The other week, I went through what my university calls a “scheduling run”, meaning something happened and I was bumped out of a class and put into a different section. My schedule, as I had it originally, was not the best, but I didn’t have a class any earlier than 10:30 and didn’t have any 70-minute gaps between classes that drive me crazy. It was tolerable.
When I checked my updated schedule after the run, I found I had been placed into an 8:30 AM Spanish class, which in turn caused three gaps in my daily schedule. This wouldn’t be a problem if I were, say, 18 and just starting, or if I lived in a dorm on campus. But I’m nearly 25, I live off-campus, and I have a life that includes my pseudo-child, George the dog, to think of. I can’t be on campus from 8:00 in the morning until 6 at night.
My advisor is on vacation until the 10th, so I made an appointment with someone else. We met today, and when she brought up my information on the computer, she said, “Wow. Do you realise how heavy of a load you’re in for this semester? You have 4 heavy-reading classes. Are you a good student?” And she took a look at my grades from last year.
I explained the F in philosophy from last semester and I said I thought I would be able to handle the load as I haven’t felt challenged yet.
I wanted to switch two of my classes around to get rid of the gaps. I was able to move one class, but the other she said she’s been placing students into it and it has a wait list already. She said the section I’m currently in for my “Methods of Sociological Research Level I” course is taught be a not-so-good instructor. She said he’s used to teaching graduate students, and finds it difficult to relay the material (mainly statistics) to those who are unfamiliar with the field.
Then she asked if I knew who was teaching the Feminist Theory course. I gave her the prof’s name and she said, “Oh. She’s a little old. But she was a radical in her time and I have a lot of respect for her for that. But she might be a little out-dated. Let me know how that goes.”
Fantastic encouragement.
I checked out my texts at the bookstore afterwards. The Global History course has 6 texts, one textbook, and an optional study guide for the textbook. My Spanish course has a “Custom Package” containing a textbook, a workbook, two CDs, some other little book, and a cheap dictionary. At a cost of $137.00. I have one textbook for the statistics soc course, two for the other soc course, and will either have a packet for Feminist Theory, or several books awaiting me at Von’s Bookstore. Luckily, I kept the 5 books from philosophy.
At the high end, I’ll have to spend $550 on books, and at the low end (used books) $450.00. Give or take some depending on the Feminist Theory course. Anybody want to guess what I’ll get recoup after selling them back to the bookstores?
