Finding Professor Right: 3 Steps for Picking the Best Instructor

By Taylor Brim on August 4, 2012

This article won’t cure your lonely nights, but it can guide you to an easier, less aggravating semester with potentially better grades. Today, we learn simple steps to discovering if they are truly ‘the one’. No, I’m not referring to the cute girl down your dorm hall in 310; I’m talking about finding the professor that provides you the best chance of succeeding academically. While the topic may not fancy your romantic side, I have learned the hard way that choosing Professor Right is a decision worth investing time into.

The single-girl motto, “all men are the same” does not translate into college instructors. So, if given the option of several courses for a certain subject, and have already eliminated any 8 AM classes (let’s be honest, what college kid in their right mind wakes up that early?), choose the professor that can make going to class less difficult than it already is by following these simple steps:

 1. Ask Around

Obvious, right? It’s the easiest step since all it takes is you asking alumnus of the course their opinions. Word of advice: use character judgement before asking someone their thoughts. Example: asking a kid who spent most of his class time sleeping is probably not the best voice of reason. Questions to ask:  How heavy is the workload? What are the formats of his/her test (good to know if you favor multiple choice over writing essays)? Are they approachable for questions? How tough do they grade?

 2. Read Reviews

Rate My Professors is an online website that allows students to give instructors a star rating, write reviews on their strengths and weaknesses, and even rate their looks as ‘Hot’ or ‘Not’. Fun and games aside, this website has been a lifesaver for those courses where I knew no one to ask for advice. Visit the website here: http://blog.ratemyprofessors.com/ 

3. Check out the Experience

Instructors that have field experience tend to have a better understanding of valuable material taught within the class. Those more unattached from the subject tend to teach from the book religiously, turning classwork into a chore instead of a learning experience. Last year, I learned infinitely more from professors who were ex-marketing analysts and business men than those whose degree in education landed them a spot teaching a general education requirement.

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