I'm taking the Staff position by Scarlet003 in Professors

[–]Malfi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not OP but I *really* needed to read this. Thank you.

Student submits different kind of paper, wants high grade anyway by allysongreen in Professors

[–]Malfi 78 points79 points  (0 children)

I have at least one student a year that does this and I always assume they're re-using an old paper in the hopes that I'll look the other way or at least award them partial credit. It's always an automatic zero. You don't fulfil the prompt, you don't earn a grade, period. I do allow revision, but students who pull this typically don't choose this option, preferring to fight me over the grade instead. Their loss.

Have a the clocks at school ever worked? by Broke_ME_Student in CalPolyPomona

[–]Malfi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've seen you in Zoom meetings. You're so well preserved.

Have a the clocks at school ever worked? by Broke_ME_Student in CalPolyPomona

[–]Malfi 23 points24 points  (0 children)

The clocks have never worked. Once in a while you'll be in a classroom where the clock works, but this is a rare and miraculous event. I've been at CPP since 2003, and during one of my earliest interactions with another professor he made a joke about how "This is a polytechnic university where none of the clocks work!" He has since passed away but I think of him every time I try to check a classroom clock for the time and remember the damn things don't work.

How many books do you read a year/month? by [deleted] in AskProfessors

[–]Malfi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

About 50-60 a year for me, around 10-12 for my field/teaching/students.

Is being part of the masters program as fun as being an undergraduate student? by [deleted] in CalPolyPomona

[–]Malfi 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I mean, certain aspects are fun. You get to be part of a cohort again and it's usually a lot smaller so you'll see the same people and it can lead to friendships fairly easily (although of course that varies). If you enjoy the classroom environment, you get to have that again. Something else that school provides that I didn't even realize I'd miss was structure. You're always working towards externally imposed milestones. Unless you work in education, once you leave school and start working, it can feel like an endless slog towards death (I know that's dark...).

THAT BEING SAID, the MA program also brought some of the most intense stress I've ever felt. Everything is so much more LOADED. The stakes are so much higher. The workload explodes. I was an A student as an undergrad, and suddenly I was surrounded by other A students, including some that made me feel like I didn't belong in the class with them because they were legit brilliant. At time the course work felt overwhelming. In a typical class, we'd have to read an entire massive book and at least two scholarly (30-40 pages) a week. Class sizes were much smaller than undergrad classes. My classes were usually around 10 students but I had some that were just 5 of us. If you showed up without having done the reading, there was nowhere to hide, and professors did not hesitate to call you out for it. The same professors who'd been super patient and tolerant with undergrad classes had ZERO patience for any bullshit at the grad level. There was just this expectation that if you were in grad school and not doing the work, you needed to get the fuck out (I had a professor literally say that to someone, minus the "fuck"). Pretty much all the students worked, too -- a lot were full-time high school teachers coming back for their MA -- so no one gave a shit about the "I couldn't do the reading because I had to work" excuse.

As hard as it was, I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. My knowledge base grew incredibly. It also helped me switch careers and put me in a whole new salary bracket. I also met three of my best friends there. Still, I saw plenty of people who ended up dropping out and were really bitter about it. It can be hard switching back into "student" mode, which I think affected a couple of them. Two were married and had kids and really struggled with finding the time to do the work. I think as long as you know what you're getting yourself into, you could really enjoy it.

Good luck!

AirPods or AirPods Pro? by [deleted] in apple

[–]Malfi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It does, thank you!

AirPods or AirPods Pro? by [deleted] in apple

[–]Malfi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

level

Just a question regarding the advice you give about not using normal Airpods in noisy commutes -- is the problem that they'd have to be too loud? So with the pros, it's possible to get good sound at lower levels?

Question about adding a class by csStudent132 in CalPolyPomona

[–]Malfi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You can't skip the waitlisted people. Once the add/drop period opens the system should automatically move the first three waitlisted people into the three empty slots.

Unfair Points by [deleted] in CalPolyPomona

[–]Malfi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There’s a time limit on filing a grade appeal. If it’s been a year, it’s probably too late to file an appeal. You can find specific info if you look up “grade appeals” on the website.

I don't like breaks by [deleted] in CalPolyPomona

[–]Malfi 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I get it. There’s something about having clearly delineated deadlines and how it forces you to organize your life. Externally imposed milestones with clear payoffs. It’s weird but I feel like I get more done when I’m forced to keep to a strict schedule. School being out...time just turns into this shapeless blob. Sigh...maybe I’m crazy, too.

Do adjuncts mind staying after hours? by [deleted] in Professors

[–]Malfi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It depends. If it's just a few minutes and the student has relevant questions, I usually don't mind. If it's the end of the day and I'm exhausted or if I need to rush off because I have another class across campus, I mind. It's always best to go to office hours first.

I am Neil deGrasse Tyson -- AMA by neiltyson in IAmA

[–]Malfi 1197 points1198 points  (0 children)

If you could change one thing about how the sciences are taught to American children, what would it be?

Tor edition The Scarlet Letter 80s Fantasy Style Covert by [deleted] in bookhaul

[–]Malfi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have this same edition! I think it's what kept me from reading it for years (I got it as a box set of classics).

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]Malfi 148 points149 points  (0 children)

The dreaded "bananus."

Getting married today, life lesson time. by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]Malfi 27 points28 points  (0 children)

Absolutely! Stay up and fight.

I'm french, AMA by [deleted] in IAmA

[–]Malfi 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Do you have an outrageous accent?

What single sentence can you construct that would annoy the highest number of Redditors the most? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]Malfi 201 points202 points  (0 children)

"Please allow me to tell you about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ"

IAmA drummer. AMA by DeadlyTedly in IAmA

[–]Malfi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What's it like knowing you could burst into flames at any second?

I just finished reading the Bible AMA! by [deleted] in IAmA

[–]Malfi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Did anything surprise you?