It's three weeks into the term and many of us are plagued by what Dartmouth professors affectionately call the "midterm." Midterms are a funny thing here though, there are in-class midterms, take-home midterms, and even combination midterms. And while at other schools this clustering of tests is limited to a period of maybe one or two weeks, at Dartmouth you will find that a professor may choose to hold a midterm anytime after the first class and anytime before the scheduled final exam.
So, if nine-and-a-half weeks of midterms doesn't sound enthralling, what are you going to do? Some of my more crafty friends have discovered the "Independent Study" option.
What is this? Basically its a non-class -- no deadlines to meet, no exams, no fellow students to compete for that top grade. Nope, with an independent study, its all yours for the taking!
You are probably wondering why you hadn't heard of the Independent Study before, right? After all, you've been at Dartmouth long enough to know that you can cross the street despite obvious signs of oncoming traffic and you know not to go to Food Court during non-peak, weirdo hours. But how come you didn't know about this?
Independent Studies are for Schmoozers and only Schmoozers are clever enough to think of doing them.
Personally, I've never taken an Independent Study. But then again, I've also never taken a professor to lunch at the Hanover Inn -- or even to Food Court. I've never sent over a "mysterious" beer to a professor at an adjacent table at Murphy's or remembered my professor's grandchildren's birthdays. But I'm not saying that doing any of this is bad.
Let me tell you something about Independent Studies. The operative word is "independent," not "study" like you might think.
Before you get excited on the idea though, let me warn you. You can't do an independent study unless you've already been schmoozing with the particular professor you want to work with. Going up to some random professor will not work. He will tell you to take his introductory class first -- the one with three midterms, two papers, a final and, gasp, a journal.
But if you've already found a schmooze object and are working the situation carefully, you may be able to line up an independent study for next term. Even if you are a freshman, tell that professor that you want to do your thesis in his area of specialty. Stop by his office hours often -- and don't come empty handed! Muffins, cookies, and rice krispie treats from Lou's have all been known to woo a disgruntled professor into Independent Study stupor.
Just remember though, even something as seemingly perfect as the Independent Study has its negatives. Professor's offices don't have back rows -- when you actually have to go in and "chat," you better have something to say.
If none of the schmoozing techniques I mentioned sound familiar to you, you probably aren't the Independent Study type. Don't worry, neither am I. I wouldn't recommend trying to become a schmoozer overnight -- professors can tell when you have an ulterior motive.
But if the work's been getting you down lately -- or even classes held in the 12 hour sound early to you, the Independent Study is definitely something to consider.
