I have two classes (one a 4-credit and another a 3-credit) and one upcoming 1-credit class. The 4-credit class I’m referring to is the English 1A class. It is the lowest level of any English class I could take and one of the only ones that I could take since I decided to go back to college this March. I only took these classes because my mom wanted me to get a tuition fee for financial aid and income to make my mom pay less for me. I am 19 and I am having a hard time concentrating on my work due to a management of my Instagram meme page and my interest in cars, creating articles on Drivetribe.
When I took English, it was because my mom said I needed to take “core” classes in order to have a diploma, that I will need to transfer to a university before my third year. I am in my first year right now and in English I am unexpectedly learning black history from the professor. I have no interest in the class whatsoever and like I said, I only took the class to impress my mom. I needed to buy a book, according to the professor when I first came into the class. But I couldn’t afford the book so she let me print copies of some of the pages on a book that is required, filled with some sub-books (mostly about black history, women’s rights, etc.). She is a very conservative professor, doesn’t allow use of cell phones at all, and goes completely against what our “high school teachers” said in the past, saying they’re liars and they’re wrong and not to be taken seriously.
I got a 0 on one of my quizzes because I didn’t have the book (still don’t) or copies at the time and she left me alone in my own mental mind. Currently, I am in a group with a girl and we didn’t get what the professor was saying because the questions were in the book on the last page of one of the chapters, but she didn’t tell us before. She wants us to overconsume our homework to turn it all in to her so we can get a good grade. The only problem is my mom will disown me if I get a bad grade.
For a 4-5 page book assignment, she wants us to avoid using quotes. She absolutely wants us to avoid using first/second person pronouns.
I would like to add, also it’s not quite the dropping deadline yet so I can’t “withdraw” yet. The professor said it is “impossible” to pass an English class without a book, saying it’s “not math class” and that she expects me and other students to have the book at all times. The problem is she usually tells ahead of time before even telling us to print copies. She’s usually pretty stingy about being late or even absent from class. I do not want to drop a class after the deadline because I do not want my mom to see a “W” on my transcript.
Just because you drop a class doesn’t mean you’ll get a refund. You may lose some of the FA you’ve received, and they’ll back it off the tuition before they issue a refund.
Buy the book. Do the work if you want credit for the class.
Welcome to college.
No you can’t have cell phones in class
If you have too many absents the professor can and will unofficially withdraw you from the class resulting in a failing grade
Dropping a class may make you ineligible for any future aid because you did not meet satisfactory academic progress
Depending on the number of credits you have when you drop the class, like @twoinanddone said you could end up with less aid and actually owing your school money.
English one is a core class and you will need it to fulfill your graduation requirement
Overall you don’t sound like you are ready to seriously take on college work. You are complaining about buying a book you are not doing work, it sounds like you haven’t learned how to write s college level paper in high school.
I would do your best to pass these classes since it seems you are only at 7-8 credits right now and 6 credits is minimum I believe to be considered part time and get financial aid.
Get a job on the weekend, do chores for neighbors to earn money for the book. Or tell your mom you need it.
After passing the semester, tell her you want to take some time off to work and save money. Return to college when you are sure you can give it your full focus.
You mention you are taking two courses…and hope to drop one and get a refund? Do I have that correct?
College financial aid is supposed to be used to pay for college first.
If you drop a course, you will have a 50% completion rate for your courses, and I think you could be setting yourself up to not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress. If you don’t meet SAP, you won’t be getting any college financial aid in the future until you DO meet your college SAP requirement.
I agree with the posters upstream. Get yourself to the college tutoring location and get some help to complete these courses with at least a C grade.
Then after this term, find a full time job and figure out what you are going to do next.
I don’t understand your goal. Your mom wants you to go to school. She wants you to take a certain number of credits so you qualify for financial aid. You want to drop the class before a W can show up on your transcript because your mom will disown you if you fail. Is it possible your mom wants you to do something besides sit at your computer all day?
If the class was paid for with financial aid you won’t get money back if you drop. If your total credits are under a certain amount you may lose the rest of your aid and end up owing money.
Are you working? If not, I’d go get a job. If you’re earning some money you’ll have more options than if you’re not.
Can’t you get the book at the school library or rent it at the bookstore?
If it’s truly a financial issue that you can’t afford the book, talk to the teacher about it or go to the registrar. Many colleges have grants or loans available for needy students and they can help you get the book.
OTOH, my oldest son had a very similar experience, right down to the teacher whose emphasis was on African-American history in English 101. Although he was willing to learn the material, the teacher was very condescending to him and constantly made rude remarks in class about his looks (blonde hair, green eyes), which he recorded. I ultimately allowed him to drop the class when I heard the recording, but he was not on financial aid. I lost my money, but it was better to get my son away from that environment. Since you are on FA and since your teacher seems more willing to work with you, I would do my best to try and pass, at least get a C so the credits will transfer. College was not right for that particular son at that time and he is now working for the federal government. As he nears 30, he is finally thinking about going back. Perhaps after this, you can speak to your mom about trying college later on. At 24, FA is based on your own income, not your parents’.