next »

[ursula]

I mentioned this on the venting thread, as well:  Is it common these days for grad students to consider it alright to skip one of their classes because they haven't done the reading for another class that meets later that same day?  And what kind of logic is behind this? 

[iomhaigh]

Such students do not survive in my program.

[katherineparr]

In my program, skipping class was verboten. Very much so. People came to class post-surgery. In wheelchairs. Etc.

[gennimom]

I had pneumonia my first semester in grad school. My professors had to tell me to stay home.

[dr_prephd]

While I skipped many classes as an undergrad (and almost an entire spring semester of a certain cultural anthropology class), I never missed a single class in my master's program, and I have yet to miss one for the doc program. There are certainly people in both of my grad. programs who did / do miss class, but in my experience, they don't last long.

[dr_stones]

Skip class and die.

[ursula]

There were, in fact, two students involved in this caper, and we had a "conversation", in which I explained that we expect a much greater display of maturity and professionalism than they have shown so far.  One of them cried.  They both now understand that nothing short of a severed artery is a good excuse to miss a grad class.

[t_r_b]

There were, in fact, two students involved in this caper, and we had a "conversation", in which I explained that we expect a much greater display of maturity and professionalism than they have shown so far.  One of them cried.  They both now understand that nothing short of a severed artery is a good excuse to miss a grad class.

Are these students new to grad school? (though presumably at this point they've been there a full semester, right?) And have they come directly to grad school from undergrad?

I'm sure this isn't true of everyone, but there seem to be a fair number of college seniors out there who talk about grad school as an opportunity to do more of whatever they liked about their college major. They don't really get that it's about becoming a professional scholar, not about learning a bunch of cool stuff while you put off entering the real world. Presumably some of those college seniors actually do end up in grad school - is that the kind of situation you're dealing with?

[acrimone]

I mentioned this on the venting thread, as well:  Is it common these days for grad students to consider it alright to skip one of their classes because they haven't done the reading for another class that meets later that same day?  And what kind of logic is behind this? 

I have no idea if it's common.  But I know the logic.

The logic is that you haven't done the reading for your 11:00 class, and you haven't done the reading for your 3:00 class.  It's 10:55.  Your options are:

1) Attend 11, attend 3.  Look like an ass in both of them.

2) Skip 11, attend 3, do the reading from 11-3.  Look smart in one, and look absent in the other.

3) Skip 11, skip 3.  Look absent in both.

4) Attend 11, skip 3.  Look like an ass in one, look absent in the other.

From the student's perspective (not the professor's) let's assign relative utility scores to these.

Look smart: +10 utils
Look absent: -2 utils
Look like an ass: -10 utils

That gives us:

1) -20
2) +8
3) -4
4) -12

Option 2 is the only choice.

[t_r_b]

Makes sense, but if they're as rational as all that, why not get the reading done for both seminars beforehand? They'd score a whopping +20 utils! What could possibly have been going on the night before that could outweigh that?

[acrimone]

Makes sense, but if they're as rational as all that, why not get the reading done for both seminars beforehand? They'd score a whopping +20 utils! What could possibly have been going on the night before that could outweigh that?

Sex.

Alcohol.

Drugs.

[grasshopper]

Sign me up!

I skipped some classes in my MA. I thought they were too stupid for me.

This is why I now live in the Gaping Chasm of Ignorance. Take this as a warning, kids!

[phdbliss]

I've had a few classes that were outside of my interests and the professors seemed resentful about having to teach the course and it was painfully obvious. If the instructor doesn't even want to be there, why should I? The two factors combined, well, I skipped class a lot. In the end it didn't hurt me so much. But I was willing to accept a B in the course. For those who demand all A's, this won't work.

[larryc]

There were, in fact, two students involved in this caper, and we had a "conversation", in which I explained that we expect a much greater display of maturity and professionalism than they have shown so far.  One of them cried.  They both now understand that nothing short of a severed artery is a good excuse to miss a grad class.

Perfect!

[polly_mer]

They both now understand that nothing short of a severed artery is a good excuse to miss a grad class.

I think anyone contagious should also stay home, but that's because I'm selfish and value my health more than other people's education.  Otherwise, there's no excuse for not being in class and prepared.

I'm also amused (which is mean, I know) that one of the students cried upon being scolded.  That also doesn't bode well for success in graduate school.