Current Events > should i drop one of my classes?

(+) Yeah! (+)

currently taking 2 classes. it's going well, and i'm expected to pass for the semester with decent grades.

nest semester i signed up for 3 classes (technically full time). biology, pre-calc and a python programming class. here's the problem:

1. biology is not my strong suit. i dont like biology, i dont understand biology. it's required for my major, and it seems like a "big" class that requires a lot of work
2. i failed pre-calc when i took the class 10 years ago (going to back to school after a 9 year hiatus). class was tough, but i was also a lot more lazy back then. didn't give a shit.
3. i work full time as a security guard. it's total RNG whether my shift will be busy or completely dead. on dead days, i can get a decent chunk of homework done, but i can't always rely on that.
4. so far ive been going part time. i don't want to graduate when i'm 38...i will be past my prime at that point. so there's a lot of pressure to take as many classes as i can so i can graduate earlier.

my plan is to drop biology and focus on that class at another time. but not sure if that's a good idea or not.

anyway, that's what has been stressing me out lately. go me.

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Biology's not your strongsuit? Pojr, you are biology!

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Take two this semester, and one during the summer

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A full course load while working full time is intimidating as shit, I wouldn't blame you at all for dropping one class to focus on two others and maximize your time there.

I took three courses for the first time this past summer, one was full-term and the other were consolidated by almost a month (so like only 2/3 of the term), and that was a really challenging and stressful period of time. *And* I got lucky that two of the three were pretty straightforward in the courseload with minimal tests and quizzes, and the third one was English with a heavy workload of essays and discussion posts and analytic assignments.

I'm taking pre-calc now and another course, and I've had to spend so much time basically teaching myself the pre-calc materials just to get a grasp on it all (and I've had a lot of help on CE too)... so like yeah, do what you're comfortable with, even if that's just taking two courses. Better to take two and get a really solid understanding of the concepts moving forward than to take three and struggle through all of them to just get a passing grade imo.

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Turbam posted...

Take two this semester, and one during the summer

i like this. spreaded out to make it easier. save the hard one for later.
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Speak with your academic advisor.

See if there's anything you test out of.

You'll get the credits needed (it won't hurt or help your GPA) and a passing score is usually only receiving a C on the test.

Plus it will save you on costly tuition and time. :)

I would take as many classes as you can and work as hard as you can. The longer you spread it out, the more you increase your chances of not finishing, tbh.

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COVxy posted...

I would take as many classes as you can and work as hard as you can. The longer you spread it out, the more you increase your chances of not finishing, tbh.

I took this advice and ended up failing all of my classes this quarter. The previous quarters I took 2 classes and got As.
Be warned TC

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Harpie posted...

I took this advice and ended up failing all of my classes this quarter. The previous quarters I took 2 classes and got As.
Be warned TC

Sounds like a you problem.

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COVxy posted...

Sounds like a you problem.

Maybe so. Its a problem for anyone whos prone to becoming overwhelmed. Taking a full load and then some is fine for some people, but when you have a full time job + other things you need to attend to, it comes crumbling down fast.

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Harpie posted...

I took this advice and ended up failing all of my classes this quarter. The previous quarters I took 2 classes and got As.
Be warned TC

btw did you sign up again??

COVxy posted...

I would take as many classes as you can and work as hard as you can. The longer you spread it out, the more you increase your chances of not finishing, tbh.

That strategy might work for some people, sure. But it can also increase burnout, too.

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Hexenherz posted...

btw did you sign up again??

Yes! I secured enough money in scholarships that I wont need to work as well. I can focus 100% on school without the looming threat of homelessness lol

Im so excited ^^

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Perfect I am really glad to hear that!!

I hope you finish soon, too! I still have probably two and a half years to go -_-

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drop a class that starts with

p

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my apologies, i did not mean to totally ghost this thread lmao.

Turbam posted...

Take two this semester, and one during the summer

this is most likely what im going to end up doing.

Steffenfield posted...

Speak with your academic advisor.

See if there's anything you test out of.

You'll get the credits needed (it won't hurt or help your GPA) and a passing score is usually only receiving a C on the test.

Plus it will save you on costly tuition and time. :)

i agree on trying this, i would love to cut any corners that i can. with that said, are there any placement tests for science? i took one for math and did decent. i took one for english and did very well (i pretty much have english knocked off the requirements now). science is the one class that's going to be a hurtle. but even if there were a placement test for it, i don't think i would perform that well.

Harpie posted...

Maybe so. Its a problem for anyone whos prone to becoming overwhelmed. Taking a full load and then some is fine for some people, but when you have a full time job + other things you need to attend to, it comes crumbling down fast.

this is a damn good point. i'll admit i do crack to pressure easily, so i should take my time with school. what COVxy said might work for him, but that doesn't work for everyone.

COVxy posted...

I would take as many classes as you can and work as hard as you can. The longer you spread it out, the more you increase your chances of not finishing, tbh.

i actually do appreciate this input. in a sense you're right, i dont want to get school done with when i'm 38 years old. i will be past my prime, and i will have difficulties being a 40 year old man who's single.

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Outer_space posted...

Gonna take you forever to graduate by doing that. Try to take a couple of really easy classes during summer at least.

that's what i dont like. i agree that it's going to take me forever. i dont want to get my bachelors when i'm 38. but if i take too many classes, i'm going to get overwhelmed and burned out. i agree with taking classes in the summer.

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