I was very disappointed on being accepted to Rhodes that I had to choose two more subjects to add on to the burden of trying to make it in university. I know it would make my life even more difficult and I was right. Instead of focusing on subjects that I know I am good at I have to focus on two extra subjects that cripple me and really take my time. On arriving at Rhodes I realised this was not my problem alone.
Other universities offer the single major or double major alone. Why does Rhodes have to make life so difficult for us. This is the reason why most if not all people drop out of Rhodes. It is not because their major is hard. It is because the extra subjects they have to do are hard. Rhodes would not be any less of a university, or lower in standards because of offering less subjects, in fact it would have higher standards and higher distinction rates. It is very hard to push at subjects that one cannot do because of limited choice and limited time. Rhode University is letting down a lot of willing students because they are pulled down by this issue.
The amount of work and the number of credits is painful to attain. Student who make it in Rhodes are mostly at high stress and fatigue levels all the time. I failed all my subjects last term. This is because I had to concentrate on two other subjects that I absolutely have no talent for. Another reason is the lack of broad choice. I am stuck at a cross roads knowing that there are high chances of me loosing out on a huge opportunity because Rhodes has made these conditions that are so hard to maintain. This is a problem we are all facing.
It is unfair and unreasonable that Rhodes has to put us through all this pain. Students would function so much better if they only had to focus on their two or three majors from the beginning. Rhodes would even be able to accept more students because departments would not be so overwhelmed with extra subject students.
I feel Rhodes has disappointed many. It is a good institution but it needs to reform in its conditions and what it offers.
15 years ago
4 comments:
You have it completely wrong.
Rhodes would be lowering standards by removing that requirement. Doing only two subjects is extremely narrow and lazy.
If you are failing your subjects, then you either shouldn't have been accepted into Rhodes in the first place, or are not putting the required amount of effort into your work.
A lot of people at Rhodes fail and are very academically stressed in their first year because they party too much and negelect their work. That is the fault of the student - not the university.
Rhodes is a distinguished university and needs to maintain its standards. It does this by culling the non-workers/intellectually unsuitable students in 1st year. If you find yourself in that category - don't blame the university, sort yourself out.
Granted that coping in University is a challange on it's own but also University standards are very important,both to the University and to future graduates.
It is important to realise the need to work hard but also to have a workload that you can cope with and that comes easy with time management and a little more ambition, as it were.
Realising the importance of why you are University and the type of University that you are currently at might better your understanding of why things are the way they are at Rhodes. Many a student have graduated from the University having done the same, if not more number of subjects that you are doing.
Abo
Dig my rez
Your opinion “Rhodes could make degree attainment better for many ambitious people” is downright baseless. Stop giving the world a reason for your unorganised lifestyle. It’s called “time management”, darling! Rhodes doesn’t need to “reform”, you are the one who needs to.
If you had attended all the introductory lectures in “O-week”, you would realize that there is a wide range of subject choices available. You could have chosen those subjects that interest you and don’t take up much of your time. It is not Rhodes but your lack of effort and planning that has put you through so much pain!
By the way, which university offers “single major or double majors alone”? Even if such a university exists and offers that, what is the guarantee that those degrees will be just as recognized and efficient as the degrees offered by Rhodes?
Maybe you should stop wasting your time complaining about everything and get down to working. That way you will pass all your subjects!
Ashness
I completely disagree with you. The whole point of going to University is to study and study hard! That is why people choose to go to University instead of Technicon, so that their future employers will know that they have had to gain credits in many subjects and work hard for their degree. This is what puts them ahead of people with a diploma who have studied at a Technicon.
In every University in South Africa there are more than two majors in first year. You really should have considered this before going to University. Since when do all people drop out of Rhodes? And especially for this reason? The standards of Rhodes University would definitely drop if single or double majors alone were offered from first year. This would make University easier to cope with, therefore lowering the standards of acceptance at Rhodes.
Yes, the amount of work to do and credits to attain is painful, but most students just get on with it even if it means focusing less on and just passing certain subjects (the extra ones you are complaining about). Studying at University does make people stressed and tired, because there is supposed to be a lot of work. Everyone knows that studying at University is not easy. Where have you been? You did not have to concentrate on your two extra subjects that you "have absolutely no talent for". You should have concentrated on your majors and given them preference over your extra subjects, maybe then you would have at least passed two subjects.
It just seems like you are lazy and need an excuse for not giving any of your work enough attention. You are right, this is a problem we are all facing which causes us extra stress, but we get over it and find a way to balance our majors with our 'arbs'. As I am writing this I have three assignments due for tomorrow, which I haven't started due to the amount of work I have had in the past two weeks, two of which are for subjects I find completely useless. But am I going to give up? No. Am I going to sleep tonight? No. Am I happy? No. Am I going to fail? NO. My point exactly.
Amy
www.delilahfresh.blogspot.com
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