Bad reviews vs NO reviews (ratemyprofessor)

Published

  1. Which class to take?

    • 3
      Professor with BAD ratings
    • 62
      Professor with NO ratings

65 members have participated

There is only one day I can take micro this fall. On this day the class is offered twice. Prof A has pretty bad ratings, Professor B has none. I assume Professor B is a new teacher. I've also heard from someone who took Professor A's class and she said stay away!

What to do!?

OH MY GOSH, can I tell you how much I HATE the Rate my Professor website! I had to take Human Bio in pre-reqs and a professor had a horrible rating on the site and all of the comments said stay away. I spoke to many people and they said the same. I really didn't have a choice because her class was the only time I could fit into my schedule. I was so scared, but I did it anyway.

Can I tell you, that this professor ended up being my favorite professor EVER. I even ended up taking TWO more classes from her. Students did not like her because her class was hard, she held you accountable (if you showed up to class and it appeared that you were unprepared she asked you to leave) and she demanded the best from you at all times. I learned so much from her and the way she wrote her tests prepared me for nursing school. In my nursing class those who took classes from this professor generally score 8-10 points higher PER TEST.

Not saying that all teachers on RMP with low scores are amazing, but there are those students (NOT saying you are one of them) who want to coast through college and will pick classes based on the easiest professors, and any teacher who makes them work for it is "bad"

To me a bad teacher is preferable than a new one. A new teacher doesn't have the kinks worked out on their tests, lectures and homework. At least with a bad teacher, I have the material to go learn the information myself.

Good luck. Thanks for letting me rant :)

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Specializes in ICU.

People tend to write online reviews when they love something or hate something. Therefore, those reviews can sometimes be "skewed" as not many people take the time to give a mediocre review to something or someone. Therefore, Professor B might be a new teacher or just a mediocre one... But I'd take my chances with Professor B... You already know Professor A is bad, take your chances with B.

Also, with classes that tend to be harder, people are quick to blame the professor when in all truth, it really is a student who is used to skating by and is angry they can't do it with the class. Take that into account when reading the reviews. Nonetheless, I would still take my chances with B.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

Here is my opinion because I have been in a situation similar to yours.

The first time I took Anatomy and Physiology 101, I did not do well. The teacher was from Africa and for one he had an accent, for two he rambled more than he taught, and for three I went to go review one of my tests with him and he started giving me extra points. God rest his soul (died of an MI while preaching) I did not ask him to do that.

I retook that class with a teacher that everyone hated and thought was terrible. Students complained about him. But I LOVED his teaching style. It was blunt and to the point as Anatomy and Physiology should be. He also kept saying it is not that hard, and when teachers say that I begin to believe it. I aced that class while many of my classmates did not.

So I guess the situation really depends. When it is a class that makes it or breaks it as far as your chances of getting into the nursing program, I would go with a teacher that I can understand when they speak. I am far from racist but for the life of me I could not understand what that first teacher was saying!

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

Also I got a B first time in APHY 101 which is not bad but would not get me into the ASN program at my school.

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It's the luck of the draw. You could always email the unrated professor and the bad professor with a question to get a feel for them yourself. Asking about what books you need, a copy of the syllabus, what you need to prep for the class, what the class entails, suggestions as for help, etc.? See what they say, and go with the one you can work with.

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I'd go no reviews. Funny because I didn't even look before last spring semester and was Wondering after the semester what people said and both were spot on. I now heed the advice of ratemyprofessors.

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If your friend tells you to stay away and ratemyprofessor tells you to stay away . STAY AWAY!!! I have learned through experience ratemyprofessor what you see is what you get. If there are many pages of bad reviews. That tells you something!!!! Listen!!!

Go with the new guy and hope he is good.

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I'd go no reviews. Funny because I didn't even look before last spring semester and was Wondering after the semester what people said and both were spot on. I now heed the advice of ratemyprofessors.

Thats right they are spot on!!!!!!!!!!! People have to listen to other people's warnings. Especially if there are pages upon pages of bad reviews from students.

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OH MY GOSH, can I tell you how much I HATE the Rate my Professor website! I had to take Human Bio in pre-reqs and a professor had a horrible rating on the site and all of the comments said stay away. I spoke to many people and they said the same. I really didn't have a choice because her class was the only time I could fit into my schedule. I was so scared, but I did it anyway.

Can I tell you, that this professor ended up being my favorite professor EVER. I even ended up taking TWO more classes from her. Students did not like her because her class was hard, she held you accountable (if you showed up to class and it appeared that you were unprepared she asked you to leave) and she demanded the best from you at all times. I learned so much from her and the way she wrote her tests prepared me for nursing school. In my nursing class those who took classes from this professor generally score 8-10 points higher PER TEST.

Not saying that all teachers on RMP with low scores are amazing, but there are those students (NOT saying you are one of them) who want to coast through college and will pick classes based on the easiest professors, and any teacher who makes them work for it is "bad"

To me a bad teacher is preferable than a new one. A new teacher doesn't have the kinks worked out on their tests, lectures and homework. At least with a bad teacher, I have the material to go learn the information myself.

Good luck. Thanks for letting me rant :)

Good for this student!! And congrats on your hard work ebailey!! But she is mostly the exception not the rule. If you know you are not a good student or not the best you could be( you know your self better than anyone else) don't set your self for failure. Why didn't your friend like this bad professor?? If she says he's bad and ratemyprofessor says he's bad for those exact things. Well sweetheart there is nothing any one else can do for you.

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Had the same thing happen this past summer for my micro class. I choosed the professor with no ratings. Come to find out she was a new teacher and we were her first class. So we were feeling our way through the class together. It was quite fun and I ended up with a B at the end.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

To be honest, though, you can't always take RMP seriously. I've read bad reviews about professors I've turned out to absolutely love/enjoy. One being my Genetics professor last fall- he had a few reviews on RMP that weren't very good, and then word-of-mouth reviews weren't too great, either. He ended up being the most challenging professor I've come across thus far, and he really made me a better student in the end. Not that I had another professor to choose from for that course, but I'm glad I had him because I'm sure I could approach him in the future for recommendation letters if necessary.

Regardless, MFP stands true for many professors, so it's good you're utilizing it. It's probably best to go with choice B and find out about that professor. :-) I wish you the best in your course! Hopefully you can be his/her first positive rating!

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I love ratemyprofessor! :inlove: It has never steered me wrong and after my first unorganized teacher it's given me nothing but A's.

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