schedule problems

Applying to College
1

<p>Hey all, I am in a bit of a problem right now, and I have to make a tough choice. Ok, so, I am an incoming senior. I really want to take multivariable calculus this fall, but the only community college near me (and there are no other universities near me) offers multivariable calculus at 3:00 - 4:45 PM. That might not seem so bad, except for the fact that I have six periods, since I have to take art to graduate. i forgot about it until the end of junior year.</p>

<p>So currrently my schedule has these five core subjects plus art:</p>

<p>math
science
lit
history
foreign language
art</p>

<p>however, i also need pe to graduate. that would make seven classes total.</p>

<p>to make it worse, i promised my physics teacher i would TA for her in my senior year with my empty period. i talked to her on the last week though, and told her that pe conflicted with TA.</p>

<p>i only need one semester of pe though, so i told her if it was ok if i take pe first semester, then TA second semester. She said it was completely fine.</p>

<p>Now, this multivariable calculus problem is coming up. since it takes about 20 minutes to get to the college, i cannot have a seventh period. </p>

<p>basically first semester is a toss-up with TA vs pe vs multivariable</p>

<p>Here's waht i think is the best solution so far:
I TA first semester, and leave 20 minutes early two days a week. she has other TA's so it wont' be like we'll get behind in grading or anything. Then in second semester i stop TA and take pe.
Only problem is, i'm afraid she's gonna be mad about leaving early TA by 20 minutes two days a week.
Does that seem disrespectful?????</p>

<p>i plan to just ask her the first day of school if thats ok, and if she says no then im just gonna take multivariable and not ta the whole year.</p>

<p>i'll be in my physics teachers class for a further phyiscs class, so its not like we wont' see each other, and plus i think she likes me. but i think its just gonna be "rude" or iono, just confusing and awkward with such a weird scheudle</p>

<p>it makes me look like i care more about taking a math class than helping her out, but i will be there for one semester, and its mainly the stupid pe and art requirement.</p>

<p>oh and she's writing my letter of rec, so i relaly don't want to do anythin stupid.</p>

<p>this sucks.</p>

<p>i know you might say just to not take multivariable, but i have this obsessino with calculsu that i can't stop. iono why, but ever since i started learning calculus i just find it flat out AWESOME!!! i wanna say its a passion, but that might be weird...</p>

<p>anyways</p>

<p>This is the problem. I have a solution. Could you please help me decide if that solution is good or not? If you have any suggestions please tell. Thanks.</p>

2

<p>Perhaps drop the TA responsibility. You are under no obligation to be a TA. If she needs a TA, the school should pay someone to do it. It’s not your responsibility. As a student, your priority and focus should be on your own schedule and coursework. Let her now that you will not be able to take on the TA responsibility because you want to focus on your studies.</p>

<p>PS–Your teacher is getting paid to teach the class. It is not a high school student’s responsibility to act as her TA.</p>

3

<p>If your doing this for the letter of recommendation perhaps you should reconsider.</p>

<p>I think calc>1 rec</p>

<p>but its your choice
It doesn’t usually hurt to ask but you promised something, then cut in half and then want to cut more out so…</p>

<p>its a toughy</p>

4

<p>i wish i didn’t promise. notasophistamore, i think you wrote exactly what im worried about, me cutting out of what i said more and more… arggggggggggggggggggg</p>

<p>I considered online classes like the ones at stanford, but they’re so expensive.</p>

5

<p>Stop over thinking the point about the TA. It will not have any bearing on your recommendation from this teacher. Your teacher is a professional. The recommendation is based on your performance within his/her class ---- such as, ability in the subject, class participation, maturity in getting assignments done on time, potential in your academic future, etc. </p>

<p>Again—you can not be considered a TA. You are a student. The teacher is a paid professional. She is getting paid to teach. You are not. Your responsibility ls to be a student. Simply tell the teacher that you will not be able to help him/her because you will be taking an additional class at that time. It’s not a big deal. Don’t make it out to be one.
Send the teacher an email (or call) ASAP and explain the your academic plans have changed for the upcoming year and you will not have the time to help him/her out in the classroom.</p>

6

<p>I think that your solution misses the point of what a high school community is about, and what commitments are about. To take the TA job and treat it as you’ve proposed is unprofessional.</p>

7

<p>^It’s absolutely not unprofessional. His job right now is to be a student in the school. This student is not obligated to miss an opportunity to take an academic class just so he can assist a teacher inside the classroom. This kid is a student first and foremost.</p>

<p>Secondly, succeeding in this additional class will have a more positive impact on his applications than assisting a teacher within the classroom. It will also allow the student to explore a passion. The teacher understands that there is a conflict with his/her schedule. It’s best for the student to simply acknowledge now that due to time restraints and conflicts, following through with the TA position will not possible. It’s much better to let the teacher know now rather than to begin the position and follow through only half-way. The fact that this student wants to achieve academically and is willing to take a class outside of the classroom is both honorable and ambitious and any teacher in his/her right mind would not hold it against the student when writing a recommendation.</p>

<p>fogcity, Don’t romanticize the idea of High School community. The reality is that the student is a student first.</p>

8

<p>^Not to speak for Fogcity, but what I think s/he is saying is that, were OP to take the TA job and then use the proposed schedule, OP would be acting unprofessionally (not that OP should take the TA job [actually, discouraging it, imo], but that this is not the way to take the job).</p>

9

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</p>

<p>Says who? Helping out the teacher who is writing your rec is hardly a bad idea…</p>

<p>OP, I would not recommend taking on all commitments. You need to decide whether the MV Calc or the TAing position is more valuable for you individually. If you go for Calc, let your teacher know ASAP and apologize for backing out of your commitment. You need to be forthcoming and honest, especially since she’ll be writing your rec.</p>

10

<p>Definitely choose one or other rather than doing both half-way. Make sure to let your teacher know as soon as possible. My recommendation is to take the calculus class and pursue your mathematical passion. If your goal is to become a teacher, then maybe choose the TA helper volunteer position. Choose your option based on what you want to do for your senior year.</p>

11

<p>would telling the teacher on the first day of school be too late? the first day of school is when we sign up to be TAs, so i would think that it would be a good time then to tell them?</p>

12

<p>^^I’d give the teacher a heads up before school starts. You’d be backing out of the verbal agreement to TA for a very legitimate reason: The scheduling difficulties were not ones that you expected when you thought you could volunteer to TA, but they are real and they prevent you from doing a good job as a TA.</p>