So what is a college student to do to make sure that they get the best of the best? Luckily, there is a handy little tool known as “ratemyprofessor.com” that I use simultaneously with the course catalogue when registering for classes. I’m sure most of you have heard of it, but if not, definitely check it out. Here, the tables are turned: students get to grade the teachers, rating them on factors such as easiness, helpfulness, and even hotness (hey, everyone likes someone nice to look at!). Students can write comments, which are also useful when comparing possible professors. Would you rather take a class with someone described as “Horrible professor and complete waste of time!” or “Understanding and incredibly knowledgeable” (actual comments from site). Just keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion, and comments may or may not be accurate. A negative comment could always be the work of a disgruntled student seeking revenge for a bad grade. No professor is impossible to work with, but if you have some wiggle room in your schedule, why not know your options?
However, there is one tiny problem with this handy site revealing the good, the bad and the not-so-hot. The LIM database of teachers is substantially smaller than that of most colleges. It is hard to even find some professors listed, not to mention comments and ratings. The fix is simple, but will take a little work on our part. LIM students, if you want others to know your opinion about professors, please rate them. We’d all like to know whom we are signing a semester of our lives away to beforehand. Just think of rating the same way as the evaluations we do at the end of the semester, except that we get to read what everyone else writes!
-- Lauren Howard
Further Reading:
Delphic Times, “Professors Share Thoughts about RateMyProfessor.com” Allison Quick
http://media.www.timesdelphic.com/media/storage/paper1086/news/2009/04/20/DuLife/Professors.Share.Thoughts.About.Ratemyprofessor.com-3718477.shtml
The New York Times, “Everybody’s a Critic,” Campbell Robertson
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/23/education/edlife/revisit.html?scp=2&sq=Rate%20My%20Professor&st=cse
The Chronicle of Higher Education, “Dear Professor, I Hate You,” Thomas Bartlett
http://chronicle.com/weekly/v55/i25/25a00104.htm
The Chronicle of Higher Education, “They Love Me, They Love Me Not.” Thomas A. Moriarity
http://chronicle.com/weekly/v55/i33/33a02701.htm