A Difficult Decision

[BlogAssistant]

Hello everybody,

I am well aware that no one here knows who I am, what I do or anything else about me. I need some advice on a decision that’s been troubling me and I came here to find guidance.

I suppose to answer this there should be some background information, I am a Junior at a High School in the West. I'm working in a consulting firm over the summer and take quite a few difficult courses. I am taking Chinese, German, AP Math, Global History, Introduction to Literature and Poetry and Honors Biology, have a 93 average, love designing websites and own a developing blog.

College is a major concern and I am stearing away from anything that will negatively influence my chances of getting into a great school. All my courses are great except one, biology. I have an extremely difficult AP Biology teacher, and it’s not paying off. I have many difficult courses, and I am not detoured from the amount of work. I don't want to waist too much time on this post yet take I’ll explain.

It’s an Honors Class so you need an A in Math and Science from the previous year to get in, so the students enrolled are smart or at least hard working. 8 kids flunked out the first two weeks, 2 more by the end of the first quarter. She asks questions that you wouldn't believe, stuff that she just expects you to know such as definitions. The average is a C, no A's and the test average is around a 65.

I am learning a fair amount yet I don’t feel like it’s worth it. The other H Bio teacher is worse, not teaching the kids anything and curving 20 points for tests.

Many of my colleagues’ have come to the conclusion that studying has no effect on their test grade and that 5hrs of studying is the same as 5 minutes because of her “critical thinking” questions, which are basically common sense and trivia questions and it is affecting all our other classes.

About 50 students petitioned to the head of the school and the teacher said that grade’s don’t matter, that if you went into the class for the grade then you’re going to do poorly. The average homework in that class is about 1-2 hours a day and it piles quite easily. I study about 4 hours for a test, looking at many Biology books including the text book given and yet it never is worth it. The grade for her class is at least 10% lower than Chinese, German or AP Math.

I am not in the class for a grade, I wanted to learn about it and no body in my family knows a whole lot about the subject, but obviously grades are important.

I am not here to ask whether the class is worthwhile or not, yet if it is a good idea to continue with the course or to switch at the end of the first semester (1/2 a year). I read this from one of your posts “Ask yourself this question: "Would I have ever gotten started with this project, relationship, career, etc. if I had to do it all over again, knowing what I now know?" If your answer is no, then get out as soon as possible.” And knowing what I was getting myself into I would have never signed up for this course. So I ask, what should I do about this course?

Thank you whoever is willing to give a minute of their time to help me

[Mr D]

It really depends where you're trying to go... what university are you trying to get into, and does it have a high transfer rate?

[BlogAssistant]

"It really depends where you're trying to go... what university are you trying to get into, and does it have a high transfer rate?"

MIT in mathematics and economics or of a close level, hopefully

I don't know what a high transfer rate is.

Oh theres a mistake on that, I'm a sophomore :P

[Meg]

A high transfer rate means that a high percentage of students transfer to another school after their first semester.

I would put that Bio class at the bottom of your priorities, and focus more on your other classes, unless you're easily making excellent grades in those classes.
If there is another Honors science class other than Bio, I would take that instead. If you need bio, try finding a tutor.

Have you thought about asking the teacher for help? Like, arranging a time after-school for some one-on-one tutoring or extra help? If she sees that you're making a real effort, she may not grade you as harshly. College professors are like that. I know my calc professor would delibrately not fully explain everything in class so that you had to come see him during office hours. And even if you screwed things up completely, he'd give you credit for trying (if you went to see him about it before the test) instead of just marking it wrong and no credit.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. If your teacher can't offer any additional assistance herself, see if she recommends anyone for tutoring.

[Mr D]

MIT?

Well, basically, you better be taking the hardest classes possible and acing them...even at THAT you're chances are very slim.

[smartile]

BlogAssistant,

The question you prompted at the end makes me think of a similar question used in the financial world. When making a decision to keep or sell an existing stock in your portfolio, the question is:

'If you had the opportunity to buy this stock now, would you?'

If the answer is NO, then you sell your existing stock. Maybe the market is dropping off or the stock doesn't fit your portfolio. If the answer is YES, then you keep your existing stock and watch it grow. The logic is really straight forward but sometimes emotions can get in the way.

I personally think you already know the answer to your own question.

I hope this helps,

Stephen Martile — Personal Development Made Simple
PS - Joe Vitale says to follow your intuition. If you see, hear or feel something that is coming from your intuition and it comes to you three times, follow it.

[OnionJack]

Originally Posted by BlogAssistant

Hello everybody,

I am well aware that no one here knows who I am, what I do or anything else about me. I need some advice on a decision that’s been troubling me and I came here to find guidance.

I suppose to answer this there should be some background information, I am a Junior at a High School in the West. I'm working in a consulting firm over the summer and take quite a few difficult courses. I am taking Chinese, German, AP Math, Global History, Introduction to Literature and Poetry and Honors Biology, have a 93 average, love designing websites and own a developing blog.

College is a major concern and I am stearing away from anything that will negatively influence my chances of getting into a great school. All my courses are great except one, biology. I have an extremely difficult AP Biology teacher, and it’s not paying off. I have many difficult courses, and I am not detoured from the amount of work. I don't want to waist too much time on this post yet take I’ll explain.

It’s an Honors Class so you need an A in Math and Science from the previous year to get in, so the students enrolled are smart or at least hard working. 8 kids flunked out the first two weeks, 2 more by the end of the first quarter. She asks questions that you wouldn't believe, stuff that she just expects you to know such as definitions. The average is a C, no A's and the test average is around a 65.

I am learning a fair amount yet I don’t feel like it’s worth it. The other H Bio teacher is worse, not teaching the kids anything and curving 20 points for tests.

Many of my colleagues’ have come to the conclusion that studying has no effect on their test grade and that 5hrs of studying is the same as 5 minutes because of her “critical thinking” questions, which are basically common sense and trivia questions and it is affecting all our other classes.

About 50 students petitioned to the head of the school and the teacher said that grade’s don’t matter, that if you went into the class for the grade then you’re going to do poorly. The average homework in that class is about 1-2 hours a day and it piles quite easily. I study about 4 hours for a test, looking at many Biology books including the text book given and yet it never is worth it. The grade for her class is at least 10% lower than Chinese, German or AP Math.

I am not in the class for a grade, I wanted to learn about it and no body in my family knows a whole lot about the subject, but obviously grades are important.

I am not here to ask whether the class is worthwhile or not, yet if it is a good idea to continue with the course or to switch at the end of the first semester (1/2 a year). I read this from one of your posts “Ask yourself this question: "Would I have ever gotten started with this project, relationship, career, etc. if I had to do it all over again, knowing what I now know?" If your answer is no, then get out as soon as possible.” And knowing what I was getting myself into I would have never signed up for this course. So I ask, what should I do about this course?

Thank you whoever is willing to give a minute of their time to help me

Yes I quoted whole post, and me and college have never been good buddies. So take as you will.

How will this class show up on the transcript? Is the teacher good/willing to write a recommendation, negating the effect of the grade? How will it be viewed by your school of choice(MIT)?

Reread your post you answer some yourself. You said your in it for yourself. So decide that vs. the 20 point grade. Will it make you a better student for it?

You already are obviously way smarter than a majority of people, including myself, so stop thinking. Go with your gut

-OJ