Should I transfer or not?

[EulerianCircuit]

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I'm just finishing my junior year at a small private university. However, the university just fired their best math professor. As a result, if I stay where I am, I will have to take some of the most interesting math courses from an instructor without a Ph.D. If I transferred, I could take more interesting courses, and probably get a better education. The cost would be about the same either way, and I would finish in one year either way. However, I would not graduate with honors if I transferred.

My question is: what would medical schools think of me transferring this late in undergraduate? Would it be a negative on my application?

 

[236116]

IDG the PhD prob.

 

[Zorrix]

So... you wanna transfer after 2+ years because the new prof doesn't have a PhD and a single prof got fired .....hmmmn....

 

[Anthony Hartsoc]

whats wrong with not having a PhD? both of my best math profs did not have their PhDs...I don't get it...

 

[DeadliestSnatch]

Stay put.

 

[EulerianCircuit]

So... you wanna transfer after 2+ years because the new prof doesn't have a PhD and a single prof got fired .....hmmmn....

There is no new prof. The math department only has one Ph.D. left. As a result, they are not offering any interesting courses like Topology or Graph Theory. The one interesting course they will offer, Abstract Algebra, will be taught by an instructor who is not really qualified to teach it. Consequently, it will be easy, but probably not very interesting.

Edit: Also, If the University continues on its present course, it will go bankrupt soon.

 

[236116]

So?

 

[WeAreNotRobots]

whats wrong with not having a PhD? both of my best math profs did not have their PhDs...I don't get it...

because at most small private schools very few classes are taught by TA's/grad students, if any at all. at larger schools (probably like yours) you get taught by TA's. i'm not saying one model is better than the other, but the OP mentioned his/her type of school.

OP, if med school is the ultimate goal, i don't see how a difference in instructors for math classes really matters?

 

[Anthony Hartsoc]

to be straight...it just sounded like educational discrimination...give the teacher a shot...everyone has to get their start somewhere...including ourselves...

EULARIAN: and why so many math classes? are you a math major?

 

[135892]

I'm just finishing my junior year at a small private university. However, the university just fired their best math professor. As a result, if I stay where I am, I will have to take some of the most interesting math courses from an instructor without a Ph.D. If I transferred, I could take more interesting courses, and probably get a better education. The cost would be about the same either way, and I would finish in one year either way. However, I would not graduate with honors if I transferred.

My question is: what would medical schools think of me transferring this late in undergraduate? Would it be a negative on my application?

Are you going to become a "mathematician"? Or are you going into medicine? If its the latter, I really don't think it will matter if you can't take those courses or if they're taught by a TA. Go study them on your own if it interests you enough.

 

[EulerianCircuit]

to be straight...it just sounded like educational discrimination...give the teacher a shot...everyone has to get their start somewhere...including ourselves...

EULARIAN: and why so many math classes? are you a math major?

I am a math major, and I have had that teacher before. She is nice, but she is just not going to teach Abstract Algebra in sufficient depth. She is not getting a start. She has been teaching for 20+ years.

 

[236116]

stay and get permission to take an outside course.

 

[Anthony Hartsoc]

stay and get permission to take an outside course.

I concur.

 

[pietachok]

You have a non-issue. You can't generally transfer for your senior year. Most schools require that you complete 2 yrs at their institution to receive a degree from their school.

You could try to study "away" (at another school in the U.S. as opposed to abroad) if it really bothers you.

BUT (going to go out on a limb here and guess I'm one of relatively few people on SDN who's taken Abstract Algebra), I suspect that while it may be disappointing that it's not going to be as challenging or well taught as it could be, it might turn out to be a blessing in disguise when you are doing MCAT prep and/or applying to schools (since you are a rising senior). Ab. Alg. is very different from the other courses that come before it and is very very time consuming.

If you are *so* concerned about taking abstract algebra that you'd switch schools, I wonder (1) why you can't read a book on it to supplement this crappy prof, and (2) if that's not enough to satisfy you, why you are going into medicine 😛.