The Glade 4.0

So I'm only taking 11 credits this semester. The chemistry class is a huge time sink though. The lab component is almost 4 hours every Wednesday night. The lecture is an hour and 15 minutes every Tuesday and Thursday in the middle of my work day. This requires me to leave work at 30 minutes before class starts, go to class. This chews up my lunch hour and requires me to work later giving me only an hour and half to spend to get home, cook dinner, and spend some time with the wife before going to another class later on. To top that off, the exams are on a Monday, starting at a time when another class across town (different campus) ends which means I can only take the exams the next day at 7:00am (again, having to leave work and work later to do so).

The lecture prof posts her notes on the course website so I know what she's covers. The lecture is 500 students so obviously attendance isn't checked. I passed Physics with A's last year where the teacher was horrible and I learned 98% of the material from the book.

Finally, I have a pregnant wife at home and the less time I spend on homework and working out means more time with her and occasionally tending to her needs.

Given all this, I'm having a difficult time seeing the point of attending the lecture. Thoughts?

Edit: Changed the title, given Taamar's comment.

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The Dude abides.

I would hesitate to assume the nature of one class based upon your experience in a different class, with a different professor.

One may teach from the book, one may not.

However, this reads as if you have already made up your mind and are merely looking for validation from a group of mostly annon board members.

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I thought this would be related to the sit vs. squat thread.

I would go occasionally as long as I was getting the material. I was 100% 'go, nothing to lose' until the pregnant wife part. I've always felt that lectures aren't just a way to get the information to you, they are a brain-training thing that puts you in learning mode, but I know many people don't feel that way. I never missed a lecture.

Nope. I've been to one class and intend to go today. Chemistry is different from Physics. My only exposure to it was high school and my first year of college in 1996. I don't know if this is a subject that is incredibly helpful to have explained to you. I don't really want to go, true, but I'm looking for a perspective I may not be seeing.

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The Dude abides.

The way I read all the excuses for not going, it makes it appear you are only seeking reasons to pursue the path you just admitted you want to do.

I personally would go, if for no other reason than you are paying for this class, paying for the opportunity to learn, and I would rather make sure I at least did what was necessary on my part to get value out of the class.

Plus, I would consider it a commitment made by me to my wife, myself and the future son/daughter to improve myself in some way, hopefully to make things better for the family. Whats more, I am assuming your wife knew of this decision and supported you in the choices. To me, not going would be a sign of not following through.

I'm not seeking reasons. I've given reasons. Honestly, I intend to get knowledge from the class. I'm paying that much so I intend to get an A. I feel confident I can study well enough on my own and with the resources given.

Your last paragraph though is something I will consider (not sure if I agree yet though) and probably talk over with my wife, thanks.

Edit: changed a sentence.

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The Dude abides.

Thats a tough call....when I was in college we had several classes where attendance was optional. I found that my grades were better and I learned more and it was MUCH EASIER when it came time to study and take tests when I actually attended the class. The classes that I did not go to and did my learning on my own I actually had to work much harder at.
That being said....this sounds like a decision that should be made between you and your wife. I would value her opinion over 20 of us, anyday. (Speaking as a fellow hormonally-driven-nutso preggo lady!)

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"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Jesus of Nazareth

I was more of the go to class type. If the professor learns you by sight and name it seems to pad your grade a bit.

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Is this the only timeslot available for this class? Why did you choose this course if it was going to disrupt you this much?

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Basically, yes. The labs were at times I could not make work and take the same amount of credits after juggling classes. Admissions sat on my readmit application and I got screwed with the classes that were left. Given all other classes I've taken, I'm at a point now where the the 3 classes I'm taking MUST be taken or else 1) I have to start taking a lighter load which I don't want to do or 2) I start taking bullcrap electives that I won't care about and won't look good on a med school application anyway.

I'm a physiology major with an English lit minor. I'm taking Bio, Chem, and Lit Analysis. These are all pre-reqs for future required and elective classes later. By my reckoning (and I've sat down and drawn a table of it), not taking one of these classes will keep me at the U one semester longer.

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The Dude abides.

All the more reason to go... would hate to miss an important topic/lesson in class that basically fubars you for an additional semester of cost. Additionally, I didn't realize this was with the plan to attend med school. If you can't handle this difficult to juggle schedule now.. med school will be impossible. I'd suggest using this as training.

Would it be possible to get them to overload a different class that works better for you (maybe on a hardship basis), or be able to transfer you in once the inevitable drops occur in a week or so?

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Or, perhaps, now. General Chemistry courses will typically have students drop during the first week. Given that it's now Thursday, I can almost guarantee drops have occurred by now.

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Buckle your pants or they might fall down.

I considered that when I signed up for this schedule. I'm not really willing, at this point, to start changing up my classes again. Now that school has started, I no longer have spare time for it. It's spent studying and doing school work. I've already changed my volunteering to a different day requiring their approval. On top of that, I already had this school schedule approved by my boss and certain things have been planned around it. I don't think it will be worthwhile to risk irritating him on this subject for a 100-level class.


I thought about this too, but again, she posts slides from her lectures that, so far, track entirely with what she discusses. Contrary to what I may portray on this board, I'm a moderately intelligent guy. I don't "fubar" portions of a course because I study my butt off. I get A's and it's never just barely.

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The Dude abides.

If I could pass without going to class and it was a 100 level course....I would not go. I would however wait till the first exam to see if my assesment of the class was correct and that I was able to pass without attending.

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Dream as if you'll live forever...
...Live as if you'll die tomorrow

Vivere Senza Rimpianti

I honestly wasn't suggesting anything about your abilities. It was more personal experience where I had more than 1 course in college where the professor, thankfully, deviated greatly from the book and the majority of the testing was on the lectures in class, not the book. Even studying your butt off from the book would have caused significant problems if you weren't in class also picking up the additional material.

From that standpoint, I would be hesitant to consider skipping the lectures until it was clear how the class was taught, rather than risk blowing a major grade when this class is so important to staying on schedule.

Of course, I also had a sneaky art history professor that had handouts of the slides presented in the lecture, but neglected a few times to include the "tidbits" that were used on the test.

I can diggit. I gotta go to at least one or two more because of some paperwork so I'll pay particular attention to this.

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The Dude abides.