Dealing with a Difficult Professor

Getting into the right classes can be quite a difficult task in college, especially in your first couple of years, when you do not have registration priority.  Since you do not get to register first, sometimes you will find yourself in a class with a difficult professor. This is also the case when it comes to required classes, for a major or minor; but, you can find a way to survive, and succeed in the class. So if you leave the first lecture in fear or disgust, know that there are ways to endure this tough situation Use the TA If you have a professor whom you find insufferable, consult the TA for further help.  If you have a discussion section, it can be a great way to get clarification on difficult or confusing material. When I took Statistics in my freshman year, I could not stand my professor.  She [...]

Can we “red flag” professors?

Professors Lynn Jacobs and Jeremy Hyman, educators and higher education experts, recently published a list on The Huffington Post about “red flags” that college students should look out for when encountering new professors. I tend to be wary of absolute statements like some of the advice that they offer while other tips rang true for me as well.

Go For Variety

One of the great opportunities that college provides is the option of taking courses from different departments and backgrounds.  While we are generally at college to learn about a particular major or two, there are thousands of classes available that can broaden your intellect. Classes unrelated to your major can offer a fun break from routine, especially if you have more than two or three classes from your major on your schedule Spread out your GEs All schools have a General Education (GE) requirement that must be fulfilled to graduate, usually needing three or four classes in various departments of campus.  When I started college, I was told to get my GE classes done early so I could focus on my major in my last two years. I do not recommend this at all. In my third year, I realized that I was bored with my schedule.  I love my [...]

Thanksgiving Thoughts

As this is my first post-college Thanksgiving, I thought I’d take a quick gander at what I’m most thankful for regarding the past four years. Today, I’m thankful… …for rigorous coursework (most of the time). It wasn’t until I got to graduate school that I realized how hard my professors pushed me—they set high standards for the depth of our critical thinking and the quality of our writing. This may have resulted in some frustrating grades and more than a few lonely late nights in the library, but it made me a better student in the long run. It’s tempting to scope out the “easy” classes or professors, and I definitely did my share of that as well, but I don’t regret taking introductory economics with hardest professor in the department. I may wish I could change that C on my transcript, but I don’t regret the class because I [...]