That Class You Hate

It’s a guarantee that you will enjoy some classes more than others.  Many students find classes in their majors to be far more interesting than required general education classes.  That’s totally understandable.  But how do you handle THAT class, the one that, for whatever reason, you hate?

Oftentimes, students are doing poorly in the classes that they dislike.  Here are some factors to consider. 

• If it is not a required class and you can drop it without penalty to your transcript or your financial aid, consider dropping it. 

• If it is a required class, especially one in your major and even if there would be no penalty, the decision is a bit more complex.  Does the same instructor always teach this class?  If one of your issues with the class is how it is taught and the same person always teaches it, you might as well stick it out unless things are going truly horrendously.  Is this class difficult to get into?  You might not want to give up a seat in class that is offered only once a year or an upper division class that everyone in your major needs to complete, as it might significantly delay the completion of your degree.

• You can choose to fight back.  Take all your annoyance and frustration about that class and re-route that energy into getting the best grade you possibly can.  Neglecting that disliked class and getting a poor grade just means that you will need to retake it.  The rules for retaking classes have recently become much more strict at many colleges and universities, so you may not have very many chances to take another shot at it.

• Talk to the instructor about your study strategies to see whether they are suitable for the class material.  Talk with other students who are doing well in the class to see how they approach learning the information.  Seek out study groups, check if tutoring is available, and find out whether there are supplemental materials such as textbook study guides or websites to leverage your learning process.  Don’t let this class knock you down without giving it your best.

That class you hate will have just as strong an impact on your GPA as one you like.  If you are proactive in dealing with the situation, you will never have to take that class you hate again.

Fast vs. Slow? Consider the Pro and Cons

We are a rushed society. We want quick, if not instant, results for everything we do. Just look at infomercials or scam emails that promise rapid weight loss, get rich quick, instantly become more attractive, and other such claims. Common sense helps most of us from falling for those shiny yet shallow promises.

The same is true of higher education. A great many for-profit institutions that promise you will earn a certificate or degree in a rapid amount of time are not quality programs. They tend to be a waste of time and money as well as lacking accreditation and respect from professional communities. Graduates of for-profit programs are often shocked to find that their credits do not transfer to other institutions or are not considered to fulfill the criteria for graduate school programs. Some for-profit setups, as in diploma mills where one buys the degree of choice, are downright fraudulent. This is not to say that legitimate educational institutions do not offer fast-track type programs. Some certainly do, and the workloads and concentration of time commitment are intense.

A more common clash between the concepts of quality and speed in higher education comes when a student wants to finish as quickly as possible so she or he can get on with their career and the rest of life. While certainly some students are capable of taking very heavy classloads every semester and getting excellent grades and truly absorbing knowledge while they do so, from my experience, they are few and far between. Here are a few things to consider about moving fast versus slow through your higher education.

Fast. Typical short-term classes last from 5 to 8 weeks, and taking them can be a good strategy to speed up progress toward your degree if you are careful about which classes you choose to complete this way. A common mistake I have seen students make is to take a class they particularly dread or dislike in a short format to "get it over with as quickly as possible." When students have strong negative feelings toward a class, it is usually because the material is difficult for them. Difficult classes are better taken during a traditional semester in case there are bumps in the learning road to resolve along the way.

Students are more likely to be successful in short-term classes if they already have a strong foundation of knowledge in the subject area, if they have a lot of time just to devote to doing coursework during the length of the class, and if they have strong motivation and self-discipline. 

Slow. It's often said that good things take time, and this can be true of your education. The goal of higher education is to learn, and learning does not happen overnight. Let's look at this from a class level and an educational career level.

While some students may think the traditional 16 or 18 week semester is too long for any class, having this amount of time to absorb and integrate material can result in more meaningful learning. This can be especially important in foundation classes in your major or particularly difficult classes. Longer length classes are also more amenable to missing a few days due to illness, car problems, or other brief unforeseen circumstances without having an adverse impact on your grade.

Professionalism Starts Here

Career preparation is a central goal of the majority of college students. Your campus can provide you with many opportunities to practice and refine professional behaviors and attitudes that will benefit you long after you've earned your degree.

• Remember that professors in your major have valuable experience and connections in your chosen career. Cultivate good relationships with them so if you need a graduate school or employment reference, they will have plenty of positive things to say about you. They may even give you leads on research opportunities, scholarships, and employment.

• Be mindful of the impact you have when interacting with everyone at your campus -- faculty, staff, administrators, and, yes, even other students. Appropriate and mature behavior can have a big impact on your reputation, and, even on large campuses, word gets around if an individual is seen as obnoxious or disruptive.

• Take advantage of as many conferences, clubs, and activities related to your major as you can. It's great experience and can add that special spark to your resume that makes you stand above the crowd in the eyes of a potential employer.

• This is not to say you can't have fun while you are in college, but you must consider that your education is serious business involving huge investments of your time, money, and energy. Your grades will have a major impact on you for the rest of your education, and after you graduate, the quality of your grades can either lead you to open doors or dead end you at closed ones. It's up to you.

Short Session Challenges

Taking a class or two during the short summer or winter session at your college may seem like a good idea for many reasons. However, along with the advantage of knocking a class out of the way in less than a semester comes the challenges of managing your time, energy, and academic performance effectively to get the best possible results. Here are some things to keep in mind when tackling a short session class.

• You will be covering a full semester’s worth of material in a much shorter period of time. At the colleges where I presently teach, this means compressing 16 weeks of information into 6 weeks for winter or 8 weeks for summer.

• Be prepared for long class sessions (sometimes 4 hours) that meet up to 4 days per week. Missing even one class during a short session can spell disaster for your final grade as testing and turning in other graded assignments is frequent. 

• Because of the compression of information, the pace is very fast indeed in a short session class. If you need lots of time to process and learn information, this style of learning may not be the best for you. 

• Since short session classes are work-intense, limit the number of them you take at any one time. If you have other obligations you need to attend to during the short session weeks, I suggest you only take one class. If you have nothing else that needs your attention, two classes can be managed. 

• Keep in mind the nature of the class you’re taking. Classes that involve labs or lots of writing can be challenging enough during a regular length term; think carefully before you decide to tackle one as a short session class. 

• Strong self-motivation, self-discipline, and commitment are essential to doing well in short session classes. I suggest that you take them in areas in which you are academically strong. 

• Short session classes are not the best approach for struggling students due to the fast pace and  overall intensity level. 

• Keep very close track of schedules and deadlines, and keep up with all readings and assignments. Short session classes will require even more stringent study habits and more frequent studying to master the material in such a limited time.