Sucky Student

[AdminAssistant]

I was sitting at work, minding my own business, when this oh-so-stereotypical stoner dude comes stumbling into the office with a look of on his face.

I look up, "Can I help you?"

SS (Sucky Student): Yeah, I gotta meeting with Dr. X.
I look at the shut office door, and remember he just stepped outside.
Me: He's out right now, but should be back soon
SS: Alright, I'll uhhh just wait then.
Me: You do that. Sure, there's some benches in the hallway over there.

Dr. X comes back. SS goes in the office. The door's cracked, so I can kinda overhear what went on. Basically, Dr. X gave a mid-term, and SS knew he did poorly on it. So he did do an intelligent thing - set up a meeting with the professor to go over the test with him. (This is an intro level management class.)

I'll paraphrase the discussion, but basically Dr. X gave him a lot of suggestions: 1) Forming study groups with classmates (not my thing, but works for a lot of people). 2) Meet with professor on a regular basis. 3) Ask lots of questions in class.

And here, ladies and gentleman, is the kicker. Apparently SS wasn't even going to class. Dr. X remarked that his grades would markedly improve if he actually came to lecture. SS replies, "I got a job." Well, so do I and so do most folks in college nowadays. And 95% of places are more than happy to work around a class schedule. And if they aren't, then you need to get a new job if you're serious about going to college.

Dr. X continues to give advice and, I think, is really going above and beyond the call of duty for this kid. To which SS replies, "Well, I don't think I'm even getting a lot of benefit from this class. It's just a lot of theory, it's not going to do me any good as a manager." Okay, you're failing a class, the professor offers to do anything within his powers to help you, and you have the nerve to essentially say, to his face, "I think your class is a load of crap."

Dr. X isn't really a chatty guy, so I don't know him that well. But he's always polite and I admire him for not being catty and gossipy like most of the other faculty. He also puts in mega-long hours teaching huge intro lecture classes, the bane of every professor's existence. I was seriously getting pissed off at SS at this point. Finally, SS just leaves. I imagine he probably dropped the class shortly after that.

Seriously, these EW students that think if they just pay tuition for 4 years then they'll get handed a pretty piece of paper. You actually have to WORK to EARN the pretty piece of paper.

[Triscuitty]

You mean...college isn't just a big place to get drunk and stoned every day...?

[Geek King]

"Well, I don't think I'm even getting a lot of benefit from this class. It's just a lot of theory, it's not going to do me any good as a manager."

Hoo-boy.

<looks up>

Lord, don't ever let me work for this student in the real world.

Management isn't like Mathematics or Computer Science. Every situation is different in management, and knowing as many different ways to manage as possible is a good thing. It allows you to adapt, and handle unusual situations more easily. This idiot student has a real wake-up call coming when the world hits him with the Mallet of Reality and reminds him that he doesn't know everything he thinks he does.

[MrSunshineState]

SCs rejoice! Future spineless manager on the horizon!

[SongsOfDragons]

I know we have to work to earn shinies. I'm 6000 words into my dissertation, an 8-10,000 piece that makes up 20% of our degree, and considering a Masters for later on.

That I take Creative Writing...and makes everything a doddle...isn't really in it...much.

[Trayol]

There was an editorial in my school paper dealing basically with that issue.

As I prepare to graduate in May, I’m taking a closer look around me – at my fellow students, professors and the academic environment in general. I am nothing less than embarrassed by the conduct and attitude of my peers in regard to higher education.

Every day, I watch students text message their way through an entire class period. Some will outright start a phone conversation if the lecture hall is big enough. Many times, a student’s iPod won’t even come out of his or her ears or turn off during class. I see students show up for class long enough for attendance or to take a quiz and then just leave. There are so many people out there who would love to take your seat and have access to a college education, but here you are, squandering it. Your everyday actions show your lack of respect for your professors, fellow students and yourself.

Still, all I hear is complaining. People blame the professors, the college, the textbook; everything and everyone but themselves. Suddenly people “get” grades. How about this: You EARN grades. So, do people take ownership of their education and work harder? No. Why should you when a “C” is average and a “D” gets you a diploma? Maybe all of this doesn’t matter to you. Wake up! You’ve been incubated, anesthetized and coddled for too long. Real life is approaching at an alarming rate.

Try and tout your “D” or “C” average in the working world. Then blame the university when you can’t compete in the job market. You never spoke up in class, never tried to improve your presentation skills and always gave the minimum effort to get by. You spent all that time in class sending text messages or sleeping. You never learned how to speak intelligently or socialize without alcohol. Now you bomb every interview you’re lucky enough to be granted.

Maybe I’m just a jerk with an over-romanticized expectations for our country’s future leaders. Maybe we’re not headed toward failure. Don’t worry. If this is the future of America, we’ll continue to lower our standards until the ineptitude and laziness that pervades our academic institutions is commonplace. We’ll all feel right at home.

[wagegoth]

You mean...college isn't just a big place to get drunk and stoned every day...?

Only if you're a legacy admission to Yale and member of Skull and Bones.

[blas]

If college is about learning and preparing students for careers and lots of money, why is there an entire city block full of taverns right by the university where I live?

[PuckishOne]

Politics to Fratching, please...let's just keep it to the sucky student in the OP. Thanks.

[redmountaingoldfish]

I recently overheard a student complaining to her adviser (who's office is right behind my desk) that some class wasn't fulfilling a requirement another adviser said it would.

When pressed the student couldn't remember -
The name of the class, the course number, the professor's name, or when she took the class. All she could remember was "my roommate was in there with me!"

[Primer]

And here, ladies and gentleman, is the kicker. Apparently SS wasn't even going to class. Dr. X remarked that his grades would markedly improve if he actually came to lecture. SS replies, "I got a job."

Dr. X continues to give advice and, I think, is really going above and beyond the call of duty for this kid. To which SS replies, "Well, I don't think I'm even getting a lot of benefit from this class. It's just a lot of theory, it's not going to do me any good as a manager." Okay, you're failing a class, the professor offers to do anything within his powers to help you, and you have the nerve to essentially say, to his face, "I think your class is a load of crap."


Seriously, these students that think if they just pay tuition for 4 years then they'll get handed a pretty piece of paper. You actually have to WORK to EARN the pretty piece of paper.

I get this crap every semester. I teach basic algebra--the stuff you should have learned in High School (or before). I get more complaints from the kids that skip class that the tests are too hard, and there is too much homework, yet the students that come every day are having very little difficulty...at least the ones that actually do the homework assignments!

I wish every student could be forced to try to make a living at a minimum wage job for a year before enrolling in college, and I wish that they had to pay for classes out of their own pocket. Maybe then they might value an education.

I actually know that last paragraph is unrealistic, but my best students are usually the older ones that are returning to school after several years of whatever, and realize that they really do need the knowledge, and not just the piece of paper. They are also making themselves an example for their own children, that school really is important.

[Andara Bledin]

Only if you're a legacy admission to Yale and member of Skull and Bones.

Oh, yeah, legacy admissions is definitely a topic for Fratching.

....

I remember my time in college. It was "only" a community college, but there were still plenty of people who couldn't be bothered to show up for classes such as medical terminology and legal terminology.

The real kicker, however, were the people who couldn't be bothered to show up for the stenography class. Yeah, sure, you can do lots of lab work on it, but to really know what you're doing with a stenograph, you need some instruction.

^-.-^

[Pagan]

I remember my time in college. It was "only" a community college, but there were still plenty of people who couldn't be bothered to show up for classes such as medical terminology and legal terminology.

Someone asked me the other day why I was going to CNM ("only" a community college, too). I told him it was for a Pharmacy Tech certificate. He mis-heard me and thought I had said "just a Pharmacy Tech cert". He was very quick to point out that it wasn't "just" a certificate. Our program is the only one in the state that will have us qualified to work in a sterile IV room when we're done!

The real kicker, however, were the people who couldn't be bothered to show up for the stenography class. Yeah, sure, you can do lots of lab work on it, but to really know what you're doing with a stenograph, you need some instruction.

Exactly. You can't really think that you can learn how to do manipulations in the hoods without blocking your critical sights unless you're actually in class.

I've been to both a university (2 degrees) and a community college. I have to say, and maybe it's just the program I'm in, the people at CNM are much more mature generally than the UNM crowd. (Of course, I could be more than a bit prejudiced on that point!)

[PuckishOne]

The real kicker, however, were the people who couldn't be bothered to show up for the stenography class.

<OT>

Ouch!! That is a special kind of stupid right there.

</OT>

[Trayol]

I prefer when these "students" don't show up to class. It makes it easier to learn from the Professor.