(no subject)

[sebastienne]

My tutor has a little book.

In it he writes down which topics you are taking and who is tutoring you. Twice a term, I go to a meeting with him where he reads his book out to me and says "so you're doing x" *nod* "and y" *nod*. "Any problems?" *shake*.

I always thought these meetings were pointless. He'd begin them with some anecdote or observation after which I'd look at him quizically, not getting it. He'd never do anything he couldn't do by email, without wasting my time. But today, really, he just demonstrated how pointless the whole three years of being his tutee has been.

Today, after "any problems?", I didn't shake my head. I mentioned revision, and how I was concerned that I had nothing scheduled for psychology, while next term is full of philosophy revision lectures and classes.

He told me that I didn't understand the purpose of revision, that "revision classes scare people" (wtf, I'm ASKING for them!), that he wouldn't look at any practice exam questions i might do, and then forbade me from "pestering" my psychology tutors by asking them to look at my practice exam answers.

I asked him to clarify that what he was saying was that, after the end of this term, as far as he's concerned, he wants nothing more to do with me. I was confused - what's the point of having this guy who summons you to pointless meetings twice a term, makes sure you're going to lectures and tutes, if not to help you get the best possible mark in your degree? What is the point of him?

I guess I'll never know, as he threw me out mid-sentence when the knock on the door came from the person seeing him next.

Am I expecting too much? Is this just Oxford?

Comments

[darthfox.livejournal.com]

No, I don't think it's just Oxford. I think your next meeting is with the next person up the ladder (your college must have a senior tutor, for example?).

[igniscience.livejournal.com]

Am I expecting too much? Is this just Oxford?

no, no idea (probably not), he's being crap - do you have a Moral Tutor (ha, that term has always amused!) or similar you can go talk to instead ?

[neoanjou.livejournal.com]

I don't think you're expecting too much - I've kinda been on both sides of the thing (once where we thought we needed extra work on maths and were essentialy told 'not a chance' and once where we had a useless tutor and we were found a new one promptish).

He seems like somewhat of an prick to be honest. At the very least he should have heard out your concerns or suggested a further meeting to discuss them.

[dyddgu.livejournal.com]

Nope, he is being crap. Take it to the Senior Tutor in the college, or your pastoral tutor. They have to give you two contacts/pastoral-types on the staff, in case you have a (hem) "personality clash" with one. Don't let this one go.
He sounds like a tosser. I've known a lot of dons, and being a don doesn't stop them being crap.

[stronglight.livejournal.com]

No, you're not expecting too much. But yes, in my experience, that is what Oxford is like.

My tutor has stopped having the termly meetings with me because I stopped asking for them. He pidges me my reports and asked who tutored me by email. I don't think he remembers what I look like. I have come to the conclusion that I'd rather do stuff my own way in my own time anyway, so it's mostly stopped bothering me. However, if you want support, you should be entitled to it so I agree with the suggestions above about contacting higher up. I think his reaction is sort of normal in Oxford tutors - but that doesn't mean it's reasonable or that you aren't entitled to more help when you ask.

[antoniabaker.livejournal.com]

I remember my tutor was similarly unconcerned, except to suggest I should stop wandering around college bar half naked (the theme was slag and drag for goodness sake). If you need revisions classes pester for revision classes, I didn't, went into my first year exams without having had any supervisions and came third highest in the group with 33% dragging down my entire part one tripos mark. Not that i'm bitter or anything. So yes pester.

[sashagoblin.livejournal.com]

Damn straight it's just Oxford. At that point in my UCL career, I was writingtwo extracurricular practice essays a week and my tutor was marking them. She was also seeing me every weekk to check I was OK, advising on reading, talking about my lovelife and sending me to the movies when I looked stressed. Oxford sucks.

[ex-leighwoos982.livejournal.com]

NOT 'Just Oxford'. My Tutors made enormous efforts to help me even when I was failing. They always responded to requests for practice/revision classes, even helping out with handwriting and arranging meetings with previous writers of the papers for discussions.

Complain to your Dean/Tutor responsible for Student Welfare. You have every right to.

[hildabeast.livejournal.com]

unreasonable. talk to someone higher up. you pay to study here, you deserve to be given all the support you need!

[foreverdirt.livejournal.com]

Ridiculous. All three of my college tutors have read up on courses they didn't know in order to help me -- that might be a bit above'n'beyond, but you are entitled to his support and to be taken seriously, and if you don't get this you should go to someone else in college to get it.

[footnotetoplato.livejournal.com]

I was going to reply to this post, but Katy's in exactly the same situation as me and has come up with about the same response, so I've nothing to add.

Quite why I'm posting this eludes me.

[shiny-and-new.livejournal.com]

I think you're just unlucky... Mine have tended to be really nice: they've emailed me fresh reading lists to make up for all the exciting new law I've missed in the last two years, agreed to mark extra practice questions even though I got a perfectly solid 2:1 in my collection, and put me in touch with a less intimidating Jurisprudence (philosophy) tutor who managed to get me from bursting into tears merely thinking about the subject, to actually enjoying talking about it...

Which college are you at?

[anotherusedpage.livejournal.com]

If your tutor is being shit, find another tutor. Complain to the people one level higher, go to your mate's tutors and ask them for help, bug a lecturer you like. You have the right to be taught, that's what you're paying your tuition fees for.
While I don't think that it's 'just Oxford' in the sense that you should put up with it, I do think that being a tutor in Oxford makes tutors more likely than not to assume that their students can just get on with it, and to not provide adequate support. That's not an excuse, though, however much they think it is. Talk to a tutor you do like, bug someone at the faculty, and don't let them get away with it.
*hugs*

[sebastiality.livejournal.com]

You aren't expecting too much. But, unfortunately that is what Oxford is like (in my experience). I agree with the above comments that suggest you hassle him and his superiors until you feel comfortable with your exams. For christ's sake, your exams reflect on HIS college too. He should be interested on THAT level at least.

Had (my first) Warden's collection today. He told me that I was doing very well and that I am a respectable student. This was nice. HOWEVER, he knows nothing about my course or my current work (ahem, the fact that it was today I handed in the first attempt of language work that I done in the last month...was ignored entirely).

Shambles.

PS. Not just Oxford; maybe Tabland too

[sebastiality.livejournal.com]

That was written in a very awkward way. *apologises* x

[vampire-kitten.livejournal.com]

You need a new tutor.

Borrow mine. He's lovely. He has an adorable danish accent, and plied me with tea for 2 and a half hours this morning (while talking alternating between talking about Harry Potter and how having no movitation to work does not make you a filure as a human being - pulling large piles of stuff he was supposed to do but not from various drawers) until he thought I was relaxed enough to do work.

Demand a better one. Talk to a) JCR president b) College Secretary c) Head tutor in college d) Head of Undergrad studies at your department (pick based on who is least scary)

[countess-rezia.livejournal.com]

You're not expecting too much by any means, and it's not Oxford per sae. My tutors were always very concerned by how I felt about my course and how I was doing, and in some cases (especially my pastoral tutor), about me as a person too. In my last two terms they organised lots of tutes for everyone. I think it depends on the people you get, and that's just unlucky. I'm not sure if it's to do with the faculty or the college, or just the individuals.

Speak to another tutor. Oxford's selling point is meant to be the tutorial, and how they have the don:undergrad ratio to do one-on-one or one-on-two tutes much more than most unis. You're being short changed.

[germainsgame.livejournal.com]

It's not 'just oxford.' There will be bastards wherever you go, just as there will be overly nice people. At the moment one of my tutors is a complete bastard and genius who my year group is killing themselves to satisfy, and the other is a lovely young woman with a ringwraith called 'bob' on her desk who asks us about our weekends and who is utterly, utterly useless as a tutor. There is soemthing to be said for discipline, but not for neglect. Go complain to someone higher up.

[half-of-monty.livejournal.com]

I got masses of revision classes, but not directly from my college tutors, who hadn't taught my 3rd and 4th year courses. Our dept set the classes up and the college just passed on the details. Get the impression this tutor similarly isn't actually the one who's been teaching you? So though I agree you should complain about his attitude to the senior tutor, you could also contact your actual course tutors directly to arrange stuff? Or is that what you were expecting him to do for you? Sorry, may not entirely understand your subject's system. Will go away now.