Does a bad professor make a good withdrawal case?

<p>I am a freshmen student and I am taking Chem 102 this semester. (My final is tomorrow). Originally, I was supposed to have Yerkes, but upon starting my first day of class, I learned that she retired and was replaced my the chemistry teacher that I have now. He is new and it is his first time teaching, so naturally, he has some faults. However, it has gotten to the point where half the class has a D or below. I understand that not all profs are great lectures so I gave him slack on that, but quizzes are impossible and tests are on things we barely learned since we are three weeks behind on material. Class average for the three exams we took were D, F, and D respectively and he does not curve. I decided not to drop, but that was before I knew what I was getting myself into.</p>

<p>When I asked my advisor if I could withdraw, he told me that withdrawals are only considered for extenuating circumstances like illnesses, etc. I plan on doing a grade replacement, but I don’t want any record of this grade on my transcript. Given that half of the class has a D or below and that the professor is new, would it make a good argument for my withdrawal petition?</p>

<p>I promise, I’m not using the “my teacher made me fail” excuse, because I studied my butt off and learned the material. The exams and quizzes had material that we literally did not go over in class. </p>

<p>These Rate my Professor comments tell all: [Daniel</a> Jamieson - University Of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - RateMyProfessors.com](<a href=“http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=1758513]Daniel”>Daniel Jamieson at University Of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign | Rate My Professors)</p>

<p>Although I can’t use it in my petition, all of those comments definitely say a lot.</p>

<p>Not to mention that we will still be tested on material that we haven’t covered for our final. I’m pretty much screwed.</p>

<p>Never know until you try. Did he make what the class would be tested on clear, even if he did not cover it himself in class?</p>

<p>Yes, he tells us what chapters will be on the tests, but upon taking it, there’s always some unfamiliar questions that don’t pertain to the chapters studied.</p>

<p>He doesn’t tell us what the quizzes will be on though,</p>

<p>Odd. Have you tried talking to him about the material on the tests? If you’re going to go over his head and directly complain about the professor in your petition, he should not be blindsided. You should be able to honestly say that you (and hopefully some classmates) have tried to communicate with him about whatever problems you’re going to bring up.</p>