<p>Just thought I’d try to start something fun. So for all those people considering large universities and bemoaning all the large classes…here are a few upsides.</p>
<li>Much easier to skip class and not have the professor find out.</li>
<li>You get a lot more room. In a class of 30, it’s all filled and cramped. In a class of 300 you’re in a lecture hall built for 500 people but with only 200-ish coming to class (read #1 for why). Usually no one will sit next to you and you’ll get plenty of arm room and a place to put your backpack.</li>
<li>Got a busy schedule? Take your lunch to class. Eat and drink in class freely without the professor caring.</li>
<li>Want the attention you’ll get in a 30 people classroom? No problem. Just sit in the front row. There are usually empty seats. Don’t want to? Sit in the back. You get flexibility.</li>
<li>Met a cute guy/girl the other day in class? Chances are he/she’s not sitting in the front. Go start a conversation without getting bothered.</li>
<li>Cell phone went off? No one but maybe a few people sitting next to you will even notice (who it is). And you won’t see those people again.</li>
<li>Trying to work on homework for another class? Or…this class? No problem.</li>
<li>Bored of lecture and want to surf the web (like CC)? Go right ahead.</li>
<li>Have an appointment and want to leave in the middle of class? No one will stop you.</li>
<li>Feeling sleepy? Take a nap and then start right where you left off. In such a large class, you’re sure to have other people dozing off too, so no reason to feel bad.</li>
</ol>
<p>Some people will say “wait…almost all of these require that you don’t pay attention in class…” Well, if you want to pay attention, you can! Just sit near the front. FLEXIBILITY. Feel free to add to this if you want.</p>
<p>Prof will stick to the topic and not get derailed into anecdotes and/or debates with some obnoxious guy from NY. Material covered will be on test so if you listen you will know at least half of the material without even studying.</p>
<ol>
<li>More flexibility to do things like fold paper aeroplanes and let her riip</li>
<li>Large classes -----> Revision classes! Who needs the lectures in the beginning of term when you can be somewhere else and go to what counts, the revision classes?</li>
<li>Have a chance to demonstrate your genius by putting up your hand and making that incisive observation to 200+ gaping students - great PR value.</li>
</ol>
<p>Everyone hates large classes, but I love em. Once you get into small classes, you are expected to attend and participate. Often, that attendance and participation is somehow graded. I would much rather be graded completely on tests and papers than have to worry about forcing myself to make observations/ask questions I don't really care about for the sake of participating. I would much rather be in a large class and ask the professor or a TA any questions I genuinely would like answered.</p>
<p>In small classes you may feel like you are the only one who is completely lost, hence the dumbest one in the class.</p>
<p>In a large class there is almost certain to be some other people who are equally as lost as you. </p>
<p>I personally loved the classes where the syllabus spelled out the test dates and exam date and the prof. would say "you must be here on those dates to pass this class, the rest is up to you!"<br>
That's not saying it's a good thing to skip lots of classes but it is nice to have the option and know the attendence police won't be breathing down your neck if you miss one (or 6)!</p>
<p>There are kyledavid. But I still prefer small classes =p</p>
<p>Actually I think it's really not the actual "Size" of a class that hurts/boosts a university or college - stuff like commitment of student body or your classmates, quality of professor (or TA), availability of office hours, how good your classmates are etc - are more important when it comes down to assessing the learning environment.</p>
<p>As for small classes - I believe it gives more room for flexibility - in this way: if you have a question - ask. No need to wait. If you don't, there are still tests and assignments that determine final grading. And smaller classes allow much room for the prof to make classes more interesting - debates. The problem with small classes? You're gonna have to come prepared all the freaking time. But I'd like that because it helps instill discipline. Going through material before class, and then thrashing it out with ur prof in class, and synthesizing what you know before, during (bear in mind your classmates will be talking as well) and after the class - makes it easier to remember the material and you learn a lot.</p>
<p>What's the advantage of large classes? They allow the people who want to take large classes to take em'
What's the advantage of small classes? Ditto.</p>