Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Date: Nov 22 2010
Major: Computer Science (This Major's Salary over time)
I've been at Virginia Tech for 4 years switching from general studies to computer engineering then to computer science last year. While VT has a great reputation as an engineering program, I've found it difficult to complete courses there. I know it would seem insane to switch from a reputable program but I'm about to consider it. I only have 40 credits left but it's whatever gets me the degree in the end.

This past year I've done better in CS than I have in computer engineering but this semester, I had terrible professors yet again and found it impossible to do the projects for those classes. TA's were bad this semester and they usually are for most CS courses and half are from foreign countries and just couldn't explain stuff to me when I went for help. They have no tutoring support anywhere with the exception in the math department since I asked the CS department for tutoring info and they said sorry and I'd have to advertise on my own (don't have time for that). Also even though I only have 35ish credits left, the pre-req courses which have terrible professors won't allow me to graduate until 2012 on my current track.

Also the students in CS have been more closed minded and kept to themselves which made it impossible to form study/homework groups which are almost essential to survive.

I also have ADD which impacts my learning and I've always learned best by tutoring (if I need it) and hands on type practice like labs and such that most High Schools provided. Accomodations suck for courses and like 3 or 4 professors had a hard time giving me them even if it's a legal right.

The courses I took since I've been here are very (sink or swim) type. You either know the material prior to the course or you don't and most students have to find a way to beat the system (homework/study groups) to get through the course. Otherwise you find yourself out of the loop and on your own which makes it extremely hard to get by.

3/4 professors I had were very uncaring (research focused with big egos) and seemed to have pleasure out of failing students and making projects/exams impossible to do and prepare for and would curve the class most of the time. I like to be challenged but if I can't learn from them and have to teach myself all the time to do the challenging work I find it hard to be successful in the courses. I guess its like that at a lot of large research schools. I'll have to repeat 1 or 2 courses yet again this Spring after a year of not having to repeat a course.

However sometimes I will get a great class and a good professor which is why I'm so split on switching especially this late in my degree. I'll probably suck it up and stay and finish but if I have to repeat courses again because professors don't know how to teach or a GA teaches the course, I may have no choice but to switch to some other school because I need to finish college someday.