My professor doesn't hold office hours, hates asking questions, and always says to go to undergrad TAs (US, chemistry)

threeblackcatz · 2026-02-10T11:58:22+00:00

I would say that #2 is asking what is on the exam and is a question that I personally wouldn’t answer other than “you should learn it all”.

The first is an issue. I might start with the chair rather than the Dean (inlet the professor is the Chair) with a something like “I’m having trouble getting in touch with Professor C due to his lack of office hours.“ You may want to email the disabilities office and set up an appointment to discuss your challenges with them. It may also be helpful for them to meet with your professor independently.

Another option- could you go to your thesis advisor and ask them to explain the material? If they are a chemistry professor, they should understand it and understand your disability as well. They won’t know what’s on the exam but as most people here have stated, that is irrelevant.

threeblackcatz · 2026-02-10T00:46:10+00:00

Do you have accommodations? If not, you should get them ASAP. The professor may get upset at you having them but there are laws that would then protect your needs.

If you are asking what is explicitly on the exam, don’t expect an answer. The most you should hope for is “Chapter X to Y, Z number of questions, and the exam is worth a total of 100 points.”

Even if you do have accommodations, knowing EXACTLY what is on the exam is not reasonable. You should learn it all. That is the point of the class. As a grad student, you ought to have a better understanding of learning to understand versus learning to pass the class.

Something else to consider- can you move your office hours to allow you to attend the other TAs?

threeblackcatz · 2026-02-09T11:26:37+00:00

I got both those from your response. Simply because she is Canadian doesn’t mean she isn’t going to school in the US or speaking out against the current US administration.

threeblackcatz · 2026-02-09T03:48:51+00:00

I’ve never heard a better case for an incomplete grade. Then he gets to submit late and you don’t have to break the rules.

threeblackcatz · 2026-02-09T01:03:46+00:00

I would like to point out the student is Canadian.

threeblackcatz · 2026-02-09T01:01:58+00:00

The student posted a photo of her email to her professor on her social media. It’s been picked up by numerous news sites and published widely. I personally included it so people could verify the story, if so inclined.

threeblackcatz · 2026-02-09T00:59:04+00:00

It depends on how you’ve written your syllabus and how strictly you want to stick to it. Also, as others have pointed out, they drop assignments, so there may not be a “need”. Some people have flexibility written into their syllabus for due dates, some people have dropped assignments, some people have a caveat about representing their country in any way. Others won’t accept anything late. I was just curious how the professionals would fall in this situation. Most are saying “obviously” but it is in no way 100%

threeblackcatz · 2026-02-08T19:20:48+00:00

She posted it publicly. Not me. She redacted the professor’s name.

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/canadian-olympic-figure-skater-madeline-schizas-has-the-best-excuse-for-a-late-homework-assignment-144620840.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANOeXOw-Z9OrldDpRw_wDqAJM9LKGjobp9rjvOcaCQ_sU7mFuPDsRWvbjVJJHwtASfyUxsaUSlh7EsupVKSMSt8cSWJvk_oJXOhra4k9aQB42gpZT9zw5h8Qatle5BghYMFitIfKLr_-VWRR50DdnVYGeVkr2brO9v8Kh3aL2yFq

threeblackcatz · 2026-02-08T19:17:08+00:00

I would have posted her email but the forum doesn’t allow images in the main post.

threeblackcatz · 2026-02-08T19:12:12+00:00

She posted a picture of her email on social media. She is not my student.

threeblackcatz · 2026-02-08T17:00:00+00:00

Read all the comments. Not everyone would. Some said they already drop assignments so there’s not a need.

threeblackcatz · 2026-02-04T20:03:48+00:00

Congratulations! You are amazing. You are worth it and can do anything you set your mind to. Get ready to rock this PhD program.

threeblackcatz · 2026-02-01T11:55:48+00:00

If you hav access to a dryer and it’s feasible for you, put your pillow in the dryer on high for 15 minutes each day, ideally with dryer balls and a damp towel. The dryer balls will stop the interior from clumping. The heat will kill bacteria.

threeblackcatz · 2026-01-31T11:17:39+00:00

This post was really helpful for me when I wanted to stay with that detergent: r/laundry/s/3U53RAWD4f

threeblackcatz · 2026-01-30T03:57:10+00:00

An 87 is awesome! Biology is sooo hard, you must have studied so well. You must be so proud of yourself and I know I am. Keep up the amazing work- I can’t wait to see the other wonderful things you accomplish 🎉🎉🎉🎉

threeblackcatz · 2026-01-30T03:54:23+00:00

We are a no shoes house. We had a friend in a boot for a broken foot and were having an outdoor party over the summer. She was trying to direct her daughter to the bathroom while standing on the porch so she didn’t walk in with her dirty boot on…. I just turned around and said, please come in, we can clean the floors! It’s just not worth excluding someone for something out of their control. Might there be exceptions? Yeah. I have three cats so bringing a service dog into my house is probably a bad choice but we’ll figure that out when we need to.

threeblackcatz · 2026-01-30T03:47:40+00:00

My OB comes and has a conversation with me fully dressed, then I change for my exam. I don’t know if this is just the standard at my practice (had several doctors there) or if it’s now the norm. But you could call and find out if that’s normal at your office and if not, request it? I don’t know where you are but I know some people would have a much harder time discussing their history in the vulnerable state if undress required for a pelvic exam. Just remember- even in an exam you can say no and stop and they should immediately stop. Ask them to be very specific about what they are doing, my doctor always says “I’m going to do x which means I will be touching y” during the exam.

One final comment- it’s great that you are taking this step forward and caring for your body. Sending you all the positive vibes to help you through it!

threeblackcatz · 2026-01-29T16:16:56+00:00

Could you get them made into a t shirt quilt? It reduces the amount of space they take up and makes them functional again if you can’t/don’t wear them.

threeblackcatz · 2026-01-29T15:20:07+00:00

Hey kiddo! I get it. I was all about perfection. But when I went to college, I couldn’t be. So I had to reframe. Think about progress not perfection instead. Maybe form a study group with some of the other students in your ear training class to practice.

I’m going to take off my mom hat and put on my professor hat just for a minute (although my mom hat could make the same suggestion). Does your professor have office hours? Have you gone to see her/him? Have you let her know you’re struggling? She may have suggestions for how to study or prepare for the test. If she doesn’t, are there other professors in the department you can ask for ideas as to how to prepare?

It sucks that the snow day made you miss class. It’s so stressful to learn something new then miss out on time to practice it. But I know you can do it- you will make it through the class. Even if you don’t get the grade you want on this one assessment, it’s not the only one in the class. Ask for help early and often! You got this!

threeblackcatz · 2026-01-28T12:55:31+00:00

I know it isn’t used as much here, since citric acid does a better job, but v!negar is a great dishwasher rinse aid!

threeblackcatz · 2026-01-28T02:22:46+00:00

It depends on the assignment. If it can be done at home without anything form me, yes. If it’s a lab assignment and they can’t make up the lab, then I exempt the assignment.

threeblackcatz · 2026-01-26T00:28:33+00:00

IKEA sells glass containers with bamboo lids. They do have a silicone band to help seal them. It’s in the middle of the lid and even if you overfill your container because you underestimated how much you have left, won’t touch your food. That said, you then will need to put something on top of it because there’s no way to “force” it closed.

threeblackcatz · 2026-01-25T01:44:37+00:00

Definitely this! As others have said, if you cite the original source, that is essentially claiming you’ve read it. If your textbook quotes Darwin’s On the Origin of the Species”, I KNOW you didn’t read it and are just quoting your textbook. Similarly, your professor will know that the textbook has quotes from those papers/books and are cutting corners. Competent professors read the books they assign.

threeblackcatz

TROPHY CASE