I’m a junior and I’m currently taking AP Biology. I’m doing well in the class, my first semester grade was a 94. However, I really want to drop the class. The reason for this is that my teacher makes me feel really uncomfortable. I know that might sound silly, and he’s never actually done anything for me to feel this way, but there’s just something about him that gives me a gross vibe and I feel very uneasy around him. I’ve felt like this from the beginning of the year, but I told myself to just get through it, but after a semester I really don’t want to be in his class anymore. Some of my other friends feel the same way.
I talked to my mom and she wants me to switch out as well, and she even threatened to go talk to the school administration about this. But the thing is, like I said, nothing has actually happened to complain about so I definitely don’t want to do that. My problem is, would it look weird on my transcript for colleges if I randomly dropped an AP class that I was doing well in? I won’t be able to switch into a different AP class if I do switch out of AP Bio because of scheduling conflicts. My choices would be jazz band, IB film, psychology, and environmental systems, all of which are regular classes except for IB film.
Is it worth it to switch out into a lower-level class, or would it hurt my transcript too much?
On the Common App, it gives you a section for explaining any additional information. Should you decide to drop, you could always put that you felt uncomfortable around your teacher in that section. Also, have you thought about self-studying the remainder of it? If you were to self-study the rest of AP bio and then take the AP test, that might help your application as well.
@masquerade98 I didn’t know there was a section like that, thank you for letting me know. If I did put that reason, do you think they would think I’m just making excuses? And I’m definitely going to self-study and still take the AP exam if I switch out.
@xoxogossipgirl88 When your counselor writes your recommendation letter, you can also ask him/her to mention it in their letter so that colleges can verify with a more trusted source. At my school, the counselors suggest that seniors meet with them before application deadlines and go over anything they might want explained like a bad grade or unusual circumstances that might look odd. Not sure what your school does but that was very helpful for some people.
I think this is a little risky–it’s so vague that I’m not sure really what adcoms will make of it. Honestly, I’m not sure what I make of it. Best of luck, though, @xoxogossipgirl88 .
Your mom can’t go to the principal to report that you have creepy vibes about a teacher who has never done anything to cause you to be uncomfortable. That would be grossly unfair to this teacher. I’m sorry, but throughout your life you will meet and deal people who make you uncomfortable. Learning how YOU handle yourself around people like that is part of growing up.
You have no reason for your feelings other than instinct, and I agree you should trust your instinct. But you cannot allow your instinct to possibly destroy the career of a teacher, and sabotage your transcript at the same time. It is entirely possible this teacher has a family who loves him and would be mortified at your discomfort. Be smart, never be alone with him, never go for after school help if you truly believe he is a creep, but don’t drop a class. The school hired him. He might be tenured. If he has been in the school for a while, you have to give him the benefit of the doubt. If he is new, well, stay alert. If anything untoward ever transpires, that’s the time to document it, but until then, he is innocent unitl proven guilty. You need to stay focused on why you are there, which is to learn. Your grade is good, so he must be doing something right. Maybe some students think he is a great teacher and really like him. I think you have allowed your imagination to amplify this into something it isn’t.
FWIW, @xoxogossipgirl88 , I think it would be a terrible idea to put that in the additional info section on common app. I think if you do this, you have to let the GC know why you dropped out. The GC can address it more persuasively than you can.
Isn’t there a stereotype about creepy college professors? I cannot imagine an admissions committee would look on this favorably. What’s to stop you from dropping a class the next time you think the professor is creepy? Or to switch dorms because a guy down the hall is creepy? Or the custodian or cook is creepy? See my point?
I have to agree with @Lindagaf . This guy hasn’t done anything. You can’t report him. What exactly would you report? But listen to your intuition and just don’t be alone with him.
My D got the creeps from the athletic trainer at her HS. Was there really anything behind this? Frankly I don’t know. I do know that most kids loved him. I just told her that whenever she needed to go to him to make sure that she brought a friend.
I think that if you drop the class and write an explanation that you thought the teacher was creepy that it will reflect badly on you, not the teacher. You can’t just accuse someone like this.
Another vote for @Lindagaf I would stay in the class and absolutely avoid any one on one interactions with the teacher. While you should heed your “creep feeling” it is not enough to act upon. Dropping the AP class will harm your transcript and it is inappropriate to report a teacher who has done nothing wrong other than give off a bad vibe.
Yes, stay in the class. Mother should not go to admin to report that student thinks teacher is creepy. Who hasn’t had a teacher who had some physical or behavioral oddity?
@happymomof1 it makes no sense to drop a course this late in the year and in which you’ve been successful with the explanation that you have a “scheduling conflict.”
At happykid’s high school, all of the clases changed periods for second semester, so yes someone who needed one more XYZ class to meet state graduation requirements could easily have been forced out of an AP class that only met at that same time.
But here is my deal: I would trust my kid’s creepiness instincts. Happykid has flawless instincts for that kind of stuff. Her social sense is off the scale. I would not automatically trust other people’s creepiness instincts, and I would want to see the teacher in action to evaluate the situation myself before moving on it. There could be any number of reasons why someone who isn’t a creep looks like one to some of their students.
What do you mean he gives you a “gross vibe?” Schools are mandated reporters and if your mother tells your GC this teacher makes you feel “uncomfortable,” they may be required to follow up with other students and report it. If he hasn’t said or done anything, that’s not fair to him.
However, that doesn’t mean to ignore your internal radar. I would stick the class out, but make sure you’re not alone with him. If you have to see him, take a friend along.
I understand that each HS operates differently but I’d be careful with the “scheduling conflict” explanation as 1) in our HS a mid-year scheduling conflict would never happen and the entire year’s schedule is prepared in the fall and 2) for that explanation to hold any weight it would have to come from the guidance counselor who the OP has no reason to involve at this point based on a feeling. In addition the OP is doing well in a rigorous class – it would be a shame and it would look bad to drop it for a lower level class.
Thank you for the responses everyone. Just to make things clear, I was never ever planning on reporting my teacher. I know that would be really unfair, I would never do that in this situation.
And I wasn’t planning on giving that reason in my college application, either. That was just what someone had suggested, and I was not going to follow that advice as I didn’t want to involve my counselor for no reason. I guess I’ll stick it out. Thank you.