<p>What’s strikingly ironic is that while Don gets trashed on RMP, many posters praise the TAs. One student even referred to one as the “saving grace.” </p>
<p>So, what you’re trying to say is that you’d rather have your daughter be instructed by poorly-rated, ineffective professors than by overachieving, well-liked TAs? </p>
<p>That sends a strange message indeed. </p>
<p>Whether this thread is for real or not, it’s an interesting read.</p>
<p>I have to add my 2 cents. My son is a freshman at a major state university majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He says that the TAs he had in Chemistry and Philosophy. were outstanding. The TA ran the Chem Lab and explained every question he had. Without the Philosophy TA, he probably would’ve failed since, even tho the prof spoke English, she wasn’t good at getting her ideas across. Don’t be so quick to dismiss what a TA can teach you–there are great ones out there!</p>
<p>I go to a BIG state school, research focused, engineering school (top 10 in US for engineering). I’m female and I’ve worked in a city 14 hours away from my home (by car). Besides helping me pay for school and medical bills, my parents have not had any hand in my college career (and I’m grateful). I’m very successful too.</p>
<p>I love my TA’s, added a few on Facebook and Linkedin. They are very competent, half of them taught me everything I needed to know about the course. Most of them are the reason why I did well in the course. I want to be a TA someday when I go to grad school for my Masters.</p>
<p>Honestly, people don’t need to be PHD students to be a good TA… As long as they know the material and are hard workers and fair graders, they’re good.</p>