Why Some Colleges Courses Are More Difficult Than Others
Does Personality Play a Part?
What accounts for the variation?
What factors play a part in understanding why some college courses are more difficult than others?
Is personality involved?
The Illusion of Difficulty
"Oh, you don't want to take that professor!"
"I took him last semester and almost didn't get my usual good grade."
I found this kind of comment all too familiar on a college campus. It refers to the illusion of difficulty of a college course by which some students maintain bragging rights.
They wanted me to think the course would be challenging since they took it and survived.
The illusion of difficulty regarding college courses has nothing to do with any actual difficulty and everything to do with the personalities of other students.
Difficulty as Cognitive Limitation?
It is true that I was inclined toward the more socially relevant kind of college courses. Does this mean, however, that, although I didn't like math and science as well, there is some intrinsic difficulty regarding these subjects?
I could make the excuse that I avoided such courses because I thought they would be too difficult for me, but what was probably more true was that I didn't think they were interesting.
The point here is that it was my personality instead of some lack of intelligence which made me perceive that the courses in math and science would be difficult. My personality led me in a different direction.
The Problem of Emotional Involvement
I have talked about college courses that others told me would be difficult and those that I thought would be difficult.
Now I move to a description of those courses which for me really were the most challenging--the ones I cared the most about because they dealt with social involvement and the altruistic emotions which came attached.
Once again, this final variation of why some college courses are more difficult than others still involves personality rather than some inherent difficulty.
I opened my feelings to the circumstances of homeless children, for example, in a social welfare course. The course was therefore challenging because of the way it affected me as a person.
in sum, the point I have hopefully made is that there is indeed a sense of variation regarding why some college courses are more difficult than others.
Yet this variation doesn't mean that the college course is challenging by its very nature. Instead, the factors of personality play a huge role, whether in assuming a course should be avoided or whole-heartedly embraced.
Source: Personal Experience
Published by Dan Reveal
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14 Comments
Post a CommentI struggled with math all through grade school, middle school and high school. Then I began to work and I ended up using formula in sales and statistics in my lean consulting. It was only in college that I realized I am actually good in math. I had to get over the fear of learning it before I could learn it, but then I was doing awesome. Great job Dan!
A Prof. can make all the difference. But, I'm amazed at how many otherwise seemingly intelligent people I went to college with had trouble with basic courses like English 101 and Algebra 101, so I think it has to do with the individual.
Interesting piece. I agree with Mike Powers below. I have had some less-than-interested professors and this has certainly changed the course. Easy A? Yes, but a mild waste of my time.
Great work!
Fantastic work ♥ So many variables go into a course :)
I tend to think there are real differences in the level of difficulty of many college courses. Professors are like their students in some key regards: some are lazy, some are conscientious, some are challenging, and some are not. Their courses will tend to reflect their personal level of commitment to their chosen profession. I am reminded of this by two professors: one who taught Canadian history (one of the most challenging courses I ever took) and another English Lit. professor who just went through the motions with a no-brainer of a course. Excellent and thought provoking article, Dan. Thanks!
I disagree, college courses are designed with different levels of difficulty, a strict professor is a separate issue altogether, no I never paid attention to someone saying a certain professor was strict, I did the work I had to do and yes some courses are much more difficult and the universities even acknowledge that. I remember entering one course and the professor said first thing, if you want an easy course transfer now. This course is not for the lazy or for those who don't want to work. He even went on to say that by mid term half the class would drop out by the end of the term there would be just a little or a 3 of the students left. I took the course because I needed it to complete my degree, I barely passed but I did
great, thanks
Nicely done Dan, thank you!
Difficulty is somewhat subjective. What is difficult for one person may not be difficult for the next.