Urgent Question!!--To Drop Class or Chance the Unknown Grade..?

[Peachy720]

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Hi everyone!!

I really trust everyone's opinion, and so far y'all have never let me down, so here I go:

I'm taking the full 9 credits this summer: Social Psych, Experimental Psych (which is the hardest Psych at my uni--advanced statistics, basically), and General Chem I.

Here's my problem: On the first day, when the professor walked in, many jaws dropped. One told me to drop, drop now. Two separate girls said their Chem major boyfriends told them if this guy walked in, walk out. I try not to listen to people, so I stayed in. I regret not dropping in the first couple days where it wouldn't show up on my record SO much. It is a fact that the other professors do not like this guy's teaching method. It is also a fact they will not let him teach any class above General Chem I, even Chem II, because his fail rate is so high. He's a nice guy, and I like him a lot, but I am really struggling. I am dedicating 6-8 hours a night JUST for his class, and my other grades are suffering. He curves massively, and I have received a 97 on the first test, and a 71 on the second test. I'm just freaking out because it's been YEARS since I've gotten a "C." True, doing all my homework will replace the lowest grade; however, I hear it just gets worse from here, and the comprehensive final is what kills most people.

I have a B as of right now. Should I just drop and take it next semester knowing I can get an A, and have the blemish of a "W" on my record, letting the admissions committee think I have God know what? Is there somewhere I can let the adcom's know that I had a b and what the circumstances are?

let me throw one more scenario into the equation <no pun intended>. I actually have taken Chem 107 before. I took it about 7 years ago, when I first started college. I was working full-time, and really didn't give a darn about school. I received a "C." So, before summer started, I was combing every inch of this site trying to figure out if I should retake it or go straight to 108. But people in all other threads seemed divided, half said, "If you have a C or worse, definitely retake it!" the other half seemed to think that as long as you could do better in upper levels, move on. Should I just drop this class and move onto 108?

Please, Please, Please, ANY help is appreciated, guys. I'm so stressed out about this, I can't concentrate on other classes, and I know I have to calm down if I want to really make it THROUGH med school, but this is killing me.

Thanks SO much!!

 

[futuremsfdoc]

i would try and stick it out since you've already taken two exams. if you can do all the homework and do pretty well on the next exams and decent on the final, you should be fine. don't worry about it.

also, if you are too stressed out, why not drop one of the psych classes? that would prolly free up some time to study for chem.

oh, and if you do decide to drop a class, one "W" is nothing to worry about, imo.

 

[Peachy720]

thanks SO much for replying, futuremsfdoc!!

I'm just worried because when I was going to school before, I had so many drops on my record--like I said earlier, I was so much more worried about work that I didn't think about what would happen if I didn't stay with my job.

There are three exams left, and the final is what I'm REALLY panicking over.

Do you think that the fact that I have so many drops from 3-7 years ago would affect me? adding one more would be the straw to break the camel's back?

I'm not sure about dropping a psych, because I have an A in 1, with 3 tests including the final, and a B in the other, with 2 tests left (including the final).

Thanks for EVERYTHING! 😍

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

Dont drop the class - youve put this much time, effort, and money into it so far, it would be a tremendous waste to drop it just because of a B. If you havnt taken the final yet, do your best to rock the final and maybe pull out a B+ or an A-.


p.s. it's not your prof's fault that you arent getting an A in the class.

 

[Slash]

Ever thought that maybe you just aren't grasping chemistry as well as you should be, thus it's reflected in your grade? Seriously, your chem professor is no different than most chem professors across the country. Well, I take that back. At least YOUR chem professor "curves massively" and lets you replace your lowest test grade with your homework grade....I mean, that's a joke. Most schools do not allow grade manipulations like that. There are many, many students taking chemistry courses across the country from chem professors who do not curve grades at all...what you make on a test is what you get, period. No dropping your lowest grade--nothing. Consider yourself lucky you are getting a curve, and do consider studying more instead of looking for the easy way out. There is no easy way.

 

[Peachy720]

thanks for the feedback, but when did I say it was the prof's fault I wasn't getting an "A?"

I accept full responsibily; however, when the department won't let someone teach any other classes because of the failing rate, something's wrong.

edit: also, I have been out of chemistry 7 years, and I know this grade isn't from lack of trying. I'm studying 6-8 hours a night for this class alone!

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

And you have written word from the dept. that he cant teach a higher class because of his pass rate? Cmon, I'd be willing to bet that this is simply urban legend. Every school has their set of profs that keep every student believing that they will fail until the last day, when he implements his curve and everyones grade improves; they get reputations of being impossible, when in fact they have the same pass rates as everyone else.
The reason I said that it's not your profs fault that you dont have an A is because the first half of your post was spent trying to convince us of how hard your prof is. It seems to me like you started making excuses to yourself from day one. Im sorry if it pisses you off that I say that, but its just how it seems to me. I might be wrong.

 

[Peachy720]

thanks for the support guys! 👍 🙄

so i don't feel enough of a ******* right now to not be getting an "a" in this class and I have one of you telling me that if I can't grasp the simplest chemistry, something's wrong, and the other telling me i'm just making excuses for myself.

i'm sorry i asked.

 

[Code Brown]

What you need to do is to go and talk to the prof about it. Tell him you are trying to get into medical school and want his honest opinion. Couldn't hurt. That, or find out what your last day to drop is, and make the decision the night before. Good luck.

 

[Peachy720]

What you need to do is to go and talk to the prof about it. Tell him you are trying to get into medical school and want his honest opinion. Couldn't hurt. That, or find out what your last day to drop is, and make the decision the night before. Good luck.

Thanks so much, Code Brown!

I went and talked to him for awhile yesterday,as well as the Chemistry Pre-Med advisor (my Psych pre-med advisor isn't there in the summer). The Pre-Med advisor said I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't. My professor was very patient and nice, and said that there's no reason for me to drop it, and that i'm just putting too much pressure on myself.

the date of the drop is the day of the 3rd test (next friday). he said that he wouldn't be able to grade the test right there, so that option's out.

thanks again.

 

[Severus]

As someone with experience with a similar situation, I'd say stick it out if you're pulling a B/A in the class, and then try and get 'em fired for being a miserable git. 😀

Sev.

 

[Slash]

What you need to do is to go and talk to the prof about it. Tell him you are trying to get into medical school and want his honest opinion. Couldn't hurt. That, or find out what your last day to drop is, and make the decision the night before. Good luck.

I wouldn't advise this. 90% of the students in his class are probably trying to get into medical school...what makes you so different? You'll probably come across looking like you're asking for a handout, the "sympathy A." I know we all want "A's" but that's not ideal. "A's" are reserved for those who truly earn them. In some schools it still means something to make an "A" in a course. You want an "A?" Go out and earn it. Dropping a course so that you can get an "easier" professor next semester sure seems like an unreasonable thing to do. Approaching your professor and telling him you're worried about not making an "A" because you're trying to get into medical school will probably cause your professor to break into laughter and roll his eyes at you as I'm sure he's heard that speech plenty of times before. I don't mean to rain on your parade--just injecting a healthy dose of reality into this thread.

 

[Peachy720]

heh. love the name and the quotes!

It's a mark of how crazy school has me right now that I haven't seen "Prisoner of Azkaban!" 😳

nah, he's a good guy. I just don't understand the way he puts it; when i look at the sample tests of other professors, I can answer those with no problem.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

thanks for the support guys! 👍 🙄

so i don't feel enough of a ******* right now to not be getting an "a" in this class and I have one of you telling me that if I can't grasp the simplest chemistry, something's wrong, and the other telling me i'm just making excuses for myself.

i'm sorry i asked.

Did you come looking for unbridled support? Because I thought that you asked for advice. Your not a ******* for getting a B. But you ought to make sure that medical school is not your only career plan if studying 6-8 hrs/night may end up getting you a B or lower in a general chem class.

 

[Peachy720]

I wouldn't advise this. 90% of the students in his class are probably trying to get into medical school, what makes you so different? You'll probably come across looking like your asking for a handout, the "sympathy A." I know we all want A's but that's not ideal. A's are reserved for those who truly earn them. In some schools it still means something to make an A ina course. You want an A? Go out and earn it. Dropping a course so that you can get an "easier" professor sure seems like an unreasonable thing to do. Approaching your professor and telling him you're worried about not making an "A" because you're trying to get into medical school will probably cause your professor to break into laughter and roll his eyes at you as I'm sure he's heard that speech plenty of times before. I don't mean to rain on your parade--just injecting a healthy dose of reality into this thread.

no, i appreciate any info. i'm sorry if i seemed snappish earlier, but between all the crying, stressing, and anger i'm doing, and all the work i'm putting into this, i'm just .....argh!

when i talked to him, i didn't even mention getting an "a." i told him at this rate, i'd be happy just raising my grade from the "c" on my transcript.

 

[Code Brown]

You always need to make decisions to drop based on the entire situation. If your GPA is pretty high already, the B will not matter one bit. However, if you are below the 3.5 mark or so (depending on your undergrad school), no need to bring it down any more. Having one or two W's will not affect you one bit. Just my two cents worth.

 

[Krazed_Medic]

nah, stay in the class. I wouldn't drop it if I were you. A "B" isn't bad. A "B" is pretty darn good in my book. Just make sure that if you are not grasping some of the concepts, or just plain do not understand to go to your proffy after class time and have him explain it until you understand. Or, even though it is summer, maybe there is a possibility of tutoring? DOn't get so upset about the need for an A. Just remember that a B is still pretty darn good.

 

[medtechv79]

I think the main reason yer stressed is cause yer taking this in the summer. Its so much faster paced in the summer especially a science class! Of course yer gonna be spending so many hours a nite on it! If yer getting a B, then I think u should be fine. But some professors cannot teach. They just don't teach and their tests don't make sense. Have u talked to yer other classmates about the class? Did u talk to the prof himself? I think summer school will be easier to get to know yer classmates and maybe form a study group? Studying in groups for classes like these will always help. Hang in there! Good Luck! Is there a tutor u could go to?