(Urgent) To drop or not to drop?

[deleted760180]

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I decided to take a creative writing course for the summer just for fun and to fulfill my other semester of English. I know I need a year for the general prerequisite. A few things to note, though:

1) Just got the syllabus today and the first thing the prof makes note of is the grading. She says A’s are “rare” and reserved really only for “publishable work” which was absolutely obnoxious. She is the sweetest professor, but this scared the hell out of me, and quite frankly pissed me off. Syllabus also states that “B’s are most common” and that if taking a class as a GPA booster to not to. The class is all writing and reading short stories and fiction and poems. She says to expect a B+ probably.

2) I already took one semester of an English and 2 years’ worth of philosophy and history, which I definitely wrote essays in. Hoping to count that towards the prerequisite.
3) Rising senior, 3.45 GPA and I’m trying to get it as high as I can.

What to do?? Thanks all

 

[The Re-Animator]

1) Interesting method if you're wanting to improve your writing I guess, awful for a pre-med student who's trying to raise their GPA. I'd drop and enroll in literally any other English course.

2) From my understanding, philosophy and history will not count towards an English pre-requisite.

3) See #1

 

[deleted760180]

1) Interesting method if you're wanting to improve your writing I guess, awful for a pre-med student who's trying to raise their GPA. I'd drop and enroll in literally any other English course.

2) From my understanding, philosophy and history will not count towards an English pre-requisite.

3) See #1

Ok. I will try to convince the school to let me drop. The issue is is that they won’t let me drop past the second meeting of the course. Today was the third, but we JUST got the syllabus today.

I also don’t have many options to choose from with regards to courses that would improve my GPA simply because most English professors at my school aren’t enthusiastic about giving A’s, even to the point of them saying “a C is average, that is the truth.” They want to replicate a microcosm of life (their words.) Are you kidding me? Thanks for the moral lesson, but this is neither the place nor the time to do it.

 

[LizzyM]

Drop. You've been warned. Proceed at your own risk. Sounds like the instructor is trying to preempt the enrollment of grad grubbing pre-meds.

 

[The Re-Animator]

Ok. I will try to convince the school to let me drop. The issue is is that they won’t let me drop past the second meeting of the course. Today was the third, but we JUST got the syllabus today.

I also don’t have many options to choose from with regards to courses that would improve my GPA simply because most English professors at my school aren’t enthusiastic about giving A’s, even to the point of them saying “a C is average, that is the truth.” They want to replicate a microcosm of life (their words.) Are you kidding me? Thanks for the moral lesson, but this is neither the place nor the time to do it.

Your school doesn't offer 1000/freshman level/general studies req English courses? And I would make sure that you don't have the full refund drop deadline confused with the final drop deadline; I highly suggest meeting with an advisor to navigate that and your options regarding English courses. Worst case scenario take the W.

 

[deleted760180]

Your school doesn't offer 1000/freshman level/general studies req English courses? And I would make sure that you don't have the full refund drop deadline confused with the final drop deadline; I highly suggest meeting with an advisor to navigate that and your options regarding English courses. Worst case scenario take the W.

They do have freshman English courses, but they have refused to let me enroll. They are obstinate over this and I’m bewildered and pretty furious.

No, I don’t have the deadlines confused. They don’t allow drops except just past the first class. And I didn’t have a syllabus then.

I cannot afford to take a W in a writing course. I can’t imagine how stupid that would look to some adcom when he/she is already evaluating me in the context of a lower GPA.

 

[The Re-Animator]

I should have been more clear when I said take a W, IMO I'd rather explain the drop situation w/ a W than try to justify getting a B/C in an English course. Your situation sounds pretty sh*tty, can't believe their drop deadline is that early. If truly every professor at the school will not give out A's (so changing professors but not the course isn't an option), I'd deal with it and work your ass off in the course. Meet with the teacher often and discuss how you can work towards an A in the class and what she's looking for particularly. Godspeed.

 

[JustAUser]

I also don’t have many options to choose from with regards to courses that would improve my GPA simply because most English professors at my school aren’t enthusiastic about giving A’s, even to the point of them saying “a C is average, that is the truth.” They want to replicate a microcosm of life (their words.) Are you kidding me? Thanks for the moral lesson, but this is neither the place nor the time to do it.

They do have freshman English courses, but they have refused to let me enroll. They are obstinate over this and I’m bewildered and pretty furious.

Can you take the class somewhere else? Perhaps a local community college

 

[deleted947265]

As soon as they say A's are rare, drop.

This is why GPA is meaningless.

 

[Goro]

Ok. I will try to convince the school to let me drop. The issue is is that they won’t let me drop past the second meeting of the course. Today was the third, but we JUST got the syllabus today.

I also don’t have many options to choose from with regards to courses that would improve my GPA simply because most English professors at my school aren’t enthusiastic about giving A’s, even to the point of them saying “a C is average, that is the truth.” They want to replicate a microcosm of life (their words.) Are you kidding me? Thanks for the moral lesson, but this is neither the place nor the time to do it.

A B+ isn't going to kill your chances. Hell, even an F won't.

 

[Goro]

They do have freshman English courses, but they have refused to let me enroll. They are obstinate over this and I’m bewildered and pretty furious.

No, I don’t have the deadlines confused. They don’t allow drops except just past the first class. And I didn’t have a syllabus then.

I cannot afford to take a W in a writing course. I can’t imagine how stupid that would look to some adcom when he/she is already evaluating me in the context of a lower GPA.

Stop thinking like a pre-med. A single W isn't going to kill you either.

 

[Myopicvisions]

I decided to take a creative writing course for the summer just for fun and to fulfill my other semester of English. I know I need a year for the general prerequisite. A few things to note, though:

1) Just got the syllabus today and the first thing the prof makes note of is the grading. She says A’s are “rare” and reserved really only for “publishable work” which was absolutely obnoxious. She is the sweetest professor, but this scared the hell out of me, and quite frankly pissed me off. Syllabus also states that “B’s are most common” and that if taking a class as a GPA booster to not to. The class is all writing and reading short stories and fiction and poems. She says to expect a B+ probably.

2) I already took one semester of an English and 2 years’ worth of philosophy and history, which I definitely wrote essays in. Hoping to count that towards the prerequisite.
3) Rising senior, 3.45 GPA and I’m trying to get it as high as I can.

What to do?? Thanks all

I had a professor who said he never gave out A's. I asked him why and he had no real answer. First paper was a B. I asked him what I did wrong and made him break down what he was looking for.
Guess what I got at the end of that semester? His rare A's. I had a Policsci professor who clearly didnt give out A's. He graded me a B+ and i went to his office hours and argued for my A because the paper was an opinion paper and he didnt like one of my arguments. I convinced him that even if he didnt like the argument; he couldnt grade me down for it. It was valid.
Ive learned that whats important is not to trip off of bad grades or professors warning you... I take it as a challenge and if thisis the path that we are on then challenges should be our middle name.

 

[deleted889094]

Might be an unpopular suggestion, but if you think you could get like a B and would enjoy the class, go for it. It'll barely affect your GPA at this point. If it's only about the grade for you - not worth it.

 

[RTC19]

+1 to double check the drop rules and call the academic advising office as soon as humanly possible

I'm taking a summer class too and our refund date( the date when you can get 100% of your tuition back and no W) was after the second class meeting but the final drop date (can drop with a W on your transcript and may or may not get tuition back depending on the date) at this school and every school I have ever gone to has been at the semester's halfway point.

ETA: Just to be clear, I think you should drop it whether your transcript will show a W or not.

 

[Wannabemdee]

I decided to take a creative writing course for the summer just for fun and to fulfill my other semester of English. I know I need a year for the general prerequisite. A few things to note, though:

1) Just got the syllabus today and the first thing the prof makes note of is the grading. She says A’s are “rare” and reserved really only for “publishable work” which was absolutely obnoxious. She is the sweetest professor, but this scared the hell out of me, and quite frankly pissed me off. Syllabus also states that “B’s are most common” and that if taking a class as a GPA booster to not to. The class is all writing and reading short stories and fiction and poems. She says to expect a B+ probably.

2) I already took one semester of an English and 2 years’ worth of philosophy and history, which I definitely wrote essays in. Hoping to count that towards the prerequisite.
3) Rising senior, 3.45 GPA and I’m trying to get it as high as I can.

What to do?? Thanks all

Drop it like a hot potato.

 

[chlorocruorin]

Could you pass/fail