<p>I live in California and have therefore been looking at most of the UC schools. Like essentially every other UC, Irvine has a huge number of students, and because of this large class sizes. Is it true that students receive almost no one-on-one time with their professors, or hardly even meet their professors because most of the classes are taught by teacher assistants? </p>
<p>I just wanted all your opinions on whether or not you feel your quality of education has been effected by such large class-sizes and lack of face time with your professors.</p>
<p>None of the lectures are taught by teaching assistants in all of the large classes I have been in. Professors have always been available for questions after class, through email, or during office hours. It has never been a problem to talk to my professors when needed. Discussions are usually led my teaching assistant but are still very valuable depending on the class. Large classes sizes have not been an issue at all.</p>
<p>well Something that the Cal states are always bring up is their small class sizes, and faculty to student ratio. However my question is: Are small class sizes really effective? </p>
<p>am attending UCI for summer school and I like their set up, You have a large class for your lecture and then a small class for discussion, where you are free to ask questions and go over homework. </p>
<p>Personally i feel this method is quite effective. I have also attended Community college where they have small class sizes I found it to be just as effective since questions get resolved in class. </p>
<p>So in terms of saving time, i guess i like the 1 class set-up. But being around the subject and spending an extra hour with a seasoned pro is cool too.</p>
<p>All classes are taught by professors. The lecture may have 300-400 students, but the discussion sections (which are held by TAs) are 15-30 students and allow for more engaging activities. But yeah, you really don’t get to know your professor unless you make an effort to go to his/her Office hours.</p>
<p>Heck, I don’t even remember some of the professors I had, how would I expect the professors to know me out of 300 students, and might even teaching 2 sections that quarter so more like 600 students.</p>
<p>It’s really hard to get a letter of recommendation from them if you never go to their office hours. The only thing they know about you is your performance on a multiple choice test. HA HA HAH HA HA…</p>
<p>All lectures are either taught by professors or lecturers (people who have doctorates but aren’t in tenured-tracked positions).</p>
<p>Generally only your first classes will be huge simply because people from several majors are required to take it as well. As you take “deeper” courses, your class size should get smaller and smaller. For example, in my first year, I think the average class size was around 100, then in my second year, it dropped down to somewhere around 30. I’m about to go in my 3rd year and it’s about to average around 15. </p>
<p>Teacher Assistants teach in the Discussion sections which are much smaller than the lecture sections. Usually discussion sections just go over homework problems, quizzes, or just the review of a previous lecture. </p>
<p>The professor won’t know or take notice of you if you don’t bother to try first. Just attending the lecture and getting good grades isn’t good enough. Go to their office hours, talk to them after class, and do speak up when s/he asks the class (though don’t ask too much questions). If you need to talk to a professor just to get help, then attend their office hours or make an appointment or plan if you can’t make that office hour(s). I have not met one professor who has neglected his or her office hours.</p>
<p>make friends with your TA, because most of the time they are the ones who are grading your papers.</p>
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problem is with test, you only get to see 2 TAs. when TAs grade, they bring in about 10 others…</p>
<p>honest to god, the large lecture hall is fine. if the class is a joke and you dont care, you wont have to do jack. if you are really interested in the class, profs and TAs are typically very willing to help. you get what you put into it.,</p>