I am faced with a really good research opportunity, but there is a problem.....

[alexfoleyc]

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I know it is difficult to get into a research program, but one of my professors just came up to me and said if I wanted to do research with him and I said sure. It is for one of the subjects I am dying to do research in. But here comes the problem; I messed up my gpa this semester, thus I want to do really well next semester for which I am taking 17 credits. My prof said the time dedication for this research program is 5 hrs per week (entire semester) and he is willing to accommodate for my schedule. So, what should I do? I really want to do the research and do well in all my classes, but thats seems really difficult. I can always do research later, but it is really competitive to get into at my college. That is exactly what my prof said and obviously he thinks I able to do this and selected me on a personally basis.

 

[shiftingmirage]

5 hrs a week is not a lot, most are more like 15. You can drop a class, there's always the summer session, or cut back elsewhere.

 

[Disinence2]

5 hours a week? That's absolutely nothing

 

[URHere]

If the project really only requires 5 hours/week, you should be able to maintain your GPA while participating. If you are anything like most college students, you probably waste more than 5 hours a week just surfing the web (youtube, streaming TV, SDN...). Cut back on that wasted time, and if you are worried about time management, make a schedule for yourself and stick to it.

As others have said, you can always drop a class if all else fails.

 

[Ativanigans]

5 hours a week is a really minimal amount of work. Does that include time the machines are working? You can probably get some studying in during yoru research time as well.

 

[alexfoleyc]

If the project really only requires 5 hours/week, you should be able to maintain your GPA while participating. If you are anything like most college students, you probably waste more than 5 hours a week just surfing the web (youtube, streaming TV, SDN...). Cut back on that wasted time, and if you are worried about time management, make a schedule for yourself and stick to it.

As others have said, you can always drop a class if all else fails.

Haha, so true!!

 

[rockymhs]

5 hrs per week is nothing.

I usually spend more than 10 hours per week, and have taken 18-19 credit course loads.

If you can sacrifice free time, take the offer. Because there will be less time for fun, unless you have fun doing research.

 

[ahmcadams]

This is a no-brainer.

If you're really interested in this field and similar opportunities are hard to come by, you'd be making a big mistake letting this one pass. As mentioned above, 5hr/wk is such a minimal commitment - honestly, so little that it seems insufficient for a meaningful contribution - that it really shouldn't be detrimental to your GPA.

 

[FlowRate]

As everyone else has said, 5 hours is nothing. Do it! =)

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Do it, 5 hours a week is a drop in the bucket. Don't let such a small time commitment be an excuse for a bad GPA!

 

[aggie08]

5 hours a week? That's nothing. You could go an hour a day or 2.5 two different days. I'd be willing to bet you have an hour a day where you could either get up earlier, not watch TV, stay off SDN or Facebook, etc.

 

[CoolWhipp]

LOL @ 5 hours a week. What kind of research is this? How do people only spend 5-10 hours a week in lab, what do you guys do? Fill pipette boxes?

 

[Janieve]

As someone who's taken a loaded schedule before, I know how even the slightest bit of extra responsibility can become stressful. It's a tough decision to make, and I'm impressed you're asking for help making it.

My advice is to go ahead and do it. Take him at his word when he says he'll accommodate your schedule. If transportation is a factor, make him aware of it. Maybe you can do the research on the weekend or on the days you have the fewest classes. And five hours a week might turn into one or two hours a week during finals. Since he's a professor, he'll probably understand your need to study and reduce your obligations.

We're all here for you whether you take him up on it or not. Good luck! 🙂

 

[apoptosis123]

.

 

[schrizto]

I'd agree, 5 hours a week is really little. That could easily be fit in over an afternoon one day each week.