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Why take courses in what you excel at?

Posted Aug20-10 at 08:23 PM by Evo
Updated Aug20-10 at 09:40 PM by Evo
My daughter, the Evo Child, is taking Astronomy this semester. She knows nothing about Astronomy and her professor seems to be the kind that gives one lecture and then does a 2 hour lab with exercises for advanced students, obviously to scare the holy bejeezus out of anyone that's not really serious. She said not one single person got anything right, so she's not too down on herself and is looking forward to class Monday since she feels she gets most of it now, in hindsight.

I asked her why she didn't take chemistry and she said that chemistry is so easy that she felt it would be cheating (She won some National Scientific Merit Award in High School for having the highest (or maybe near the highest) score in chemistry in the US. I'm not sure if they give out the award to more than one student per year.

Sigh.

And she wants to be a lawyer.
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  1. Old Comment
    cronxeh's Avatar
    My philosophy was..why would I go to college to learn something I already know? That is why I did not major in Computer Science. I studied math because I sucked at math. It is hard, humiliating, and humbling, but overall fascinating.
    Posted Aug20-10 at 08:59 PM by cronxeh cronxeh is offline
  2. Old Comment
    Greg Bernhardt's Avatar
    I agree, my main studies in college were a total waste of my time because it didn't challenge me. Only my oddball electives were interesting and allowed me some growth.
    Posted Aug23-10 at 10:29 AM by Greg Bernhardt Greg Bernhardt is online now
  3. Old Comment
    This is why I study physics. If I were smart enough to understand it, it wouldn't be worth all the time and money. I wouldn't say my biology courses are a total waste though -- I pick up a lot of things to use in conversation or to help blend in with bioscience folks.
    Posted Aug25-10 at 09:57 PM by presbyope presbyope is offline
  4. Old Comment
    excel at or not is not the essential point, your interest does, i think
    Posted Aug31-10 at 10:57 PM by hgwangyongli hgwangyongli is offline
  5. Old Comment
    Your title has an extra proposition. It should read: "Why take courses at what you excel" or "Why take courses in what you excel".
    Posted Jun2-12 at 08:14 AM by RoshanBBQ RoshanBBQ is offline
  6. Old Comment
    Evo's Avatar
    Yes, I am aware. I don't care. "Why not take courses in which you do well?" would have been better.
    Posted Jun3-12 at 02:30 PM by Evo Evo is offline
  7. Old Comment
    When I started college at age 30, I couldn't remember how to add fractions. So I started with the simplest math class with a goal of a degree in Physical Therapy. As I went on I found that math was pretty interesting and with a right brain problem, biology was complicated. When I started to take applied math and then an intro physics class, well, I was hooked. It definitely was not easy, but I really liked Physics and ended with my undergrad degree in Physics/Electronics. To me it was challenging and I really enjoyed it. Fifteen years later I find the PhysicsForum.
    Posted Nov8-12 at 12:56 AM by bengunn bengunn is offline