To Drop or Not to Drop

freshnesschronic · 02-07-2007, 09:47 PM

Yeah. So I'm a freshman at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

So to make this real brief nothingness: Should I drop my Western History before 1710 class?
Reasons why I should.
a) My Ukrainian TA is freakin' obsessed with history and scares me. Plus she makes up words like "diffusension"--Hellenistic culture blending but not taking over the Near East.
b) She makes the discussion session freakin' 4x the amount of work it should be. If you do not answer in a full intellectual sentence your participation is lowered. You have to formulate thesis papers from random facts she has included. You can't restate the book at all--you have to interpret it

c) She called me childish for not carefully reading her email carefully since I had not read a specific section in an extraneous book she assigned.

d) I'd still be more than a full time student (14 credit hours with the drop, 17 with the class--12 credit hours to be full time student).
e) No early classes! At all! (11 AM would be my earliest)
f) She grades like a monster and I would avoid getting a B- (which is my guess of the grade I would receive in the class), thus lowering my GPA.

Reasons why I shouldn't.
a) I should suck it up, some classes are a bitch.
b) I won't be a "real" sophomore if I drop down to 14 credit hours (14 this semester + 14 last semester = 28 which does not equal 30, the requirement to be an Illinois sophomore).
c) I wasted a shitload money on buying a textbook and multiple paperback readings that I'm just going to have to sell back.

Help me!

Bullitt · 02-07-2007, 10:01 PM

Suck it up until the add/drop deadline, then re-examine the class so far and decide whether to drop or not.
TA's can be such a pain, part of the reason I transferred from Ohio University to a small private school after my frosh year (small classes, most of my major specific are <15:1). This is my 2nd semester of Junior year and I have yet to regret the decision.

Perry Winkle · 02-07-2007, 10:04 PM

The only real consideration is how not being a true sophomore will affect your housing options.

You will have to get used to foreign professors butchering English. I had a physics class with a Bengali guy who couldn't speak a word of English. If you were just having problems with the language barrier I would say suck it up.

You could always take a summer course to make up the credits. It's great fun cramming 15 weeks of work into 4 or 6 weeks.

Perry Winkle · 02-07-2007, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bullitt

TA's can be such a pain

Just as a by the by: some of the best teachers I've ever had have been graduate student TAs. Undergraduate TAs mostly suck balls.

Bullitt · 02-07-2007, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grant

Just as a by the by: some of the best teachers I've ever had have been graduate student TAs. Undergraduate TAs mostly suck balls.

I can see that being generally true. Undergrad TA's probably get annoyed dealing with undergrad students.

Also is this a major specific class or is it a gen. ed/elective. Some schools have a surprising amount of classes available to take online. Convenient if you just need the elective credit and don't care much about the subject matter.

freshnesschronic · 02-08-2007, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bullitt

I can see that being generally true. Undergrad TA's probably get annoyed dealing with undergrad students.

Also is this a major specific class or is it a gen. ed/elective. Some schools have a surprising amount of classes available to take online. Convenient if you just need the elective credit and don't care much about the subject matter.

Well, its a gen ed. And the only history I like, is like ancient history. And classical history (Greek, Rome) classes were full, so this was the only one I could sign up for.

Cloud · 02-08-2007, 12:23 AM

as long as it doesn't jeopardize your funding, housing, or other stuff, I think the arguments for dropping win. 17 is a buttload of credit hours for one term, and 14 is still a lot.

Bullitt · 02-08-2007, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freshnesschronic

Well, its a gen ed. And the only history I like, is like ancient history. And classical history (Greek, Rome) classes were full, so this was the only one I could sign up for.

Yeah then I'd say drop it, put it off till next semester and try to get a class you want to take, esp. since its just a gen ed. Ask around towards the end of this semester and see what profs are good, aim for those classes.
17 hours can be a bit much depending on the classes you're taking, I aim for 15-16. But again it depends on the classes and any labs. What's your major?

Crimson Ghost · 02-08-2007, 02:46 AM

University of Illinois, you say...

Maybe you know piercehawkeye45's friend Henry Blake?
Narrow shoulders, wide hips, shaped like a pear, hates flying?

freshnesschronic · 02-08-2007, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bullitt

Yeah then I'd say drop it, put it off till next semester and try to get a class you want to take, esp. since its just a gen ed. Ask around towards the end of this semester and see what profs are good, aim for those classes.
17 hours can be a bit much depending on the classes you're taking, I aim for 15-16. But again it depends on the classes and any labs. What's your major?

I'm going to apply to switch into the Sports Management Major in the Department of Recreation Sports and Tourism in the School of Applied Life Sciences. That is always a mouthful to explain. I'm undecided right now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crimson Ghost

University of Illinois, you say...

Maybe you know piercehawkeye45's friend Henry Blake?
Narrow shoulders, wide hips, shaped like a pear, hates flying?

No, it's hard to know everyone in a 38K student population!!!!!

Shawnee123 · 02-08-2007, 12:23 PM

You didn't mention receiving any federal aid, but if you are keep in mind dropping classes can affect your Satisfactory Academic Progress, which is mandated by the federal government. The premise is to keep "professional students" from abusing federal (ie our) monies. Each school designs its own SAP system, but "w" courses are always considered; in fact FA GPA can differ from academic GPA for that reason.

Just info for anyone interested.

glatt · 02-08-2007, 12:37 PM

Look at Shawneee, sharing her professional expertise on the subject! Your school is lucky to have you, Shawnee.

Shawnee123 · 02-08-2007, 12:38 PM

You're sweet. Aw shucks.

Griff · 02-08-2007, 03:47 PM

Yes, drop acid before speaking to the TA. Oops, misinterpreted the title. Are you too far in to add a course?

DanaC · 02-09-2007, 04:54 AM

Umm.....satisfy my curiosity: What is a TA ? and what is a 'sophomore'?

02-07-2007, 09:47 PM	#1
freshnesschronic Professor Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,555	To Drop or Not to Drop Yeah. So I'm a freshman at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. So to make this real brief nothingness: Should I drop my Western History before 1710 class? Reasons why I should. a) My Ukrainian TA is freakin' obsessed with history and scares me. Plus she makes up words like "diffusension"--Hellenistic culture blending but not taking over the Near East. b) She makes the discussion session freakin' 4x the amount of work it should be. If you do not answer in a full intellectual sentence your participation is lowered. You have to formulate thesis papers from random facts she has included. You can't restate the book at all--you have to interpret it c) She called me childish for not carefully reading her email carefully since I had not read a specific section in an extraneous book she assigned. d) I'd still be more than a full time student (14 credit hours with the drop, 17 with the class--12 credit hours to be full time student). e) No early classes! At all! (11 AM would be my earliest) f) She grades like a monster and I would avoid getting a B- (which is my guess of the grade I would receive in the class), thus lowering my GPA. Reasons why I shouldn't. a) I should suck it up, some classes are a bitch. b) I won't be a "real" sophomore if I drop down to 14 credit hours (14 this semester + 14 last semester = 28 which does not equal 30, the requirement to be an Illinois sophomore). c) I wasted a shitload money on buying a textbook and multiple paperback readings that I'm just going to have to sell back. Help me!

02-07-2007, 10:01 PM	#2
Bullitt This is a fully functional babe lair Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,324	Suck it up until the add/drop deadline, then re-examine the class so far and decide whether to drop or not. TA's can be such a pain, part of the reason I transferred from Ohio University to a small private school after my frosh year (small classes, most of my major specific are <15:1). This is my 2nd semester of Junior year and I have yet to regret the decision. __________________ Kiss my white Irish ass.

02-08-2007, 12:23 AM	#7
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	as long as it doesn't jeopardize your funding, housing, or other stuff, I think the arguments for dropping win. 17 is a buttload of credit hours for one term, and 14 is still a lot. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

02-08-2007, 02:46 AM	#9
Crimson Ghost Larger than life and twice as ugly. Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,264	University of Illinois, you say... Maybe you know piercehawkeye45's friend Henry Blake? Narrow shoulders, wide hips, shaped like a pear, hates flying? __________________ We must all go through a rite of passage. It must be physical, it must be painful, and it must leave a mark. I have no knowledge of the events which you are describing, and if I did have knowledge of them, I would be unable to discuss them with you now or at any future period. Don't waste your time always searching for those wasted years

02-08-2007, 12:23 PM	#11
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	You didn't mention receiving any federal aid, but if you are keep in mind dropping classes can affect your Satisfactory Academic Progress, which is mandated by the federal government. The premise is to keep "professional students" from abusing federal (ie our) monies. Each school designs its own SAP system, but "w" courses are always considered; in fact FA GPA can differ from academic GPA for that reason. Just info for anyone interested. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

02-07-2007, 10:04 PM	#3
Perry Winkle Esnohplad Semaj Ton Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: A little south of sanity Posts: 2,259	The only real consideration is how not being a true sophomore will affect your housing options. You will have to get used to foreign professors butchering English. I had a physics class with a Bengali guy who couldn't speak a word of English. If you were just having problems with the language barrier I would say suck it up. You could always take a summer course to make up the credits. It's great fun cramming 15 weeks of work into 4 or 6 weeks.

02-08-2007, 12:37 PM	#12
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Look at Shawneee, sharing her professional expertise on the subject! Your school is lucky to have you, Shawnee.

02-08-2007, 12:38 PM	#13
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	You're sweet. Aw shucks. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

02-08-2007, 03:47 PM	#14
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Yes, drop acid before speaking to the TA. Oops, misinterpreted the title. Are you too far in to add a course? __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

02-09-2007, 04:54 AM	#15
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Umm.....satisfy my curiosity: What is a TA ? and what is a 'sophomore'?

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