<p>I'm the type of student who really do prefer small classes. </p>
<p>The school I'm looking at is a pretty good fit for me overall except for these large lecture classes. </p>
<p>Are they as awful as they seem? I know about office hours and do plan to use them, but I'm still worried about the large classes. </p>
<p>I've always been able to talk, get to know, and have a good relationship with most of my teachers. This really helps me; especially because I can personally tell them my weaknesses / strengths in their particular class and get personal help from them. </p>
<p>I also read somewhere that I shouldn't use the office hours too much because then I'll annoy the profs. How much is too much? thanks for any reply</p>
<p>Class size is an important consideration in choosing a college. Usually, however, when classes are large, they break into smaller sections with a TA so that students can ask questions and discuss the material from the lectures. Also, as you move up in your major, it's likely that there will be smaller seminar courses even in large public universities. Have you looked into this?</p>
<p>Also, don't listen to those who say not to engage your professors during office hours. That's why they're called "office hours!" :)</p>
<p>Have you looked into smaller schools with smaller classes that might also be a good fit?</p>
<p>ASAP: The school has a really good 'learning community'. I think it's ranked in the top 50 in the nation. I might also be able to get into honors and have real teachers instead of TA's.</p>
<p>Oh, I think I mislead you :( sorry. I meant: I know I'm going to use the office hours to talk/get to know my profs, but I've read somewhere that I shouldn't see them more then like four times a week. That they might be annoyed...</p>
<p>Funny thing is: my other choices are all smaller schools haha :) They all have the small classes I crave for, but the school with the best classes (intellectually) doesn't feel quite right, though. Same with the other small school. </p>
<p>Ironic, eh? </p>
<p>soccerguy: that's a good point. I wished that wasn't true though, but I understand what you mean.</p>
<p>I made friends (like, literally friends... we're still in touch a year and a half later) with one of my professors from a large, 80+ person lecture, so it's still possible to make connections in larghe classes, if harder. Also, keep in mind that not all of your classes will be large lectures.</p>
<p>Please go to office hours. Professors are people too - they like to meet people. Also, (most) enjoy helping students if they have problems. Just don't come unprepared and ask dumb questions...and yes, there really, really are dumb questions.</p>
<p>All the classes I've had that were large lecture classes were silly and pretty pointless classes that I didn't really have to study more than 10 hours the entire semester to do well in.</p>
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Oh, I think I mislead you sorry. I meant: I know I'm going to use the office hours to talk/get to know my profs, but I've read somewhere that I shouldn't see them more then like four times a week. That they might be annoyed...
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<p>Four times a week...? Professors generally have office hours once or twice per week... they might happen to be in their office at other times (not designated as office hours), but I wouldn't always count on it.</p>
<p>I'd suggest you not visit during office hours "just to get to know your professors." You need to really feel a prof out before crossing that line.
Even with profs I've TA'd for and have a close academic relationship with, I generally don't go beyond a professional relationship. There are exceptions, of course, but for the most part, there's a difference between a student and professor that should be respected. If you become known as "that student" (the one that ignores boundaries), you will find your options for profs willing to work with you one on one quickly dwindling (and one on one/close work is essential if you want to be at the top of your program; a prof can only directly mentor and develop a few students at a time and being in that inner circle will GREATLY help you when you need applications for professional/grad schools after college).</p>
<p>all the suggestions above are good. i'd also recommend that you sit near the front of the class (this isn't high school anymore, no one is going to think you're lame or a nerd for sitting in the front row). Also, most professors are aware of how students feel about large lectures, so they usually try to engage the class in some way (asking questions, etc), and that's a good way to get close to the professor.</p>
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The school I'm looking at is a pretty good fit for me overall except for these large lecture classes.</p>
<p>Are they as awful as they seem? I know about office hours and do plan to use them, but I'm still worried about the large classes.
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The best thing to do is to actually visit the school and see first-hand. With large lecture classes, you don't even need to get permission. Just show up and sit down; hope it isn't a day they're having a midterm. You can find out the times and locations from the schedule of classes, often available online these days so you can figure out in advance what you'd like to hear.</p>
<p>And BTW don't plan on visiting your profs 4x a week! Nobody wants to see you that often, and I can't imagine what you'd be talking about on such a frequent basis.</p>
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[quote]
I'd suggest you not visit during office hours "just to get to know your professors." You need to really feel a prof out before crossing that line.
Even with profs I've TA'd for and have a close academic relationship with, I generally don't go beyond a professional relationship. There are exceptions, of course, but for the most part, there's a difference between a student and professor that should be respected. If you become known as "that student" (the one that ignores boundaries), you will find your options for profs willing to work with you one on one quickly dwindling (and one on one/close work is essential if you want to be at the top of your program; a prof can only directly mentor and develop a few students at a time and being in that inner circle will GREATLY help you when you need applications for professional/grad schools after college).
[/quote]
</p>
<p>True that. The situation where I became friends with my professor was an unusual one with a lot of weird, mitigating circumstances, and now I could never ask that professor for a rec letter because it would just be weird (she knows way too much about my personal life, and I know way too much about hers).</p>