Help~! Need advice... fast!

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>Hi, I'm a Freshmen at Western Michigan University, and I'd like to transfer to NYU. That being said, I'm quite confused and very distressed.</p>

<p>So far, I've got a 4.0 (midterms and stuff) except for 1 class. This class basically I could put 40 hours of studying in and only get a B. It's not because it's hard or anything, but because the material on the test doesn't necessarily pertain to what's in the book/notes. </p>

<p>Example, we're learning about the evolution of materials throughout the industrial revolution. A question on the most recent test asked about the solar car that was recently developed by our school. (***?)</p>

<p>The teacher refuses to help, refuses to curve grades, and most importantly, refuses to change her teaching method</p>

<p>Basically, I have a choice to drop the class which will only last until Monday morning. I HAVE to decide soon. </p>

<p>The problem? The first test, was plain bs. The highest grade was a 69% and I got that. I thought it'd be easy and I thought I failed my midterm so I knew I would drop it. Instead, I ended up with an A. She says she's going to drop the lowest grade. SHOULD I STAY IN?? The biggest thing is that her grading's very spurastic. Last test, I misspelled a word by one letter, and I got 10 points taken off, this time, I got the completely wrong answer and got 7 of the 10 points. </p>

<p>... I need 30+ credits so I have a chance to transfer to NYU, and I'm currently sitting on 16 credits, planning on 17~ credits next semester. The more the better. If I drop, a W is on my transcript and I lose 3 credits. I'll still hit the 30 min required, but they'll look at my HS record more (which isn't very good, 3.0)</p>

<p>So what do you guys suggest? Stay in? Or drop?</p>

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<p>Also, I'm not dropping this class because I have a bad grade (I think I have a A- if the 69% is dropped - lowest grade dropped) but it's because the tests are so random, the teacher's not fair, and isn't very good at all, and there's a lot more reasons... but that's the basic jist of it.</p>

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<p>Sounds like a Flak. =/ You should talk to her if she does not change then report how she is not teaching that well or something. I mean she can't take 10 points off just for misspelling or add something that is not from the chapter.</p>

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<p>I have. Her excuse was that she's taught here for 21 years, and the class for 6, and I quote "no one has ever complained about this before"</p>

<p>We've all talked to her, her response is just take more notes. The dean won't do anything, and I'm the only here that's actually worrying. The other people are just trying to pass, I'm trying to get an A. </p>

<p>I could take the risk, and hopefully study up to get an A on the next 2 tests (one more test, and final) and then I'd get an A, but it seems unlikely at best.</p>

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<p>21 years? o_o; She must be really old. If I were you, I would tell my parents that the teacher is not teaching right, and prove it to them. =] Maybe the DEAN will listen to adults instead of a kid. >P</p>

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<p>My father's too busy for me. I honestly haven't been able to contact him for the past few months. I've narrowed him down either in somewhere in Europe, or in Ohio.</p>

<p>Seriously, I have no idea where he is. My mother's not in any condition to call the dean (she's in China) and I have no one here in America.</p>

<p>I really want to transfer NYU, which is why I'm doing all I can right now to gain an advantage.</p>

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<p>Wow you have a tough situation, but i think the admissions committee people are still human, if you explain to them why you got the grade or why you dropped (depending on what you do) they will probably understand. If you are uncertain that she is going to drop the lowest grade then I would drop that class. Why doesn't the dean do anything?</p>

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<p>Probably because the Dean does not care and is just there to make money.</p>

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<p>I know she's going to drop the lowest grade, it's just her last test was graded so harshly compared to the midterm one. I'm afraid that she'll grade the next one as hard, and I'll get an even lower grade (which I can't afford)...</p>

<p>The dean doesn't do anything because just out of bad luck, the department in which the class is in is closing, and there were enough students signed up for the class so that they didn't drop it. But most of them have left (we started with a class of... 60~, and we're left with a class of 6-7). I talked to him once I got my 1st test back that I studied like, 7 hours for, but only got a 69%. That was a few weeks back, he's told me he'd talk to her about it, but nothing's really has changed. When I asked him again a week ago, he said he was busy and had no time.</p>

<p>Now there's really not much he can do unless it's really immediate. Which I doubt...</p>

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<p>oh yeah, I gotta mention, we also have projects to do, and the first project I got a 95% on, and the 2nd one I just presented today but I won't find out my grade until much later in the year. The tests are worth 65% of the grade, and projects worth 35%...</p>

<p>so far my tests are 69% (Will be dropped), 88% and hopefully will go up if she grades eaiser... however will drop if she grades very strictly...</p>

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<p>I would say, stick with it. You've invested so much into it and a W would not look good on your transcript. Worst-case scenario, if you end up not doing as well as you wanted, just explain it in your NYU application - say that you got the highest grade on the test. Your GPA will be very respectable regardless. And if your professor does curve and if the rest of the class is struggling as well, you'll probably come out at the top anyway.</p>

<p>I also think you DEFINITELY need to go voice your concerns to a dean, because the situation is just ridiculous! Explain it to him/her nicely - that's what they're there for: to listen and help.</p>

<p>Good luck :)</p>

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<p>Yeah, I do understand I can explain for it, but I do worry about since I'm applying to both NYU and U of M, both of them (more U of M) tend to be stat whores... (NYU's just sparastic I think...)</p>

<p>I'm not sure if a 4.0 is worth more than a W on my transcript... I dunno, I'm so confused and I feel like this decision could make or break my transcript which I know it won't... but you know how you just have that thought and you just keep with it...</p>

<p>Also, I could see her being evil enough to give me a good grade this time (I told her I was gonna drop out if I got a low score after studying for this long) and then completely bomb me the next few times...</p>