In my first semester at the University, I learned the most important thing a freshman can learn – college is a lot harder than high school.
I thought I had reached my limit around dead week and finals. Get me a McDonalds’s visor and grease-resistant polo, I warned my parents. Yet somehow I survived, and I’m coming back for more this semester.
I came to the University knowing it would be harder than high school, but I was still surprised to leave my first-ever college class with two homework assignments – both due the next day of class. OK, I told myself, this class will take some extra time. I can handle that.
What I wasn’t expecting was four more courses having similar workloads. The first days of classes were prophetic for the rest of the semester – lots of time and work was put in.
To be fair, I’m majoring in the most popular field for freshman: biology. I’m one of the many who want to become a doctor and change the world. Professors have to make their classes challenging to “weed out” all the faints of heart – both to keep class sizes manageable and to keep students from picking the wrong major.
This all sounds great, but things get messy when multiple professors do their best to make their class harder than the actual subject.
My Chemistry 1201 professor is a prime example. While I learned much from his course and am proud of my B, his class took the lion’s share of my time. I was so preoccupied with preparing for his final that I slacked in other classes. Although I can’t put all the blame on him, my hurt pride allows me to at least cross my arms and note it isn’t fair.
He isn’t alone, either. Countless professors claim the only way to succeed is to do numerous time-consuming practice tests and thoroughly study the content every day. It’s reasonable until you multiply that work load by how many professors say the same, and then you’re left with a troubling amount of time and work on your hands.
Even with this evidence piled in front of me and how my choice of major isn’t helping things, I still remain hopeful. To all the seemingly sadistic University professors, look out – I’m in this for the long haul.
Just please don’t fail me because I sound so cocky right now.
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Contact Emily McArdle at [email protected]