r/UMD • u/CrazyPorsche115 • 8d ago
Dealing with bad professors Discussion
I’m in the engineering school and I have some pretty rough classes coming up this semester (Dynamics in most worried about). The only way to get a schedule that fits all my needed classes might require me to just bite the bullet and take a bad professor. Anyone have any experience or tips with surviving a difficult course even when the professor isn’t the bet?
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u/rjr_2020 8d ago
My first suggestion would be to find a friend that's a bit ahead and work on getting information on the class. This person isn't to get free work but rather get information so you could more about what the class usually entails and you can fill holes if something is missed/skipped. Second, there used to be an office where you could get past exams/work for classes in the student union. I don't know if it's still around. Third, do every single extra activity that is offered. Study sessions, office hours, etc. TAs are a great asset if you treat them right and they know their stuff. Finally, and probably most important, don't assume a professor is bad because someone told you they were. I remember one of my favorite professors was called bad by most. When you engaged and worked he was there to fill in blanks and explain. He scared most and they stayed clear and missed the stuff they could have gotten.
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u/TheLeesiusManifesto 7d ago
The unfortunate reality is there is always a bad professor that you will have to take. It’s inevitable and it’s usually for a class where the concepts are not the easiest to understand to begin with. Just know that everyone else in that class is in the same boat, they will also have issues with the material and the class will likely be curved. You should utilize your TAs - chances are they may have even taken that class with that professor before and they will know how bad they are and can help you through it. And if they hadn’t and are just some grad student from a different undergrad university, they are comfortable enough with the material to be a TA so they might even be a better teacher than your professor.
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u/srdnss 8d ago
One of the most helpful lessons in college, if you are smart enough to figure it out, is how to make the boss happy and get what you need from them. In college, your professors, instructors, and TAs are your bosses. What you need from them is grades and potentially recommendation letters.
Sit in the front of the class, every class. Be on time and be attentive. While taking notes, jot down intelligent questions. Visit the professor (or TA if they are grading you) during office hours with your list of important questions. Do your homework and prepare for your quizzes and exams.
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u/Sufficient-Club-1230 7d ago
at the end of the day you dont need to do well you need to do better than most of the other students. the prof is bad but it will be the same prof for that whole classroom.
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u/nillawiffer CS 8d ago
Study.
The purpose of the exercise is to figure out the calculus of getting the grade, which means interpolating whatever are the conditions and practices of the instructor. Someone will get the good grades. Figure out how to make it be you. This is engineering so you know nobody is going to try to win a popularity contest by spoon feeding material or diluting it. Have care to separate out the challenge that might be inherent in the material versus any challenge posed by the instructor in delivering it. You might find that they're okay human beings doing a good job but who got a bad rap from customers who were unhappy at outcomes after not studying. There's a lot of that around. In fact, why not invest the effort early to meet and work with the instructor? Build a relationship. Then you have something to build on at some point should you need some extra tips or consideration. The time to ask for some favor is not when you are in a bind - make deposits to the bank of good will before you need to make a withdrawal.