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For many introductory courses and even advanced science and math courses, you can probably work out a solution with a professor where you would take the final e

by vlad 18y ago

For many introductory courses and even advanced science and math courses, you can probably work out a solution with a professor where you would take the final exam early in the semester if you have a good reason. I got an A in an introductory class I was originally told I could skip just by doing the projects in the first week and handing in the final exam (another project) in the second week, but I had to have a good reason and talk to the professor first. Another idea is to attend a local university. You can even start with a community college program that has guaranteed transfer of all credits to a four-year computer science degree--another advantage is that if you leave for another school before the Associate degree, you know the classes will count and be of some level of decency. However, a big university far from where you live could be ideal for you. The bigger it is, the more courses it might offer, giving you more options of all types--professors, homework requirements, distance learning options, professor's own web site, audio lectures, attendance policies, scheduling, etc. With the internet on your side, you could e-mail any professor and ask them if they require attendance in the classes you're interested in, and if they do, say that you live an hour away, or work full-time, or whatever the case might be, and you will take the responsibility for your own grade, as long as there are no specific grading penalties for missing class. Many professors at colleges of all types do not require attendance, so you should not be afraid to enroll. Then, you can simply study on your own, or come in when necessary.

yummyfajitas 18y ago
>For many introductory courses and even advanced science and math courses, you can probably work out a solution with a professor where you would take the final exam early in the semester if you have a good reason. Never underestimate the silly requirements (e.g., "2 years residence") of a university. University's are not set up for you to teach yourself, take a test and finish fast. It's just bad business; you don't want the customers to be your competitors. Why let you take classes by exam and graduate in 1 year, when we can force you to stick around for 4 years? Also, never underestimate the arrogance of professors: Me: Dr. Jones, I've taken chem 2, orgo 1 and materials thermo. Your class (chem 101, a graduation requirement) conflicts with quantum chemistry (an elective which I can't substitute for chem 101). Can I take it by exam? Jones: It's not possible that you know the material without taking this class. I won't give you the opportunity to prove me wrong. You shouldn't take graduate courses anyway.
- vlad 18y ago
  Thank you for your post. I did not mean that you would sign up for 30 credits a semester and attempt to take tests to see what happens. You would really have to show the professor you know the class really well and have a good reason for accelerating your education. Also, faculty are not administrators, they are former students. They enjoy helping bright motivated students, no matter how much money the student pays in tuition. However, taking many more credits "with department chair permission" is always a real option. Steve Pavlina got a B.S. in Computer Science at a state school in California in 1 and 1/2 years. He simply valued which assignments were worth doing and attempted many more credits than other people did. He also made decisions in under one minute that would normally take his peers weeks to arrive at (such as what topic to write an essay about.) And actually, he got the department's highest honor and maintained a good GPA by doing this.
  - yummyfajitas 18y ago
    >Also, faculty are not administrators, they are former students. They enjoy helping bright motivated students, no matter how much money the student pays in tuition. That's my approach. But my experience (as both a student and teacher) suggests that I'm a minority, and people like this guy (http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2008/02/11/ferrall http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2008/02/11/ferrall) are more common. It varies from place to place, however. Anyway, I'm not saying you can't push through fast. I did it myself, and it was well worth it (2 years = half price). But I had to fight the system every semester, and use various paperwork/administrative hacks to do it. It wasn't easy, and if I were a chem major (department chair: Jones, mentioned earlier), it would have been impossible.

by vlad 18y ago

yummyfajitas 18y ago

>For many introductory courses and even advanced science and math courses, you can probably work out a solution with a professor where you would take the final exam early in the semester if you have a good reason. Never underestimate the silly requirements (e.g., "2 years residence") of a university. University's are not set up for you to teach yourself, take a test and finish fast. It's just bad business; you don't want the customers to be your competitors. Why let you take classes by exam and graduate in 1 year, when we can force you to stick around for 4 years? Also, never underestimate the arrogance of professors: Me: Dr. Jones, I've taken chem 2, orgo 1 and materials thermo. Your class (chem 101, a graduation requirement) conflicts with quantum chemistry (an elective which I can't substitute for chem 101). Can I take it by exam? Jones: It's not possible that you know the material without taking this class. I won't give you the opportunity to prove me wrong. You shouldn't take graduate courses anyway.

vlad 18y ago
Thank you for your post. I did not mean that you would sign up for 30 credits a semester and attempt to take tests to see what happens. You would really have to show the professor you know the class really well and have a good reason for accelerating your education. Also, faculty are not administrators, they are former students. They enjoy helping bright motivated students, no matter how much money the student pays in tuition. However, taking many more credits "with department chair permission" is always a real option. Steve Pavlina got a B.S. in Computer Science at a state school in California in 1 and 1/2 years. He simply valued which assignments were worth doing and attempted many more credits than other people did. He also made decisions in under one minute that would normally take his peers weeks to arrive at (such as what topic to write an essay about.) And actually, he got the department's highest honor and maintained a good GPA by doing this.
- yummyfajitas 18y ago
  >Also, faculty are not administrators, they are former students. They enjoy helping bright motivated students, no matter how much money the student pays in tuition. That's my approach. But my experience (as both a student and teacher) suggests that I'm a minority, and people like this guy (http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2008/02/11/ferrall http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2008/02/11/ferrall) are more common. It varies from place to place, however. Anyway, I'm not saying you can't push through fast. I did it myself, and it was well worth it (2 years = half price). But I had to fight the system every semester, and use various paperwork/administrative hacks to do it. It wasn't easy, and if I were a chem major (department chair: Jones, mentioned earlier), it would have been impossible.