Current Events > Well my professor is an asshole

(+) Yeah! (+)

God I hate higher level math professors, they are all anti social. Makes it worse that Im anti social too.

I went to his office today to discuss what I got wrong on my exam and he basically wrapped it up by saying I dont have the skills to be in this clsss. All because I was using shortcuts and I still got the right answers.

My defense was that my homeworks were graded fine and I used the same exact method on the test. His response was that graders dont have time to analyze it.

I want a high grade in this class but it seems like hes going to make it impossible. Im stressedddd
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There are no shortcuts in life.
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Stop using shortcuts then. Doesn't sound difficult.
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I agree with you. Whichever way you feel most comfortable getting the correct answer.

Its just like that common core stuff.
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I wouldnt have if he told me that on my previous homework. Like seriously.
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Abstract algebra.
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robellr13 posted...

God I hate higher level math professors, they are all anti social.

nah bro, I had a lot of great math professors. surely yours isn't that ba-

he basically wrapped it up by saying I dont have the skills to be in this clsss.

okay yeah, dick move.
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this is how big boy land works

boss says it needs to be done a certain way
you can try it another way
but if boss says no do it this way
then just do it this way and not that way

stop complaining and get it done

This dude smiles and laughs with the female students and hes straight faced with me. I wish this was an online class so he wouldnt see my face and judge off that.
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Nobody at uni you can take this up with? Like, if you need the class but hes gonna bone you, is there nothing youre able to do?

I mean, if youre using the shortcuts you were given, and youre able to prove that with your work, I dont see what the problem is...the right answer is the right answer, no matter how you arrive there (unless of course, youre cheating, but thats a whole different story).
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Romes187 posted...

this is how big boy land works

boss says it needs to be done a certain way
you can try it another way
but if boss says no do it this way
then just do it this way and not that way

stop complaining and get it done

robellr13 posted...

I wouldnt have if he told me that on my previous homework. Like seriously.

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robellr13 posted...

Romes187 posted...

this is how big boy land works

boss says it needs to be done a certain way
you can try it another way
but if boss says no do it this way
then just do it this way and not that way

stop complaining and get it done

robellr13 posted...

I wouldnt have if he told me that on my previous homework. Like seriously.

stop with the excuses just get it done next time

it is what it is
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Romes187 posted...

robellr13 posted...

Romes187 posted...

this is how big boy land works

boss says it needs to be done a certain way
you can try it another way
but if boss says no do it this way
then just do it this way and not that way

stop complaining and get it done

robellr13 posted...

I wouldnt have if he told me that on my previous homework. Like seriously.

stop with the excuses just get it done next time

Look at this guy. Pretending he's in charge. Adorabibble.
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How did he teach to do the problems in class?
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Youre always taking a risk in math classes if you do shortcuts or skip steps and dont show your work. Math teachers are definitely entitled to take points off for not showing all your work, its very common and accepted.
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masticatingman posted...

Youre always taking a risk in math classes if you do shortcuts or skip steps and dont show your work. Math teachers are definitely entitled to take points off for not showing all your work, its very common and accepted.

I lost half the points in a calculus question for integration by parts for using a shortcut technique... which was exactly the same technique shown in the book that was an assigned reading for the class!
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dude judging from what I already know about you TC, you're probably doing a lot more of the work incorrectly than you're letting on. If ya know what I'm saying.
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DK9292 posted...

Romes187 posted...

robellr13 posted...

Romes187 posted...

this is how big boy land works

boss says it needs to be done a certain way
you can try it another way
but if boss says no do it this way
then just do it this way and not that way

stop complaining and get it done

robellr13 posted...

I wouldnt have if he told me that on my previous homework. Like seriously.

stop with the excuses just get it done next time

Look at this guy. Pretending he's in charge. Adorabibble.

im poking fun relax

robellr13 posted...

I went to his office today to discuss what I got wrong on my exam and he basically wrapped it up by saying I dont have the skills to be in this clsss. All because I was using shortcuts and I still got the right answers.

???
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N3xtG3nGam3r posted...

Nobody at uni you can take this up with? Like, if you need the class but hes gonna bone you, is there nothing youre able to do?

I mean, if youre using the shortcuts you were given, and youre able to prove that with your work, I dont see what the problem is...the right answer is the right answer, no matter how you arrive there (unless of course, youre cheating, but thats a whole different story).

Honestly theres nothing I can do. He plays favorites.

Alexanaxela posted...

robellr13 posted...

I went to his office today to discuss what I got wrong on my exam and he basically wrapped it up by saying I dont have the skills to be in this clsss. All because I was using shortcuts and I still got the right answers.

???

Exactly. He cares about every detail of the step.
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That's always a pain in the ass. Why make things harder for yourself if you can figure it out in an easier way? And I always hated getting points taken off for not showing the work even though my answer was correct.

I find it hard to believe that the graders don't have time to analyze it. Homework in high level classes in science and engineering is typically a few questions. And this is abstract algebra, if they didn't analyze your methodology, what did they analyze? Unless the professor made it clear in class what was expected you shouldn't have left with the excuse that TA's didn't have time to analyze. It's their job to analyze.

Keep at it TC, you can do it!
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Hexagon posted...

I find it hard to believe that the graders don't have time to analyze it. Homework in high level classes in science and engineering is typically a few questions. And this is abstract algebra, if they didn't analyze your methodology, what did they analyze? Unless the professor made it clear in class what was expected you shouldn't have left with the excuse that TA's didn't have time to analyze. It's their job to analyze.

He said the TA only has an hour to grade 35 students paper. Im not even trippin on that; its the fact he insulted me right in front of my face. First it was a counselor, now its him. Im fed up. Im trying to have a good relationship with a professor so I can say wasup to after I graduate. But fuck them, this just gives me motivation.

Yomi posted...

Keep at it TC, you can do it!

Thank you
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Professors are arrogant douchenozzles. In other news, water is wet.

Hexagon posted...

Unless the professor made it clear in class what was expected you shouldn't have left with the excuse that TA's didn't have time to analyze. It's their job to analyze.

Ehh, lowering burden on TAs is a good thing. That actually isn't their actual job.
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Well I'm different than you, I don't care if the prof insults me I don't talk to the profs in the hallway anyway. But if I followed instruction and got marks on one assignment, but lost marks for doing the same thing elsewhere I wont let my work go away unrewarded. I don't know about you, but my bursary depended on my high grades so it was a big deal to me.

Regardless I wouldn't let it bother me. I've had 4-6 profs lecture the whole class that the students need to reconsider their career if they got an X grade. Its nothing new really.

COVxy posted...

Hexagon posted...

Unless the professor made it clear in class what was expected you shouldn't have left with the excuse that TA's didn't have time to analyze. It's their job to analyze.

Ehh, lowering burden on TAs is a good thing. That actually isn't their actual job.

At my university it is. You apply to become a TA, and get a salary by dedicating a amount of certain hours of time either grading papers, leading tutorials, or being a proctor. Sounds like a job to me.

Hexagon posted...

At my university it is. You apply to become a TA, and get a salary by dedicating a amount of certain hours of time either grading papers, leading tutorials, or being a proctor. Sounds like a job to me

I mean, most grad TAs are full time researchers who get a salary through a TA contract. Really their job is their research.
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Son, either you reach on up and take it, or you simply don't.
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Hexagon posted...

I find it hard to believe that the graders don't have time to analyze it. Homework in high level classes in science and engineering is typically a few questions. And this is abstract algebra, if they didn't analyze your methodology, what did they analyze? Unless the professor made it clear in class what was expected you shouldn't have left with the excuse that TA's didn't have time to analyze. It's their job to analyze.

Have you ever tried grading nothing but proofs for 40+ students? It's like grading undocumented program code. Anytime someone does a clever trick or just straight up does some random reasoning it takes 5-10 minutes to try to figure out if it's right or just bullshit.
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In fact I was grading nothing but a single 4 part proof over the weekend for convex analysis. Was tedious as fuck, but not as bad as grading the sheer volume of submissions like in an undergrad class.
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COVxy posted...

Hexagon posted...

At my university it is. You apply to become a TA, and get a salary by dedicating a amount of certain hours of time either grading papers, leading tutorials, or being a proctor. Sounds like a job to me

I mean, most grad TAs are full time researchers who get a salary through a TA contract. Really their job is their research.

Not at my university, you're not obligated to become a TA and you don't get paid unless you work as a TA.

IllegalAlien posted...

Hexagon posted...

I find it hard to believe that the graders don't have time to analyze it. Homework in high level classes in science and engineering is typically a few questions. And this is abstract algebra, if they didn't analyze your methodology, what did they analyze? Unless the professor made it clear in class what was expected you shouldn't have left with the excuse that TA's didn't have time to analyze. It's their job to analyze.

Have you ever tried grading nothing but proofs for 40+ students? It's like grading undocumented program code. Anytime someone does a clever trick or just straight up does some random reasoning it takes 5-10 minutes to try to figure out if it's right or just bullshit.

When a TA makes a mistake, its the duty of the professor to acknowledge the mistake of the TA and awards points when they are due with a warning for next time. That's why I said unless the professor made it clear in class was was expected. The whole point of homework is to practice for exams. Saying "well the TA marked it wrong it's" is not the students fault for doing his/her part. Why would any reasonable persons change their approach for a problem when they got the marks in the mock exam?

And for the record no, the highest math I took was ODEs/Calc III (chemical engineering)

Hexagon posted...

IllegalAlien posted...

Hexagon posted...

I find it hard to believe that the graders don't have time to analyze it. Homework in high level classes in science and engineering is typically a few questions. And this is abstract algebra, if they didn't analyze your methodology, what did they analyze? Unless the professor made it clear in class what was expected you shouldn't have left with the excuse that TA's didn't have time to analyze. It's their job to analyze.

Have you ever tried grading nothing but proofs for 40+ students? It's like grading undocumented program code. Anytime someone does a clever trick or just straight up does some random reasoning it takes 5-10 minutes to try to figure out if it's right or just bullshit.

When a TA makes a mistake, its the duty of the professor to acknowledge the mistake of the TA and award points when they are due with a warning for next time. That's why I said unless the professor made it clear in class what was expected. The whole point of homework is to practice for exams. Saying "well the TA marked it wrong" is not the student's fault for doing his/her part. Why would any reasonable persons change their approach for a problem when they got the marks in the mock exam?

And for the record no, the highest math I took was ODEs/Calc III (chemical engineering)

I was mainly responding to what's bolded.
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Hexagon posted...

and you don't get paid unless you work as a TA.

That's the point. If you aren't getting paid through a grant, you usually need a TA contract for your stipend.
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So glad I'm graduated and done with this horse shit
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COVxy posted...

Hexagon posted...

and you don't get paid unless you work as a TA.

That's the point. If you aren't getting paid through a grant, you usually need a TA contract for your stipend.

The point is, that being a TA isn't some sort of a sub-requirement of being a graduate student in research (presumably at all universities across Canada). In fact you can be a TA as an undergraduate student. You aren't guaranteed a stipend at my university (with the exception of the faculty of medicine). If you want to make money you have to apply to be a TA. It's not a part of being a graduate student.

Generally saying "being a TA isn't really their job" doesn't hold any weight.

Did you properly justify how and why you took those shortcuts? Unless you did, I wouldn't have considered your answers to be correct.

Also, at my university, you never take whataver problems you have with your exams and homework to the professor, you always settle it directly with the TA.

Your professot does sound like an ass, given the attitude he displayed in your anecdote, so you have my sympathy.
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LordFarquad1312 posted...

Did you properly justify how and why you took those shortcuts? Unless you did, I wouldn't have considered your answers to be correct.

Also, at my university, you never take whataver problems you have with your exams and homework to the professor, you always settle it directly with the TA.

Your professot does sound like an ass, given the attitude he displayed in your anecdote, so you have my sympathy.

It's a proof. If it's correct it's correct. Abstract algebra is a hell of a class, though probably not that bad at this point in the semester.
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IllegalAlien posted...

It's a proof. If it's correct it's correct.

That's not really a good point. Sometimes a question can be designed to show you understand a concept. If you solve the problem without demonstrating the concept the answer is wrong, regardless if the logic is correct.

Hexagon posted...

IllegalAlien posted...

It's a proof. If it's correct it's correct.

That's not really a good point. Sometimes a question can be designed to show you understand a concept. If you solve the problem without demonstrating the concept the answer is wrong, regardless if the logic is correct.

No, literally a correct proof is correct. There's nothing more or less to it.

If you can prove something you understand some aspect of the problem. Pure math (like abstract algebra) needs no "intuition".

It's not something you can really understand unless you've been through multiple proposition, theorem, proof style classes where all you do is prove things.
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Is he white?
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IllegalAlien posted...

Hexagon posted...

IllegalAlien posted...

It's a proof. If it's correct it's correct.

That's not really a good point. Sometimes a question can be designed to show you understand a concept. If you solve the problem without demonstrating the concept the answer is wrong, regardless if the logic is correct.

No, literally a correct proof is correct. There's nothing more or less to it.

If you can prove something you understand some aspect of the problem. Pure math (like abstract algebra) needs no "intuition".

It's not something you can really understand unless you've been through multiple proposition, theorem, proof style classes where all you do is prove things.

Sure, sure, I've never taken advanced math classes to be able to understand. But I have been through enough reactor design, unit operations, transport phenomena courses to know that if the reactor volume is the correct volume, you can still be wrong if you used X numerical method instead of Y method or if you didn't state Z assumption, or set up all the equations. But whatever floats your boat.

Hexagon posted...

IllegalAlien posted...

Hexagon posted...

IllegalAlien posted...

It's a proof. If it's correct it's correct.

That's not really a good point. Sometimes a question can be designed to show you understand a concept. If you solve the problem without demonstrating the concept the answer is wrong, regardless if the logic is correct.

No, literally a correct proof is correct. There's nothing more or less to it.

If you can prove something you understand some aspect of the problem. Pure math (like abstract algebra) needs no "intuition".

It's not something you can really understand unless you've been through multiple proposition, theorem, proof style classes where all you do is prove things.

Sure, sure, I've never taken advanced math classes to be able to understand. But I have been through enough reactor design, unit operations, transport phenomena courses to know that if the reactor volume is the correct volume, you can still be wrong if you used X numerical method instead of Y method or if you didn't state Z assumption, or set up all the equations. But whatever floats your boat.

I'm not trying to hurt your ego, although you seem to think I am.

A proof is literally correct if it's correct. I'm just repeating myself at this point, which is exactly why I said it's not something you can understand. Because you're having trouble understanding what I'm saying.
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LordFarquad1312 posted...

Did you properly justify how and why you took those shortcuts? Unless you did, I wouldn't have considered your answers to be correct.

IllegalAlien posted...

Because you're having trouble understanding what I'm saying.

Seems like you're the one having trouble understanding. I was simply elaborating on what LordFarquad1312 said. You can have a correct proof, but if these shortcuts weren't what was expected, then the answer is wrong.

Hexagon posted...

IllegalAlien posted...

Hexagon posted...

IllegalAlien posted...

It's a proof. If it's correct it's correct.

That's not really a good point. Sometimes a question can be designed to show you understand a concept. If you solve the problem without demonstrating the concept the answer is wrong, regardless if the logic is correct.

No, literally a correct proof is correct. There's nothing more or less to it.

If you can prove something you understand some aspect of the problem. Pure math (like abstract algebra) needs no "intuition".

It's not something you can really understand unless you've been through multiple proposition, theorem, proof style classes where all you do is prove things.

Sure, sure, I've never taken advanced math classes to be able to understand. But I have been through enough reactor design, unit operations, transport phenomena courses to know that if the reactor volume is the correct volume, you can still be wrong if you used X numerical method instead of Y method or if you didn't state Z assumption, or set up all the equations. But whatever floats your boat.

In this case the proof would be incorrect, which is not the same as being a correct proof. What I'm assuming the TC did was use another theorem or lemma which allowed him to skip explicit steps, which is not the same as what you're saying.

Hopefully this makes it clear.
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IllegalAlien posted...

another theorem or lemma which allowed him to skip explicit steps, which is not the same as what you're saying.

And this can be marked wrong, is what I'm saying. I hope I made it clear enough.