Indecision: do I keep my 5th class or drop it?

[fermicat]

I am having a lot of trouble coming to a decision about whether or not to drop a certain elective class I am taking. It is a tough class, but that isn't why I am thinking of dropping it. The homework is taking up a disproportionate amount of my available time, and I am concerned that I will not be able to do a good job in it and all the rest of my classes as a result. I try very hard to get A's in everything, and I can't get an A without this homework (which consists of writing several mathematical computer programs per assignment). If I put in the time required to do the homework for this class, I will not have much time left for the rest of my classes. I think my classload is more than I can handle.

I suspect that this will not change and might even get worse, but I don't know for certain. What if I *can* really handle it? But what if I can't? ARrrrrgggghhh! I don't know what to do.

Another problem is that the reason I decided to take 5 classes rather than 4 is that it allows me to graduate after summer semester, rather than fall. So if I drop the class, I will have to come back for one more in the fall. Also (least important factor) I have never dropped a class before, in all 9+ years of college. So it just doesn't "feel right" to me. And then there is all the guilt I feel for just considering this. Why do I think I need to have a ridiculous class load, and why can't I make it better without feeling guilty?

Deep down inside I want to drop, but then I feel guilty about it. I'd have to delay graduation (guilt for not earning money), I'd never know if I could have pulled it all off (guilt for being a quitter), and I'd feel guilty every time I had any free time (guilt for not punishing myself, or guilt for being rewarded for quitting).

Here is my situation:

Pros
- if I drop the class, I will have enough time to do the work required to get As in the rest of my classes (almost guaranteed).
- I will have more free time (as opposed to NO free time). I might even have some fun.
- I will not have to stay on campus as many hours per day, and might actually be able to cook for my husband once in a while, or go visit my Mom or grandfather, or clean the house, or take a nap, or pet the cat, or whatever.
- When I take a replacement class, I can take something more directly related to my future career (this class is probably not anything I will ever use again)

Cons
- This class is not required, but the 3 credit hours are. If I drop the class, I will have to return in the Fall to take one class.
- If I have to stay in school one more semester, it will cost more money and delay the time when I will be earning money again (possibly - I might be able to find work in the fall with the provision that I will be part time until my class is done)
- If I drop the class, my well-developed guilt complex will insure that I feel guilty every time I am not studying for one of my other classes


So.... anybody have any advice?

[kechara420]

I say drop the class. My reasoning follows ...

1. It's important to get good grades in your other classes. You'll feel much worse if your other grades suffer because you're putting so much time into this one class.
2. You can always get a temporary, part-time job in the Fall while taking your one last class. In fact, if the class is only a couple of days a week, you could probably do temp work.
3. Sounds like you'll feel guilty no matter what you decide. You deserve some time with your family and you deserve to have a life outside of school. You really shouldn't feel quilty about that.
4. You've been going to school for over nine years. Is one more semester really going to make that big a difference?
5. All college students are REQUIRED to drop at least one class in their careers. Didn't you know that?
6. More time to relax and watch Farscape.
7. More time to spend at FMD! :D

[stellar]

Drop the class. Get a part time job in the fall and take a partial course load. You should be working on your disertation anyway. :aok:

[mgraylorn]

I'd say drop the class.

If you think you need to get A's in all your other classes, and trying to keep up with this class makes you get a B or, heaven forbid!, a C in one of your required classes, think how bad that will make you feel.

You said this is an elective class, and it isn't relevant to your field of study, and that you are unlikely to use it in the future. In that case, it doesn't make sense to invest a disproportionate amount of time in this class, especially if it takes away from your relevant classes.

Can you change this class to a pass/fail option and do less work to get a pass? That would save you having to come back for one more class in the fall, but I wouldn't recommend that, because you would still probably put too much time into it.

Don't feel guilty for having a home life. Every student deserves to have a little time to spend with loved ones, or go out for an evening or whatever. You don't sound like the type who blows off studying for a middle of the week kegger, so I don't think anyone could accuse you of being a slacker. Besides, you will concentrate better on your other classes if you aren't completely stressed out by taking too many classes.

If you are taking only one 3 credit class in the fall, you can take a part time job along with it, if you are worried about money. I can't remember what your field is, but there are probably part time jobs available in it. You could find one and do that while you finish your schooling. That might give you a leg up on a permanent position, either where the part time job is, or somewhere else, because you will then have experience to go with your education. Or, in many fields, there are internships offered to college students that aren't available to people out of school. An internship looks really good on a resume and often turn into full time positions.

So drop the class, sticking it out won't help you in the long run. Sticking it out will cost you more than having to take one class in the fall.

[zahncrelnik]

Drop it. Go for the better grades in the other classes and FREE TIME!!!
You need to have some free time to relax, relaaaaxxxx. :meditate:

[Judith]

I'd say drop it, but if you drop the class you really have to commit to the idea. You can't give yourself massive guilt trips everytime you might have been in class or doing homework. You'll use up about as much energy as if you had taken the class if you're always worrying about it.

[TheBladeRoden]

If I were you I'd drop it. If I just needed 3 gravy credits (which isn't possuble at my school since the required courses I have to take form my maj/min exceed the amount of credits I need to graduate) oh yes, I trailed of there.

Anyway, if I just needed the credits and it didn't matter the course I might as well just take the easiest course I can get.

[Judith]

Oh, yeah, I forgot. Do you have any "mentor" type profs that you could do an independent study with for your last three credits? I know at my University, professors are VERY accomadating to students who are graduating soon. They might let you do a late add or something.

[eta_carinae]

Oh, yeah, I forgot. Do you have any "mentor" type profs that you could do an independent study with for your last three credits? I know at my University, professors are VERY accomadating to students who are graduating soon. They might let you do a late add or something.

Oh, yes! yes! That is an excellent idea! Independent study would be a great option I think. And if you could find someone who was doing something similar to what you want to do, it would be an awesome experience for you. If it was cool enough, you could even put it on your resume :aok: And the best part is that it doesn't have the same hours that a regular class would have.

[fermicat]

Thanks everyone for the support.

I did go to class yesterday and attempted to do the latest homework last night. I figured I'd give it the old "college try" before I punted. At first it looked like my pessimism was unwarranted, because I wrote the first three programs in about 1.5 hours and it all went smoothly. Then I tried to write the "preconditioned conjugate gradients" method program and it all went to shit. And of course, THAT one isn't in our book. I suspect the equations he gave us in class are wrong, because the my program worked without the "preconditioned" part of it. But anyway, I am probably putting y'all to sleep with all of this. Suffice it to say that if I cannot find the true equations in not very much time at the library, that will be a strong signal that I should drop the course. I spent about 5.5 hours on it yesterday, and while better than what the first assignment took, it still isn't good.

I'll let you know what happens. Thanks again!


Oh yeah.... they do offer special problems in my major. One of my friends is getting three hours credit for building his own radiation detector and testing its performance against other types. That, or something like it, could be interesting.

[kechara420]

Then I tried to write the "preconditioned conjugate gradients" method program and it all went to shit. ...

Oh yeah.... they do offer special problems in my major. One of my friends is getting three hours credit for building his own radiation detector and testing its performance against other types. That, or something like it, could be interesting.
Just reading that hurts my head! You should drop the class, and look into some sort of independent study/project. You'll be much happier in the long run!

[fermicat]

I just dropped the class.

Thanks again to all who offered support and advice. It is good to have friends like y'all at FMD. I still feel a little funny about it, but mostly I feel relieved.