Hi.
I am A. Currently I’m taking Eco105(Prof.Hare). I find hard time to understand the subject and I feel I need more time to study it. I’m thinking to drop this course and take it next summer. I’m planning to do IR and the subject surely is required for the programme. Do you have any advice? Is it safe to take it during summer? I heard that the structure of the course depends on professor. Could my decision to drop will be risky? What is the key to understand economic concepts? Seriously I feel like disaster and horrible while having the lecture.
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Hi A. So you’re taking economics, huh?
Well, I just checked the Arts and Science calendar for the requirements for International Studies, and there are really a few things that you might just want to consider. First of all, aska has been told that unlike most subject POSts, International Studies only considers applicants to its program once every year, and that’s only during the first request period (April 1 to May 19). So if you take economics in the summer, you might have to wait until the next year to be accepted in the program at all. You might want to double check this with Trinity though. So go email them. Nao.
Second of all, summer courses are DEMANDING. You have to absorb the material that’s thrown at you at twice the rate you normally would. And from experience, the nice weather certainly does not help with motivation. That’s not to say you shouldn’t take a summer course, just don’t expect it to be any easier.
Third of all, you’ll notice that admission into the program requires a 3.0 GPA. That’s a B average. So if your economics mark has been REALLY low so far and is going to pull down your GPA substantially, that should be a factor in your decision as to whether or not to drop it. But this is definitely an issue that you may want to bring up with your registrar before you do anything hasty. BUT WAIT! What is that on the calendar under “Second and Third Years” for International Studies? *squints* Help me read that for you, would you?
What’s that? The International Studies program will require you to take more economics courses? Geez. Well, who would’ve known. You know what though? If you’re struggling with ECO105, you’re probably not gonna find the higher year economics classes any better. If you feel terrible in class, imagine how you’re gonna feel after year after year of economics.
Maybe you should take a moment or two to reflect on your own goals and why you want to be in International Relations. What is pushing you towards that field, and are there any other options that would will help satisfy your interests and that may be better suited for you? There are many other programs offered at UofT that have an’international’ flavour: East Asian studies, European studies, and so on…
As for the key to understand economics concepts, I seriously have no idea. I’ve never taken an economics course in my life. In fact, my life has no purpose except to sit here answering questions like this for you people. Go talk to your prof, TA, and upper year students in economics.
As a last thought, your statement that you feel ‘like disaster’ worries me a bit. I hope you are not starting to feel depressed in class. If you are, again, talk to your registrar or make an appointment with CAPS. This is all I can do for you. Take care.