Credit confusion

I have never been able to figure out how to properly score a game—or even a few frames—of bowling. I’ve had numerous people try to explain how a spare or a strike makes a score of 19 multiply to, say, 32 when there are only 10 pins to knock down. But even the confusing aspects of bowling scoring seem simple when compared to the complexities of college credit hours.

Many students believe they have mastered the Pandora’s box that is the college credit system. Like all heroic fools, their foolhardiness and confidence can lead them to academic tragedy. How can anyone explain how a course can be worth three credits one semester and only two the next? Dunno? Me either! Better yet, how is a class that meets only 20 times worth one credit and a class that meets 40 times worth three? The ratio of classes to credit hours just does not add up. This flustering inequality is just one of the many head-scratching situations with which college students are confronted.

My academic tragedy was a result of switching majors more times than I can count on one hand. As an 18-year-old freshman at a university bigger than some towns, I took courses my first semester that either sounded cool or seemed easy: biology 1, intro to microcomputers, Intro to middle school teaching and a student-teaching seminar. From these courses, I accumulated 14 hours of college credit. None of it counted for anything my senior year because of the number of times I changed my major.

My second semester was equally useless at graduation time. Summer school, night classes and enrolling part-time in a smaller college nearby were the options I had to set me back on track. I lost one academic year from nuances in the credit-hour system, combined with other academic policies that read like the federal tax-code book.

My most anguishing example comes from when I took a scuba-diving course at my university. Scuba theory is worth three credit hours. And though the course may sound like a blow-off class to you, it was the antithesis of that. I had to learn physics, chemistry, algebra and several laws of nature to just pass the course. Then I had to train to be able to run a mile in six minutes, do 40 pushups in a minute and swim underwater the entire length of the pool in one breath. And, hardest of all, I had to get up at 6:30 a.m. to do it.

What derailed my best effort ever as a student was an obscure rule at my university about physical education credit that meant I got only one credit hour of the three I should have received. Worst of all, I had actually spilled blood, sweat and tears to overcome many mental blocks for the class and earn an A in the course. With a little practice, everyone (but me) can eventually learn how to score a game of bowling. Also take the time to learn, from advisors and older students, how to take courses that will benefit your college life.

Can’t stand candy-coated advice? Matt Hammond is here to help! He’ll give you the real deal when it comes to college, careers and life. E-mail your questions to [email protected]

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