Independant Study

[MsFish]

So, I had this brilliant idea that I could just take my advanced language requirement through independant study.  I mean, I understand french pretty well--especially if I'm reading and not speaking, so sitting in 202 drove me nuts.  So I'd do independant study and get it done.  No problem.  

What I forgot was that I have no discipline.  Things only get done when I'm excited about them.  And I am not excited about this class.  

I really need to get it done before my graduate application goes through, because it's replacing a grade that I'd rather not have in my GPA.  

But, instead of working on it like I'm supposed to be, since I set aside this whole day to get a chunk of it done, I've spent the last hour here, wasting time.  

Independant study is just not a good idea, I've decided.  

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

yeah, I've been studying for the A+ exam like that for years. I'm finally biting the bullet and taking a class.

[MsFish]

Thing is, I have like 400 dollars sunk into this thing.  Ick!

Arg.  I give up.  Having learned nothing about french romanticism, I'm going home to get some food.  I'll try again later.  

[42]

I finished my degree through independent study. I loved it. Course, having a job where I have about 6 hours of nothing to do, but sit at a desk, makes it a lot easier.

I'm fairly motivated to teach myself as long as I set deadlines and stuff for myself. I actually like not having to perform in a classroom setting.

[Captain Morgan]

SaintNicholas
yeah, I've been studying for the A+ exam like that for years. I'm finally biting the bullet and taking a class

Is that the A+ Comptia cert? If so, there are plenty of sites that help out. I myself have that cert from a previous life, and if you know anything about computers, it really isn't to bad. I'd be happy to direct you to a place that can help you out.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

Yeah, the Comptia one. I'll also be looking at the Network+ and possibly their *nix one too.

I'm sure i'll do well when I finally actually prepare for the test -- I'm a smart guy and I have loads of experience with computers: building, supporting, etc.

I have a lot of training materials, I just never LOOK at them. That's my ADD coming in. I have to have a schedule that other people depend on to get me to do anything about it. It's not that I think I have to have someone else give it to me, it's that I won't do any studying other wise.

[Captain Morgan]

I'm the same way as far as studing go. Even when I took the A+ exam I tried to study, but I couldn't. The night before I had the exam is when I studied, and I practicly aced the exam. The network+ cert I needed a little more time, to study so I gave myself three days. It sounds like you have about the same ecperiance I have with computers, so you should do fine.

[MsFish]

So, I'm going to die.  I now have three days left on my course, three exams to take, a three page paper to write (a bigger deal in French than in English) and no studying done whatsoever.  And if I don't pass, I don't graduate.  And I have no motivation to work on it.  It's amazing the amount of junk I've gotten done avoiding it over the last several days.  Why do I do this to myself?  Ak!

[42]

Fist, you need to tell yourself you can do it. Second, with such short time left, you need to tell yourself that it doesn't need to be perfect. The goal is to graduate, and believe it or not "Cs" get degrees.

My experience is that Independent study can put some dumb restrictions as to timing, but it is possible to complete everything in a quick amount of time.

Also, you may want to petition to get some extended time. It can be kind of hard with IS courses since they give you a year to complete the course. If the only deadline you are trying to meet is graduation deadline, contact the graduation office. You should be able to work something out.

[fuzzyoctopus]

Yeah I think you can pay like $10 or $20 and get an extension can't you?

[GorgonlaVacaTremendo]

Write your paper in english and then translate it to French--it is easier than thinking in a language you aren't fluent in.

[MsFish]

42 and Fuzzy--Sadly I paid for my three month extension back in November.  In short, there is no excuse for me.  

I'm not quite fluent in french, but I can read and write and mostly speak in it no problem at all.  It's actually much much easier for me to just think in french and write in french than to translate into english and back into french.  The issue is that it's a french literature class, so I have bazillions of little details to know, and I don't know them.  

*Fish takes a deep breath and chants

I can deal with this...I can deal with this...I will not panic...

[Archon]

We need twenty cc's of confidence over here, STAT!

[MsFish]

And a couple cc's of photographic memory, while you're at it.  

[Mad Dr Jeffe]

/me waves wand