Scheduling Dilemma: Please Help!

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>I am currently enrolled in French 201 which is advanced conversation and composition. I could have been placed in French 251 which is introduction to french lit but I wanted to go with the guaranteed “A.” I speak french very well and have had 95s in advanced french courses my junior and senior year of high school. I also read french books on a regular basis. My french class this year (12th grade) was a one-on-one in-depth class on Sartre that was conducted completely in french and we read four of his works. Anyway, I have been thinking that I would really like to be placed into French 251 which is much more at my level. </p>

<p>French 201
Pros: more freshman are in this class = more socializing, easier more likely to get an A, great teacher.
Cons: probably won’t be that challenging, meets four times a week, requires a lot of books, plus they are reading a play I already read in HS. </p>

<p>French 251
Pros: only one freshman in the class that I know of but he’s really hot, class is much more at my level, I would get to read a variety of authors, only meets 3x a week, would get to take lifguarding and would possibly get a better CIE teacher, would be able to take more lit courses my second semester.
Cons: terrible teacher, would require more work, would have to adjust my schedule to take this course.</p>

<p>My schedule with French 201
1) POL 242 - M,W,F 9:00-9:50.
2) FR 201 - MTWTh - 10:00-10:50.
3) CIE - TuTh - 1:30 -2:45
3) BE 100 - MWF - 1:30-2:40. </p>

<p>My schedule with French 251
1) Politics 242 MWF 9:00-9:50
2) French 251 MWF 11:00-11:50
3) Business and Economics 100 1:30-2:45
4) Common Intellectual Experience: Tuesday, Thursday 10:00-11:15
5) Lifeguarding Tuesday, Thursday 1:30-2:45 — I want to take this because I am already certified but it expires next year, also I want to get in shape for softball. </p>

<p>I want to go to a top 14 law school so GPA is a VERY important.</p>

<p>I am thinking about e-mailing the head of the french department and ask her where she feels I would do the best. I am leaning towards French 201 but I really like my schedule with French 251. </p>

<p>Any advice would be greatly appreciated!</p>

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<p>I would say take the harder load, which I'm guessing is 251. It would be more interesting to take for you despite the grade and it would be a great way to network with some of the upperclassmen. </p>

<p>I need to start taking my French classes, which includes a lit class, so I can get my minor.</p>

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<p>I agree my main reason for being hesitant about 251 is that the teacher did not get a single good rating on ratemyprofessors.com. All of them said that she was terrible.</p>

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<p>I wouldn't email the head of the French department and tell him/her that it's a choice between an easy A and a class you actually would like to take and might be challenged by...</p>

<p>Go with the harder one and work your ass off and learn something. You'll feel like you've accomplished something by the end of the semester.</p>

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<p>Take ratemyprofessors.com with a grain of salt. </p>

<p>My favorite professor is described as condescending and excessively demanding on a similar website. And then there is this other member of the department who is teaching mostly freshman courses and has 20+ good ratings. It turned out that his classes are so easy that it is hard not to get an A but also so boring that it is hard not to fall asleep.</p>

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<p>Try 251 and if it seems like too much switch to the easier class before the add period ends.</p>

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<p>Anyone else have any advice?</p>

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<p>I would take 251, not only because it doesn't make any sense to basically repeat a class you've had, but also because four day a week classes aren't much fun at all...</p>

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<p>Take 201 or wait a semester for a better 251 prof. No sense wasting your GPA on a subpar prof.</p>

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<p>On the one hand, I always say to take professor ratings with heaps of salt. On the other hand, the one time I chose to ignore pages of miserable reviews, it was a terrible decision on my part. Ugh. That said, the one time I took an "easy A" over a class I actually belonged in, it was also pretty useless and boring for me (first semester math).</p>

<p>It sounds like you're really leaning towards 251, and for very good reasons. I wouldn't worry about your grade, because your past record leaves absolutely no reason to believe that you won't succeed in the class. This is an introductory lit course, and you've already had a fair bit of experience in that arena. If I were you, I think I'd sign up for it, but keep close track of the add/drop deadline (is the CIE section into which you'd have to transfer at risk of filling up?). I'd also consider visiting the professor before registration, if possible, to chat a little about the class, and get a feel for him/her as a person (in most cases, I can tolerate a poor teacher if I like him/her on a more personal level). </p>

<p>To echo erhswimming, do you know if this class will be offered next semester with a different prof? If so, I'd take something else altogether (in the meantime, you can apply for a position as a French tutor, audit a French class, visit lunchtime language tables, etc...plenty of ways to keep speaking) and wait.</p>

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<p>Here are some of the rating she recieved:
"If you have this professor-CHANGE IT! This woman is absolutely insane and repulsive. She is rude, unclear, unfair, and no help at all. Her class was a joke and a waste of time. If you absolutely must take one of her classes, I advise you to at least bring a book or something else to do during it, since you won't be learning anything from her!"</p>

<p>"Unclear and goes over a lot of material you should have learned in first year french. I'm amazed she teaches on the college level!"</p>

<p>"nothing has to be said for anyone who knows her"</p>

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<p>Wow, I guess that answers your question, huh? BTW, do you know the "i before e, except after c or when sounded like a, as in neighbor or weigh" rule? It's "received", not "recieved". I don't mean to be sassy, but if you're going to college, you need to brush up on your spelling. :-)</p>

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<p>It sounds like 251 may be a bit of a review for you, as well. If you're going to have to take it at some point, it seems to make sense to get it over with sooner rather than later, rather than start with 201 and have to take two French classes that teach below your level. That's assuming that 251 won't be taught by another professor next semester.</p>

<p>As the original post indicates, there are pluses and minuses to both options. In this particular case, I think I'd grin and bear it, but keep an "escape" plan in mind. And as stated previously, I'd try to arrange a meeting with the professor if possible, if only to calm my nerves.</p>

<p>Good luck, whatever you decide.</p>

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<p>Update: well I e-mailed the head of the french department asking her what I should do and gave her my background in french. She is the professor for 201 and she told me that I would most likely be bored in 201 and that I have a good background for French 251. The professor of French 251 e-mailed me as well and told me that taking French 251 would be a good idea and that if I found it to be to challenging I could switch to 201. Thanks for all the responses!!!</p>

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<p>You mean "too" challenging, right? Anyway, congrats on figuring it all out. Good luck.</p>