CHECK OUT YOUR PROFESSORS
- Talk to advisors in your department and ask which professors they recommend for certain subjects. Ask for a list of any teaching awards the university or individual departments bestow. Ask also for results of the student evaluations completed at the end of each course. These are usually completed as the students leave their last class and memories of the course and professor are fresh in their minds.
- If you're serious about your field of study, find out what your professor has published recently - usually available in the department newsletter or your library. This will help you understand your professor's expertise and whether or not he/she would be an appropriate mentor to help guide you through the rest of your student career and beyond.
- Check out your professor's likability and teaching style on www.ratemyprofessors.com. Students rate their professors by leaving written feedback about their overall experience in their classes. You can find out important information, such as how the professors test. Some students leave their e-mail addresses so you can contact them if you have any questions about their feedback or a particular professor. This site has ratings for 133 Michigan-based schools and more than 4,000 schools nationwide.