School Rants Thread!

[TotallyUncool]

Yay for both of you!

I've been in the 90% range in my Japanese class, but 100% on anything would require a serious push -- and a little more presence of mind. I find myself making just-plain-sloppy mistakes -- the kind where I look at it later and say, "D'oh! I knew that!"

[Bakajo Nono]

Congratulations <3

I got 100% on my pharmacology exam. It was super easy, but to me there's still a difference between doing well and getting a perfect score. xD I mean, it was all short-answer questions as well.

Thank you both~

And that's amazing. Seriously 100%? Congrats <3

So if I place into Arabic 102 next quarter, that will be awesome, but if I doooon't, I may need to take an intensive course at a community college this summer, which is fine, but more expensive because my scholarship obviously won't cover it.

BUT, if I DO take it in the summer then I'll have 2 slots free for extra classes this year. And I think it would be cool if I minored in Environmental Studies. I want my INT concentration to be about the environmental issues in South Asia, but if it's too specific, then I can just concentrate on South Asia and then minor in Environmental Studies yayyyy.

P.S. I'm really scared about actually getting into this major, to be honest. It's so intimidating. ;.; If it's as tough as they say it is (and I'm assuming it is, because every single person says it's a nightmare), then I may have to just keep myself from doing anything leisurely at all. Or learn to manage my time better. But assuming I'll still be working, I can't imagine doing leisurely things without hurting my school performance. But that's what I expected from college anyway, so. If my friends can do it, I can!

[TotallyUncool]

I think that to a degree (I don't know how much, but at least to some degree), the actual difficulty of a specific course or major in the social sciences and/or humanities depends more on your background and the focus of your interests than it might in the sciences or engineering. In other words, if you've got some background in it, along with a strong interest in the subject, it may be a lot easier than if you walk into it cold.

The difficulty may be on the level of taking a tough history class, for example, or a conceptually-demanding political science class. The sciences, on the other hand, tend to be more demanding all around: conceptually, plus math, plus formulas, plus a huge amont of necessary large and small specifics and details, plus lab and field work, all requireing a high degree of precision.

So when people say INT is a nightmare, they may be taking about what it's like to walk into it cold, with no background, and get overloaded with new information and concepts. it might turn out not to be so difficult for you, since you've already got a pretty good international perspective.

[Bakajo Nono]

I do have a pretty good international perspective, but in a more anthropological way. INT is more heavily politics based.

A lot of the stuff is just overwhelming to people. Heavy analysis on several hundred pages every week, super lengthy papers, etc. But it's the strongest department in the college so I think it's to be expected. I mean I'm sure it doesn't compare to the tougher schools in the nation, like UChicago so I'm hoping I can handle it.

I'm excited to learn the material though. I really am. x3

[esm]

Personally, I think it's a good thing if it's difficult. It means your classmates are above average and actually care (ideally); it means it'll be a good challenge; it means you get to be proud that you're part of the program. I feel like it's valuable to go through difficult experiences that are good for you but so difficult you want keep wanting to quit.

[TotallyUncool]

And to go through them without quitting in spite of that (which I know you meant ). But yes, I agree.

[Bakajo Nono]

Ways BN manages to get distracted while doing homework.

#1:
1. Uses the word 'myriad' while writing paper.
2. Stops writing and opens iTunes.
3. Plays 'Myriad Harbour' by The New Pornographers.
4. Commences desk dancing.

#2:
1. Mentions 'The Muslim League' while writing paper.
2. Giggles.
3. Opens Firefox.
4. Googles pictures of the Justice League.
5. Attempts to photoshop Muhammad Ali Jinnah's face onto Superman's.

[TotallyUncool]

Those are both perfectly reasonable ways of getting distracted.

I do the equivalent -- all the time.

[Bakajo Nono]

This ALWAYS HAPPENS. I finish half of my paper and then SUDDENLY THE INTERNET BECOMES SUPER INTERESTING TO ME.

Why don't I just finish the paper omg.

[Bakajo Nono]

.//.

I'm suuper flattered that my professor thinks I should take his 320 class but I'm still a wee sophomore. What if it's too much to handle? AHH. Okay, I don't think it will be too bad.

Could any of you seasoned college students/graduates tell me about 300-level classes. What are they like? How do they compare to 200-level classes? Or does it just depend on the class itself...?