Announcement: Slow posting ahead

Posts are going to be a little slow this week as this is the first week of school and my first week at the University of Oregon.

It has already been quite a trip and some things that I feel have been quite interesting. Particularly in the aspects of, "what I am being charged and where my money is going"

To start, let's talk about the U of O's refund policy.

For example, unlike Lane community college, which gives you a chance to try the class for a least one day and still gives you the opportunity to get a 100% refund, the University of Oregon, allows you that opportunity one day before the term starts.

Otherwise you donate 10% of the class fee to the University of Oregon assuming that you drop the class before the beginning of the second week.

I already had dropped one of my classes, and also have this to say about my experience.

Realizing of course that teachers and professors have to start somewhere, the University of Oregon has this thing called, "Graduate Teaching Fellowship" (GTF).

So my very first class at the University of Oregon yesterday, was trigonometry math 112 being taught by some kid who was more nervous than I was being a brand new student.

I was talking to a friend of mine about this and she informed me that the professors there normally do not teach 100 & 200 level classes, the GTF's do.

Like I said, everybody has to start somewhere. However, since most educational institutions charge by the credit hour, and speaking from a consumer's point of view (a phrase that I have found in my experiences at Lane community college they do not like) I'm having to wonder why I am paying the same amount to have an amateur instruct me versus a seasoned professional.

So, I went into the class with the attitude of, OK, let's give this guy a try and see how it works out.

So after 10 minutes of the usual introduction and discussing the syllabus, he starts his class. After about 15 minutes of scrawling diagrams, and figures and making a few jokes about Star Wars to compare what he is doing on the board, he then springs a surprise on us, "by the way, I forgot to mention that I do not allow CALCULATORS on any of the tests and quizzes"

So feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, I immediately drop the class.

I then headed over to Lane community college, talked to a season instructor there that teaches the same subject who proceeds to inform me that you cannot do this class without a calculator. My tutor, who has her degrees in mathematics also concurs.

So, since I am still duel enrolled between the two colleges, even though it will cost me more in student fees, and the University of Oregon's fee for credit classes depends on how many credits you take, at least I will be getting my math instruction from a seasoned professional and feeling like I'm getting my money's worth.