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Impossible Engineering Professor: Making the Grade - 58% Normal
Things are not going very well in my advanced circuits class. I have this professor (who is from Iran), and he just does not communicate very effectively in class; his overall rating on rate my professor is a solid 1.7/5 - so it's not just me. I have "learned" next to nothing in the class, but I'm more concerned about maintaining the grade at this point because I'm hoping to get out of engineering and go to grad school in another subject. It's right before finals, and I am feeling really depressed about my potential grade in the class: the whole class failed the midterm (class average was around 50) and I didn't do so hot either 68. My quiz average has also been above average - somewhere around 7.5/10 - but definitely not "great". My lab grade is nearly 100% as is my homework grade. I know that with the curve, I should theoretically be able to make a B if I do all right on the final.
But this is the thing...I think this professor hates me. Things seemed to be going okay all the way up until the penultimate week of class - when he assigned a 15% project. He gave very little instruction, but said he was always available for questions. Well, figuring this would be my chance to shine, I said okay, can I get extra credit if I actually build the project in lab? He said okay, and by trial and error I managed to build a functional product. He was not too impressed when I did, and didn't say anything when I offered to present in class (he was desperately seeking people to present earlier during the week, so this was strange).
Then, since a lot of the project was JUSTIFYING the design too....I went to his office and tried to ask him questions about the formulas we were using because my numbers were not coming out right. He barely opened the door and stated that this was MY project and that he couldn't give me any information. Then he slammed the door when I left.
It's been very depressing. I think this may be happening because I am female and he is muslim, but I am not sure. He gave me an A in the other course I went through, but I was working closely with the TA in that course - and our TA sucks this semester.
All this has got me questioning my ability as an engineer; I feel very demoralized continuing when I know that the professor is angry at me. I feel even more demoralized by the fact that I haven't managed to learn almost anything this semester, except how to mimic some solved problems in the book.
There is a good professor teaching it next semester, and I am hoping to audit the course, but I feel sick and worried about the finals, and especially my grade.
I'm not sure what to do to "turn it all around" at this point.
But this is the thing...I think this professor hates me. Things seemed to be going okay all the way up until the penultimate week of class - when he assigned a 15% project. He gave very little instruction, but said he was always available for questions. Well, figuring this would be my chance to shine, I said okay, can I get extra credit if I actually build the project in lab? He said okay, and by trial and error I managed to build a functional product. He was not too impressed when I did, and didn't say anything when I offered to present in class (he was desperately seeking people to present earlier during the week, so this was strange).
Then, since a lot of the project was JUSTIFYING the design too....I went to his office and tried to ask him questions about the formulas we were using because my numbers were not coming out right. He barely opened the door and stated that this was MY project and that he couldn't give me any information. Then he slammed the door when I left.
It's been very depressing. I think this may be happening because I am female and he is muslim, but I am not sure. He gave me an A in the other course I went through, but I was working closely with the TA in that course - and our TA sucks this semester.
All this has got me questioning my ability as an engineer; I feel very demoralized continuing when I know that the professor is angry at me. I feel even more demoralized by the fact that I haven't managed to learn almost anything this semester, except how to mimic some solved problems in the book.
There is a good professor teaching it next semester, and I am hoping to audit the course, but I feel sick and worried about the finals, and especially my grade.
I'm not sure what to do to "turn it all around" at this point.
Do you think it's normal?
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You are a CUSTOMER of the school. You have PAID for services that are not being rendered.
Gender is irrelevant, and being from Iran is the professor's problem, not yours. Now take that attitude (not the words) into your next meeting with this "professor."
Gather evidence and take your case to the department head, if you have too.
Buck up and hang in there. If you think your professors are bad now just wait until grad school!