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So, I'm a third year student studying mathematics. My goal has always been getting a PhD in math. I'm currently doing ok with my math (taking grad courses and stuff). However, as many other students, I have to take courses outside math. I'm currently taking a labor studies class right now. All the class talks about is how bad America is treating its workers, and why don't we raise minimum wage to 50 dollars per hours to help the poor workers and stuff like that. I don't agree with everything I learn in class, and I show my disagree. As a result, the professor gives me terrible grades for saying my opinions. My question is: Will that bad grad hurt my future? Can I explain my situation in my application?

cooselunt
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  • I would be more than happy if anyone who are on the admission committee can read my post and tell me your opinions. – cooselunt Apr 07 '16 at 21:49
  • Bad grade in labor studies? Probably not. Focus on keeping your GPA above 3.0 or within the stated competitive average for the department, focus on doing good in your core math courses, focus on a good GRE subject test score in math, and focus on networking w/ math faculty to get 2-3 letters of recommendation for grad admissions. – CKM Apr 07 '16 at 22:51
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    @Ric: I don't think that is what I'm looking for. I do not think I'm a weak student either. I have completed 33 credit hours of advanced math beyond calculus. But thanks for your comment – cooselunt Apr 07 '16 at 23:00
  • Please explain why you think this is different from http://academia.stackexchange.com/questions/38237/how-does-the-admissions-process-work-for-ph-d-programs-in-the-us-particularly we wrote that question and answer exactly for these types of questions. – StrongBad Apr 07 '16 at 23:05
  • @StrongBad I suspect the title is culprit, i.e. "I'm actually a rather strong student that goofed up once," but IMO the linked answer does fall in range for this question. Bottom line: do better elsewhere. – CKM Apr 07 '16 at 23:21
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    It sounds to me like OP might have a genuinely bad professor, one who's grading based on whether students agree with them instead of whether the students are learning. Does anyone else think this is a possibility? I'm honestly not very experienced (I'm just doing my master's degree, and I'm planning on leaving academia when I'm done), so I'm not willing to say that's definitely the case, but I'm a little surprised no one else has discussed that thought. – Kevin Apr 08 '16 at 02:51
  • Ah yes, this brings back memories of a labor economics course I took when I was an engineering undergrad. Three words: pass fail option. :) – Mad Jack Apr 08 '16 at 12:26

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This could possibly hurt you.

In grad school, and even more so as a working academic, you will be asked to do various tasks that you might disagree with. For example you might be asked to teach precalculus or college algebra. Occasionally grad students don't like how they are asked to teach these courses and they either raise a big stink, or else simply don't follow instructions. In either case, this can cause huge headaches for the person supervising the TA -- even if the TA's complaints have some merit. Whether fairly or not, the prospect that you may be unwilling to follow instructions might give some admissions committees pause.

Doing tasks which you disagree with and that were assigned by people whom you may or may not respect (and doing them quickly, so that you can get on to the work you actually care about) is a vital survival skill in academia. I recommend that you learn this skill immediately and do what you can to pass the course.

Anonymous
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