Looking for Opinions

[Kitty]

So this year, especially this month, has been a little overwhelming for me and I'm surely going to be losing my coveted 4.0 gpa.... but there's one class in particular that I just can't focus on and I'm thinking I need to drop it and just.... do it again maybe over Summer 1. I haven't even started my first English paper... and the rough draft was due Monday. I'm thinking I should drop it to save my sanity and my GPS, and go again next semester. I still need a few more classes to qualify for my AA anyhow, so it's not extending my college career any and I'll still be a full time student without it (5 classes this semester.).

should I go ahead and Withdraw, or tough it out? I think it'd be beneficial to withdraw but... I'm not 100% certain. I'm so bloody stubborn.

[Satra]

How important is your GPA, really? The important thing, really, is to establish yourself as a trustworthy and mature individual as teacher recommendations are (in my opinion) more valuable than a 4.0. A teacher prefers a student who shows s/he can do the work required of their preferred field than one who can do it on paper, but shows no real-life applicable ability.
EDIT: Not saying you should tank your GPA. XD Keep it decent. My questioning is of the 4.0 specifically.

However, you want to go into psychology, right? So a very high GPA might be important. But who's to say a 3.9 isn't just as good? If you're looking into grad schools, this is also important. Talk to an adviser who would know your needs for your career path better than, really, any of us.

On the flip side, sanity is important. Burning yourself out may affect your performance in future classes.

Do you have the rest of your school career planned? It would behoove you to know what classes you have to take before the semester starts. For example: a lot of classes are only available during certain semesters or certain years. Not having the prerequisites already taken care of before that smaller window of opportunity comes up is a very good idea. If you don't, you could end up spending a lot more time than expected in school simply because you're just sitting there twiddling your thumbs waiting for the classes you need to be available. I wouldn't be taking 16 units right now if I had no concern for graduating as soon as possible. I need to get out of school and work a non-shit job. Been in school too long.

Anyway, that's my advice. Hope it was helpful.

[Callypso]

Well, I don't know how your school is set up, but 5 classes seems like a lot.

I'm leaning towards disagreeing with Satra. If that 4.0 means a lot to you, then do what you can to keep it. You're not guaranteed to get the same professor the second time around, and you can always get a recommendation from someone else.

Logistically speaking, are you able to withdraw without it reflecting poorly on your grades? I know that when I was in school there was a deadline to withdraw, and if you withdrew after the deadline I think a "W" was considered either an F or an incomplete. I would talk to your school's admin/counselors/equivalent to determine whether that's an option or not.

Secondly, how much of your grade will be knocked down by turning in this draft late? Is it still possible for you to get an "A" for the overall class? Maybe a talk with your professor to determine how much that will effect your overall grade for the class?

Before you do anything, I would recommend getting as much information as you can. If you can salvage your grade and think you can do it, stay in the class. If your grades won't be affected by your dropping and you haven't missed the deadline to do it and you feel overwhelmed, drop it!

Hope this helps!


ETA: Also, it's good to remember that you're human and you may have bitten off more than you can chew. To me, it's more important that you recognize your limitations before getting too far into something and having all of your classes and your physical/mental health suffer because you're overloaded and stressed. Just my two cents.

[Kitty]

It'd be lower then a 3.9 lol. I actually haven't' been able to do much of -anything- for this class, including show up on time. The teacher isn't even helpful either, her very existence irks me and I can't deal.

I'm doing great in all my other classes though.... and I do have my next semesters planned pretty well. This would be the last English class I needed and the only pre-req class I have left to take is Math120 so I can then head into Stats.

My GPA is pretty important too as I'll be attempting a transfer to ASU after my AA is completed (my entire degree transfers, so I wont' have to redo anything) I'm just not.... feeling like I can do this this semester.

I think I will swing by my adviser on Friday though, see what she thinks.

[Kitty]

And, yes.... a 'Withdraw" doesn't count as anything positive or negative to your GPA. It's pretty much like you never took the class to begin with really.

[Callypso]

Oh! Then, hell. If you can fit English in some other time and it doesn't knock your GPA, I say drop it. Your sanity will thank you AND you can try to take that English class with a better teacher.

[Kitty]

Yeah, I'm at a community college right now, so teachers opinions aren't AS important... and I can select a different teacher next time around as well.

And the worst thing about this rough draft is that I can't even right it... so I won't have it in by the time the final is due.... and that knocks me back quite a hefty amount.

The rest of my classes are pretty demanding.... especially my Bio-Psychology one >.<

[Satra]

I agree with Callypso. If you can get no negative effects from dropping, then do it if keeping it is hurting your sanity. And if you don't like the teacher, then try to get a better one next time.

(and before: I wasn't saying a 4.0 wasn't important in general. I know some grad schools and professions require an extraordinarily high GPA. However, don't get caught up in "OMG I'M IN SCHOOOOOOL." Don't forget what you're in school FOR. If you must sacrifice a bit on your GPA, but you land the internship that gives you the experience hiring managers are looking for then you're in better shape. However, I am speaking from a field biologist's point of view. Could be different for you. )

Ah, Community college. You might be better off going for the GPA, then? I never went to one of those, so I don't know exactly how it works. That's what advisers are for. :3

[Kitty]

I knew what you meant Satra, no worries <3

And I'm pretty much here to do all the classes I can that transfer in full to ASU before heading over there, just to save myself some money. I've got the list of things I need for my Bachelors from ASU already, so I can look all that up and plan ahead.

Upping my chances of getting all that fun stuff like internships and the like by joining Psi Beta here pretty soon. I'll actually be doing some research with the school with opportunities to presenting my findings at conferences alongside grad students and professors. So I'm trying my damndest to be a good little Psych major.

For my Masters and/or PhD (should I have the motivation to finish it) I need to complete no less then one year of therapy as well. Not only to know what it feels like to be a patient, but to work out my own issues and know what they are to keep my diagnosis from being biased. lol

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

You're doing exactly what I want to be doing....but you're actually DOING it. I wish I lived right next to you so you could force my butt along.

I'm a wee jealous, and fully happy for you!

I say drop it for reasons already explained.