Does it matter that I drop a CS class from the university that I want to attend?

Transfer Students
1
  • Also posted on Reddit. But I am looking for more advice.

Hi. I’m a sophomore student who goes to a small liberal arts college. I had always intended to become an English major, but at the end of my first year, I hated how subjective the grading was and decided to not pursue that.

After some talk with my husband who is a CS major, he suggested that I should become a CS major because, for him, it’s “easy”. After some talk with him and some practice, I was actually interested and decided to do a cross-registration with a bigger university nearby, since my college did not offer an introductory Java course. I also decided to take Calculus I and Physics I, (plus an Entrepreneurship course) since I would need to for the CS major requirement. I eventually decided I want to transfer out to this college since it’s a lot more well-known and has prestige, which would be better for getting a job. Another reason is that I personally don’t fit in my college right now.

Taking STEM courses have turned out to be the BIGGEST MISTAKE I EVER MADE IN MY LIFE.

As you may have guessed, I was never really a STEM person and I’m already kind of on the edge in terms of Calculus. CS? I think I’m actually failing it. I just can’t do the “learn something and apply it to solve problems” aspect of these STEM classes. But I do kind of enjoy Business, as I also took a summer business course. Honestly, I think Business Management is the only path left for me that pays well and requires only a bit of math. I never thought of getting a Master’s but I am willing to work for an MBA if I have to. I honestly think it’s better than CS. My husband has been angry at me for “not understanding or putting the time in CS” and “being so indecisive about what I want to do for the future” but it’s just something that is extremely hard for me to grasp. I know he’s concerned about my job and pay since I am a non-STEM type of person, but I am absolutely miserable right now. My friends tell me that I look really sad, and I actually am. I just don’t enjoy CS or anything math related. It drives me insane that one exam is worth 15% of our grade, since I’m used to the discussion based classes of non-STEM courses.

Should I actually drop out of the CS class? I know the “W” will look bad for the university that I am taking classes in, especially that I want to transfer out there, but I’m losing it. I don’t see how a “W” will look worse than a big fat “F”, or probably a “D” (If I’m lucky, a “C”) if I work my ass off. Or should I suck it up and do the best I can? The thing is, I need to protect my 3.3 GPA for other universities too and I think a “D” would be worse than a “W”. And does it matter if I drop a CS class when it is a “weed out” class and I would major in Business Management? Also, can I get some suggestions on how to actually learn to code if I have to suck it up? Thank you so much.

Sorry it’s really long. But I’m completely stressed out right now and I need some advice other than my guidance counselor who is pushing me to stay in my current college (it’s her job, I understand) and my extremely irritated husband.

2

Drop the class. Focus on your other courses.

Does your husband always expect you to be good at the same things he’s good at and like the same things he likes? Or is it just that he likes CS so much, he thinks everyone should? It takes all kinds of people to make a world, and all kinds of job skills amd interests to create businesses. It may be worth your time (once you have some extra time after ditching this very-wrong-for-you class) to take your husband with you for a couple of visits to a marriage counselor.

3

So are you doing well in calc and physics? I also think you should drop the class. Perhaps you would have liked the CS better if you weren’t so busy with the other courses.

4

Thanks for the reply guys. I think so too, but will this affect my chances of being able to transfer to that university? I’m also scared because an other university that I’m thinking of requires a CS class as a requirement for business management major, and I’m wondering if it will look bad that I dropped the class. Regardless, I still feel like the W would be better compared to F…
Regards to my husband, I think he knows I’m not putting in the effort I should be to learn CS and doesn’t like that. But I just don’t enjoy it at all. I don’t understand how to solve the problems, etc. I do admit he can be pushy though.

5

A W is infinitely better than an F. There are umpteen reasons for a W, including “the commute became too complicated”.

And yes, “I don’t understand how to solve the problems” is a good reason to drop the course now, and possibly retake it in the future whan you do have time to focus on the subject.