Hi All,
I’m looking for some honest advice. I just started General Chemistry I for my diy post-bacc this week and I am not sure if I should stay in the class. I had been previously warned about this particular professor many times, but it was the only course available around my work schedule this semester. I have attended only two classes, and I have already spent HOURS teaching myself the material, because the professor writes random, irrelevant notes on the board and rambles on about nothing. He gave us practice quizzes (which are helpful when teaching myself), and expects us to be prepared for our weekly quizzes. He does not respond to emails, and when asked questions in class, he seems annoyed and doesn’t give straightforward answers. He also has very shaky math skills, as I’ve already caught several mistakes. This scares me because I really don’t want to have to argue and fight for points over every test that he grades incorrectly (he is notorious for this too).
Considering that I have a decent background in chemistry (I took Intro two years ago), part of me feels like if I work hard enough, I can pull myself through, albeit miserably. On the other hand, I work on average 45-50 hours a week, commute to the school, and I am also finishing up my EMT-B course (which means studying for state exams and getting in last minute ride time). I simply don’t have the time to attend class and then go home and spend hours of my own time relearning the material. If there weren’t a strict attendance policy, I would just skip class and use the time to teach myself. I’ve missed the add/drop period, so I would have to take a W, which terrifies me (I did very well in undergrad and I don’t want any downward trends). I fear that if I stick out the class, I can probably get a safe B, but have a very poor foundation for the rest of my prereqs. Understanding the material is much more important to me than just getting by. It really is a rock and a hard place for me, because it will really hurt the course map that I’ve planned out for myself (it would set me back in my plans for applying because Spring semester is typically time for General Chem 2).
This isn’t the first time I’ve had a crappy professor in my long academic track record, but given the nature of the material and the importance placed on it, I don’t know if I can tolerate this one, or if it is even worth the burnout and added stress. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated, as I’m sure that I’m not the only person who has dealt with this.
I don’t think one W is going to hurt you, but that’s my personal opinion. If you take the W, what’s the chance you’ll find another class next year that fits with your work schedule and is taught by a different professor? I’m in a similar situation in Bio II and have the feeling this will end up being a B grade. Very high B, but still a B. It does not look like he does +/- grading, unfortunately. But I’ve got to keep moving forward so I’m keeping the class.
If you could take gen chem I in the spring and gen chem II in the summer, so it wouldn’t push you back by much, I’d probably do that. Especially if you cannot get an A in this course – you really need to strive for As in a post-bacc.
If the one-semester bump isn’t a possibility, I’d probably personally stick with it and use Freelance Teacher (http://www.freelance-teacher.com/videos.htm#GENERALCHEMISTRY) all the time. The videos are long and slow, but excellent for teaching yourself material because of that.
if u leave class and have to teach yourself anyway, then drop the course and CLEP it. I’d b tempted to just go for attendance and learn it myself, but that would put grading in someone else’s hands - not good. The prof has a rep for incorrect grading and not responding to emails, when you’ve verified that he lives up to the bad rep. You don’t have time for this in post-bach - all time, work, and frustration should go to making an A, not dealing with or working around an A hole. Unless you’re the type that enjoys a good fight, threatening to sue and going to superiors, drop and CLEP.