting you later on (they hurt minimally if there's only one, but esp. as a non-trad, oftentimes you're trying to fix a hurting GPA as it is and 1 W out of only 5-15 totally classes is going to look pretty bad if you're trying to recover a <3.0 or something -- not sure whether or not you are, but many non-trads are and you said you were a non-trad)
 
Well its kind of early in the semester so that A might not be too reflective of your final grade at the moment. It can easily change into a B or C if you don't enjoy the class and begin to slack off etc. If you see that happening then drop the class.

If however you feel that the class is an easy A and that you will most likely end up with an A then don't drop the class, after all you've already paid for it and its probably too late to add another course in its place. So definitely let it help boost your GPA and take additional courses later on if you want to learn the subject.
 
In my experience, "easy A" classes that you hate become "sole-crushing, cynicism-fueling B+" classes if you aren't careful.

I thought I might try for a Journalism major when I was a freshman. But Journalism 101 was the most depressingly pointless class I took that semester - I was thinking we'd be learning about the nuts and bolts of writing/news media, but instead we were spending 15 minutes of every class having small-group discussions about "current events" (mostly celebrity gossip) and group projects where we'd have to make flashcards about the first amendment. (Seriously, explain to me why you need 5 people to make flashcards. Or why you need the flashcards in the first place - it's the freaking first amendment.)

I got an A-, but it wasn't worth it. It made the semester suck.

Get out if you hate it, life's too short - get the A in another class, whether it's easy or not.
 
SevoInduction said:
Ok this isn't the typical "I'm making a C, should I take the C or withdraw and get a W on my transcript" question..

I'm taking an American Government class, and my teacher is not teaching American government. Today we took a "culture quiz" which had questions along the likes of "If an Ethiopian woman opens the door for a man it means.." (the answer was she wants to have sex with him).. What the hell does that have to do with American Government?

We also have a paper to write about "Is Wal-Mart good for America?" A GREAT topic for Economics, but American Government??

I have been in the class for two months, and have never even heard the names George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, etc. We aren't learning "normal" American government topics because (in this instructor's words), "That stuff is boring to non-political science majors."

This teacher also thinks the pilgrims left England to get away from the persecution of the Catholic Church. Maybe she didn't do well in World History?

I LOVE political science.. I was really excited about this class, but it has now become boring and frankly a waste of my time. I actually have an A in the class, but I want to withdraw because I'm learning absolutely nothing. It's just a waste of my time.

I'm also a non-trad (31 years old)... Yeah I could waste my time and get an A, or drop it and take it from an instructor that will actually teach me political science...

What would you do?
Click to expand...

I must agree, this is an odd American Government class, but you really shouldn't have to ask us this. A "W" on your transcript looks bad. If you know you can get an "A," then endure the teacher for one semester.

W = bad on transcript
A = good on transcript
 
SevoInduction said:
I'm taking an American Government class, and my teacher is not teaching American government. Today we took a "culture quiz" which had questions along the likes of "If an Ethiopian woman opens the door for a man it means.." (the answer was she wants to have sex with him).. What the hell does that have to do with American Government?




This teacher also thinks the pilgrims left England to get away from the persecution of the Catholic Church. Maybe she didn't do well in World History?


What would you do?
Click to expand...

Well, I don't think you should drop. You would loose money and time. We all take classes that we thought would be cooler than they end up being. It sucks but you just have to stick it through. Personally I find factoids such as the one you mentioned kind of interesting. Maybe if you look at the class as sociology/political science class instead of American government you could keep your mind open to it.

Not to be a stickler, but I am pretty sure that the pilgrims did leave England because of persecution of their religious beliefs, mainly caused by the Catholic church and serfdom.
 
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Suck it up and keep the A. Absolutely no one is going to believe that you dropped a class with an A, despite it being true.
 
chman said:
Well, I don't think you should drop. You would loose money and time. We all take classes that we thought would be cooler than they end up being. It sucks but you just have to stick it through. Personally I find factoids such as the one you mentioned kind of interesting. Maybe if you look at the class as sociology/political science class instead of American government you could keep your mind open to it.

Not to be a stickler, but I am pretty sure that the pilgrims did leave England because of persecution of their religious beliefs, mainly caused by the Catholic church and surfdom.
Click to expand...
::sigh::

all of you, refer to avatar.

church of england breaks with catholicism in the 1500s. pilgrims come over in the 1600s.
 
schrizto said:
Wait, I thought that WAS the reason the Pilgrims left England? Granted the last time I learned about Pilgrims was middle school, so my history may be a bit off.
Click to expand...

My understanding was that they left to set up a "model community" in America free from the perceived corruption surrounding them in England. By doing so, they hoped to reform the Church (Anglican) from the outside-in.

chman said:
Not to be a stickler, but I am pretty sure that the pilgrims did leave England because of persecution of their religious beliefs, mainly caused by the Catholic church and surfdom.
Click to expand...

Serfdom? You're off by more than a few centuries on that one.
 
bleargh said:
::sigh::

all of you, refer to avatar.

church of england breaks with catholicism in the 1500s. pilgrims come over in the 1600s.
Click to expand...


You are correct sir, and I am mistaken. They did leave to escape the church though, so it is not too far off base. It was the English Episcopal church though.

From what I remember, there were many that did come after the Netherlands did break free from Catholic rule and the surfs were released. So I don't think it is entirely false, but I could be wrong again.
 
greatnt249 said:
Serfdom? You're off by more than a few centuries on that one.
Click to expand...

A few centuries? I think you are mistaken. Serfs were common place in Western Europe until the independence of the Netherlands in the mid 1500's. Many came over to the Caribbean to work for wealthy nobles.

A serf by definition was simply someone who was a slave by servitude and was in practice all the way into the mid 19th century in places such as Eastern Europe.
 
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chman said:
A few centuries? I think you are mistaken. Surfs were common place until the break up of the Netherlands. Many came over to the Caribbean to work for wealthy nobles.

A surf by definition was simply someone who was a slave by servitude and was in practice all the way into the mid 19th century in places such as Easter Europe.
Click to expand...
no the term serf specifically refers to the period of feudalism
 
bleargh said:
no the term serf specifically refers to the period of feudalism
Click to expand...

Sorry, but that is just not true.

<http://www.thefreedictionary.com/serfdom>

<http://www.britanica.com/EBchecked/topic/535485/serfdom>
 
Get an easy A, why is this even a thread.

DOING GOOD IN THE COURSE you say?
 
On a slightly more comical note, someone I know is a junior physics, EE, and ComputerE triple major. He's going to be staying for a 5th year to complete it all, but he just ruined his 4.0 last semester by getting a B+ in a fencing class.
 
Beta Cell said:
On a slightly more comical note, someone I know is a junior physics, EE, and ComputerE triple major. He's going to be staying for a 5th year to complete it all, but he just ruined his 4.0 last semester by getting a B+ in a fencing class.
Click to expand...

That's complacency for ya.
 
SDN urban legend RE drops and Ws - I got a butt load of 'em on my trannie, and nobody cares - 6 interviews, hopefully more to come.

So drop it if you hate it. Don't stay in it over some "fear" that a W will harm your med apps.
 
Agreed with above, but an easy A is hard to say no to, especially when you've already sunk 2 months into it. I'd just ride it out and make sure you keep your A.
 
How does one do "good" in a class? Help the teacher? Clean the erasers? Share your notes with those who need them?
 
MilkmanAl said:
Agreed with above, but an easy A is hard to say no to, especially when you've already sunk 2 months into it. I'd just ride it out and make sure you keep your A.
Click to expand...

How can he have 2 months already sunk in it - it is mid September? Maybe 2 weeks? Did he say 2 months, or did someone throw that in?

If 2 months, I agree - stick it out, make the A. But 2 weeks and you hate it - punt.
 
flip26 said:
How can he have 2 months already sunk in it - it is mid September? Maybe 2 weeks? Did he say 2 months, or did someone throw that in?

If 2 months, I agree - stick it out, make the A. But 2 weeks and you hate it - punt.
Click to expand...
OP said:
I have been in the class for two months, and have never even heard the names George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, etc.
Click to expand...
👍
 
MilkmanAl said:
👍
Click to expand...

Then the OP is trolling unless he can explain how he is 2 months into a class that would have had to start in mid July - I have never heard of a class schedule like that.

Also his complaint that he hasn't heard George Washington, et al, mentioned a single time is an absurd complaint. It is a "government" class, not American History...
 
chman said:
Sorry, but that is just not true.

<http://www.thefreedictionary.com/serfdom>

<http://www.britanica.com/EBchecked/topic/535485/serfdom>
Click to expand...
very first line from wiki:

Serfdom is the socio-economic status of unfree peasants under feudalism, and specifically relates to Manorialism.

from your OWN LINK

condition in medieval Europe in which a tenant farmer was bound to a hereditary plot of land and to the will of his landlord
 
bleargh said:
very first line from wiki:

Serfdom is the socio-economic status of unfree peasants under feudalism, and specifically relates to Manorialism.

from your OWN LINK

condition in medieval Europe in which a tenant farmer was bound to a hereditary plot of land and to the will of his landlord
Click to expand...


You obviously did not read the whole thing, thanks though, I know it hard to admit being wrong sometimes.

p.s. wiki is not a valid source. I may be wrong, if I am I will admit it, I am just going off what my history teacher told me, and what I have looked up.
 
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chman said:
You obviously did not read the whole thing, thanks though, I know it hard to admit being wrong sometimes.

p.s. wiki is not a valid source. I may be wrong, if I am I will admit it, I am just going off what my history teacher told me, and what I have looked up.
Click to expand...
how am i wrong. i specifically and unequivocally pointed out that serfdom is a vestige of feudalism.
 
bleargh said:
how am i wrong. i specifically and unequivocally pointed out that serfdom is a vestige of feudalism.
Click to expand...

Yes, you are reading the first part of these various sources and leaving it at that. Why not read the whole thing? In your own source, wikipedia, there is a note at the bottom about serfdom in Russia and China. If you type in "serfdom wikipedia" in google, not only will your source come up, but there is also one entitled "Russian Serfdom. Here are some more links and definitions.

http://www.answers.com/topic/serf

serfdom
1. A member of the lowest feudal class, attached to the land owned by the lord and required to perform labor for certain legal and customary rights.

2. An agriculturer laboror under various similar sytems, especially in 18th and 19th century Russia and Easter Europe.

3. A person in bondage or servitude.

http://www.yourdictionary.com/serfdom

1.a slave

2.a person in feudal servatude, bound to a master's land and transfred with ownership

3.A person who is oppressed without freedom

MSN Encarda- Serfdom

http://encarda.msn.com/encyclopedia_7615677801serfdom.html

I could post more if you want, but I believe this should be suffecient.

You are right in a sense, and I guess people define it differently, it all depends on the issue of serfdom in Russia, Easter Europe, and China. Whatever though, if you want to continue this go ahead and post, but after that please just pm me and I will do the same.
 
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Stay in the class, get your A, then absolutely destroy him on the evaluations at the end of the course. I might also write a letter to the dean about this prof's inappropriate curriculum.
 
marele86 said:
In my experience, "easy A" classes that you hate become "sole-crushing, cynicism-fueling B+" classes if you aren't careful.

I thought I might try for a Journalism major when I was a freshman. But Journalism 101 was the most depressingly pointless class I took that semester - I was thinking we'd be learning about the nuts and bolts of writing/news media, but instead we were spending 15 minutes of every class having small-group discussions about "current events" (mostly celebrity gossip) and group projects where we'd have to make flashcards about the first amendment. (Seriously, explain to me why you need 5 people to make flashcards. Or why you need the flashcards in the first place - it's the freaking first amendment.)

I got an A-, but it wasn't worth it. It made the semester suck.

Get out if you hate it, life's too short - get the A in another class, whether it's easy or not.
Click to expand...

Totally Agree
 
easy A? keep it
otherwise drop it

there are more crappy courses along the way, including medical school.
just do what you need to do to get your grades
 
Are you having trouble keeping up with your other courses and/or life because of this course? If not, keep it. It can only do good, as in help keep your GPA up.
 
So you are two months in? If you drop now you will receive a W. An A in a worthless class is a lot better than a W in a worthless class. Looks like your only good option is to stay in the class.
 
Well I normally pride myself on having proper grammar, but I screwed the pooch in the subject line 🙂

Thanks for everyone's comments. Yeah I was exaggerating a bit about the time I've been in the class. It's been a month and a week. I guess it just feels like two months.. 🙂

I've decided to drop and get the W. I was informed this week that I have to take a business trip which will mean I will miss a week of this class.

I'm not the only one withdrawing.. and several people are considering speaking with the dean about this instructor.
 
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