Seeing that one of your professors is not exactly what you expected is probably the best way to get rid of a new semester’s excitement. In fact, the professor might just be the worst. Knowing what to do when you are in this kind of situation can sometimes be overwhelming since there are so many things to manage in college, plus you have a class to pass as well.
The good news is that you still have some options to remedy the situation, even if you are stuck with a terrible professor.
Change Classes
See if there is still time for you to change classes. It is possible to change to a different class or postpone the course until a later semester when a different professor is in charge. This can only be done if you discover your situation in time. You can check with the registrar’s office to learn about the add or drop deadline and other courses available to you.
If you can’t change professors, you might switch to a different lecture section. However, this only applies to large lecture classes, but you could still attend another professor’s lecture as far as you don’t miss you’re the course section you are currently enrolled in. Most classes have similar daily reading and assignment, irrespective of who the professor is. Observe if another professor’s lecture and teaching style better matches your expectations.
Drop the Class
You can drop the class as long as you do it by the deadline. Sometimes, no matter how much you try, you cannot deal with an evil professor. So, if you need to drop the class to save yourself from having a poor grade on your transcript plus the bad experience, do so and do it in time.
Talk to Someone
Talk to someone if you need to. Apart from bad professors who are poor teachers, others say offensive and hurtful things in the classroom. Speak with somebody immediately if you believe this is going on. Open up to your adviser, your RA, other staff members, the head of the department, the provost or dean, or take it to someone who will.
Get Help
Get help from others. Most likely, you are not the only one having a hard time with your professor. Other students might be in the same shoes, so check-in with them and see how the problem can be solved or mitigated. You can help each other by holding meetings after classes, forming study groups, sharing notes, and reading each other’s papers or assignments.
Bad professors often result in bad grades. You can avoid this by getting a tutor immediately. Don’t hesitate to ask for help if you find yourself struggling. You don’t have to be shy about it, as it is better to feel bad now than to fail the course later. Ask your residence hall staff and senior students about where and how you can get a good tutor. You can even check with the campus tutoring center.
Change your Approach
Schedule time to think of other means of handling the situation. Do you feel that your professor doesn’t have the slightest clue about what he is teaching? Thinking of what can be done, no matter how small, to help you deal with a bad professor is a good way to control the situation.
