<p>I was just wondering what professors current students at W&M like, and why? And how the professors are in general? I'm just curious, I've visited other schools and liked the professors I met there, but didn't really get a feel for them at W&M.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-william-mary/689367-best-courses.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-william-mary/689367-best-courses.html</a></p>
<p>Ummm do you have any departmental preferences? I don’t think there are any star professors that everyone on campus knows about but I really like the Linguistics Program (I’m a Linguistics Major). I only have good things to say about Jack Martin, Ann Reed, and Anya Lunden. They are incredibly personable, great people. I also have had really great professors in the Philosophy Department.</p>
<p>This is difficult to answer any more specifically without more information.</p>
<p>I really only had 2 bad professor experiences at WM. The rest were good or better.</p>
<p>W&M profs are a self selective group. Someone interested in being famous and getting big grant $ would never come to W&M. Only those whose passion is actually teaching would come to W&M. For those, W&M is like a Nirvana. Driven, focused students. Low publication stress. Great place to raise a family. Whats not to like? Its a secret benefit for students at W&M. Professors that actually enjoy teaching. Thats not happening at many “name” schools.</p>
<p>Pure poppeycock. Anyone who’d buy this line, i.e. that Wm&Mary profs aren’t under enourmous pressure to publish, and to do so in refereed journals …well I’ve got some ocean-front property in Iowa I’m nearly giving away.</p>
<p>This is ridiculous.</p>
<p>And what is a “self-selective group.” Yea right. swish, you’re a little swishy, I’m afraid. And your analysis for w*m compared to Gtown, Brown, Rice …that’s equally as silly.</p>
<p>For the most part, I was pretty impressed with the availability of professors at WM and their commitment to teaching in the classroom. If you ever get a chance to look at the list of salaries of the prof’s, you’ll see that there is quite a broad range. No matter what school you go to, there is going to be a sort of hierarchy of prof’s which will be accompanied by some egos. Those who publish the article(s) or book(s) which are most highly regarded among their peer group or are working on major arachaeological excavations are going to establish job security and also demand. Demand equates to options in terms of employment and higher salaries. There are certainly some major projects being conducted by professors at WM, some prime examples can be found in Anthropology and History (the Virginia area presents several opportunities). I’m sure various departments can show different examples. Overall, the professors at WM are very interested in the student despite whatever articles or books they were working on. I can think of many positive relationships I had with professors there and some in particular who really made my experience in college on the academic end worthwhile.</p>
<p>btw for what it’s worth, W&M has been consistently ranked the best for commitment to teaching (for state supported schools). I would suggest sitting in a class at WM that is in the area you are most interested in majoring in.</p>
<p>The Pig obviously doesnt understand the culture of W&M.</p>
<p>No less so than the doc apparently understands the professoriate and how they keep score in the major leagues. Good teaching is worth its weight in students, but there is little national merit in having a band of good teachers, unless they manage to pursue and publish seemingly meritorious research. Recognition as an outstanding chemist or historian requires lengthy, substantial vitas jammed with research and writing. Unfortunately little credit is awarded from teaching intro to accounting to any # of students, no matter how well it may be done. Endowed chairs rarely go to non-scholars, unless required. Good teaching is nice, but not where the action is among the disciplines. Good teachers are usually deemed good citizens, the work horses, but not the meritorious. And institutional recognition is derived from individual recognition. </p>
<p>So, pleased to know that Wm&Mary has some dedicated, talented teachers. Virtually every campus has the same. But these pedagogues are not the principal derivatives from which the College’s renown sprouts.</p>
<p>I have been very pleased with the professors I know…very approachable and helpful.</p>
<p>For me, most professors I had were good, and also, there are approachable professors here and those who aren’t so approachable, like any other school. Most of them however are devoted to teaching and will help you out in your class.</p>
<p><em>Sigh</em> Res Ipsa Loquitor. He obviously doesnt get it.</p>
<p>This has been asked before, and I haven’t heard you answer it, Whistle Pig… but from what perspective are you offering your sapience? Are you a parent, alum, etc.?</p>