<p>So basically I was accepted ED into my all-time, ultra-selective dream school and I feel like I won the lottery. My number one fear is that I’m going to get my admission rescinded, which would suck because I’ve wanted to go to this college since the seventh grade and I’ve also already withdrawn my other applications. I simply can’t believe I got in and I feel like something is going to happen to screw all my dreams up.</p>
<p>I’m facing a dilemma right now. I’m taking an advanced math course that I absolutely abhor. I’ve never been an exceptional math student, but this is the only class I’ve ever taken that feels impossible to do well in. The teacher, although nice, is absolutely incompetent. There are about four facebook groups dedicated to hating her. Last semester there were three classes with about 32 students in each, and this semester there are two classes with around twelve students in each. Some of the brightest math students I know dropped it because they weren’t learning anything and the tests were incomprehensible. Hopefully this gives you an idea of how terrible the class and the teacher are. It was a hellish nightmare for me.</p>
<p>I was planning on dropping it for a different math course second semester (it wasn’t advanced but it was my only option) but I decided to contact my college to check and see if it was okay. I’m a music performance major so I didn’t think dropping a math class for another would be a big deal. Apparently it is. Because I had told the school I would continue with the class when I applied (I hadn’t planned on dropping it then) they want me to continue taking it.</p>
<p>I’m very, very worried. All my math genius friends who helped me first semester have dropped the class. I’m very afraid I won’t pass the class, which would jeopardize my offer of admission. I’m very afraid that if I ignored the school and dropped the class anyway my offer of admission would again be jeopardized. I’m afraid if I tell the school how hard the class is for me, they’ll assume I’m not smart enough for them and rescind my admission. I considered getting a tutor, but they cost around $50 an hour and I can’t afford that.</p>
<p>What should I do? Should I suck it up and try to survive the class that I’m pretty sure I won’t pass, or should I contact the school and present my case to them one more time (if so, what’s the best way to present myself)? This isn’t about work. I’ve taken all Honors and AP classes my entire high school career and I’ve never dropped one. I’m not afraid to work. The problem is that the absolute incomprehensible nature of the teacher’s teaching style makes the class nearly impossible to pass without outside help, which I don’t have or can’t afford. </p>
<p>I hope I didn’t come off whiney and lazy. I’m trying to work as hard and take as much responsibility for my choices as I can. I’m very, very nervous. I have until Friday to make my decision. Please help me if you have any advice.</p>
<p>Get together with others in the class and help each other every night or every other night. This will help in two ways: (1) You'll teach each other various things (i.e., Jonnie understood this and Sally understood that), and (2) if during these sessions you realize that no one has a clue, you can go to the teacher as a group and not let her move on until someone gets it who can explain it to the rest of you.</p>
<p>Also -- is there a Princeton Review or Kaplan book for the subject? Frequently those books are very very clear.
Probably, all you need to do is get a C in the course.</p>
<p>first, check the universitiy's minimum grade requirement in each class after your admission.
if its not a particular grade that you have to maintain in each class but rather an overall gpa, then you are better off because you sound like you do very well in your other classes...out of curiosity what school are you talking about if you dont mind me asking</p>
<p>I'd do the group thing, but I don't know anyone in the class and everyone who is still in it is a natural at math and could easily teach this stuff to themselves. Getting everyone together is easier said than done--people have busy schedules and it's painfully awkward when you don't know anyone.</p>
<p>I'd still like to shoot for dropping the class. It's painfully horrendous and totally useless (it doesn't apply to my intended major at all). I wish I could put into words how much I hate it without sounding melodramatic, but I don't think that's possible, so I'll just say that I really, really, really don't want to keep it. However, if you guys think calling my college again would be a bad idea, then I'll just tough the rest of the year out.</p>
<p>I hope I'm not coming off as lazy. I'd like to emphasize that I'm not afraid of work. This is just one godawful, useless class that I really, really want to drop.</p>
<p>Stop panicking. You need to take some sort of action.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Buy the Kaplan or whatever review book, buckle down, and study it. </p></li>
<li><p>You don't know ANYONE in class? Make a friend and ask him/her if he/she can help you. </p></li>
<li><p>Otherwise, pay for the damn tutor. You've got to do it. If you don't pay the $50 per hour now, you won't have to pay the $44,000 per year later.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>lol..you do sound melo dramatic...what college are you takling about...and it doesnt matter that it doesnt pertain toyour major..you applied with your courseload..your expected to finish with your courseload</p>
<p>The idea that you absolutely cannot change a class after you applied seems a bit absurd. People do change their mind and circumstances do come up.</p>
<p>Cornell is pretty big. I don't think they'll be tracking every single student so carefully. Not that I'm giving you great advice, but maybe the won't really notice. Maybe.</p>
<p>lol i love cornell as well which is a random fact although im still a junior...it does seem to strict but its the policy...again try to figure out what their gpa limitations are and if that doesnt work out then try to get your counselor to write cornell a midyear letter explaining the difficulty of the class with the median grade in the class to show that your not alone</p>
<p>Seems to me that she very clearly said that if you drop the class, you may lose your admission. Are you planning to major in a science or math oriented field? If so, perhaps that's why Cornell wants you to continue in the class.</p>
<p>What kinds of grades are you getting in the class? As long as you can pull of a C, try and stick it out. Or try calling again and talking to someone with more specifics.</p>
<p>Was the person you talked with at Cornell your regional admissions representative? That's the person you should discuss it with - someone who knows or who can understand your particular situation. What does your guidance counselor say?</p>
<p>All my GC said was that if I decided to drop after talking to the school they could rescind my admission. She deals with 500 seniors and almost all of them go to CCs or state schools. She's not used to this sort of stuff and doesn't really have the time.</p>
<p>I don't know what a regional representative is but I'm pretty sure I didn't talk to one. They didn't even ask for my name.</p>
<p>I think you need to describe to your admissions counselor at Cornell what you describe to us - it's very likely they can make an exception. Or your GC could call.</p>