Dropping a course like it’s hot

Schoooooooooooooooool Schoooooooooooooooool

If we count the two summer terms, I've been at UofT for sixteen terms. In that time, I've dropped a lot of courses. This week, I dropped two more. As a full time student, I've been paying flat fees since first year. And, while there are many downsides to flat fees, there's a positive note in that it makes it easy for me to flexibly control my enrollments. Typically, I start off the year with a full roster of six courses, and whittle my way down to a more manageable courseload (though it doesn't always happen).

I thought I'd spend this week trying to feel less guilty about dropping courses by sharing why I drop them, and reminding everyone that it's okay to drop your courses too when you need to (but keep on fighting! I believe in you!). Usually, I try to drop any courses I'm going to before the last day to add courses, to make sure my empty seat doesn't go to waste.

When a course don't fit your schedule ma Drop it like it's hot Drop it like it's hot Drop it like it's hot

Some times courses conflict. Actually, with my departments, it's most of the time. It can be hard to decide which courses I actually want to take. The easy solution: take both and keep the better one! Perhaps more importantly, though, I have a lot of responsibilities on and off of campus that can be hard to keep tabs on. Sometimes other life priorities win out: be it work, other passions, or even just need for a mental health break. In these cases, I drop classes, and it's okay to. It's okay to schedule your life in a way that's beneficial to you.

When the evals ain't quite good for ya Drop it like it's hot Drop it like it's hot Drop it like it's hot

I like to write papers; I don't like writing tests. I have a somewhat poor memory and don't do well in timed scenarios, whereas I really benefit from my learning when I can take the time to think and to engage with the material. Accordingly, when an offered class is test-based only, I usually consider dropping it in favour of a paper- or presentation-based class. I'm here to learn, and to learn in the way that best suits me. I learn best with certain modes of evaluation: simple as that. (And, it's okay to prioritize your GPA too. Do what's best for you!).

And when the content ain't engaging you Drop it like it's hot Drop it like it's hot Drop it like it's hot

Why would you spend money and time enrolled in a course that isn't engaging you? Okay: we all have to take our prerequisites, sure. But after a certain point, my majors are really flexible. And while I try my best to be engaged in every class I have, I can't always connect with the course content. And that's okay! It's okay to leave a course that you aren't getting anything from, and to prioritize other courses and activities. You're responsible for your own progress toward a degree, but you're also responsible to your best interests.

I've got five textbooks in my bag and I'm drinking coffee up And I'm done butchering this terribly parodied Snoop Dogg song

Why do you drop courses? How do you convince yourself it's okay to "let it go" (don't worry; I'm not hip enough for Snoop Dogg [Lion?], I won't even touch Frozen)? Let me know in the comments below! For now, I leave you with this wonderful/terrible educator's version of the Snoop Dogg classic: "Studying for your testizzle is hardizzle but beneficial" (almost makes ME look hip!).