<p>I'm still in high school, the largest class I've sat in was about 40 people, so I obviously don't understand. Why do people make so much fuss out of class sizes? They are introductory classes most times and office hours are available for students to ask questions. Can someone explain why large classes are supposed to suck?</p>
<p>some people do, not all. it depends on what you prefer. I usually like small classes (depending on who’s in it) because everyone tends to be closer, and the teacher can pay more attention to individuals since they have less students</p>
<p>Humans are naturally self-centered. A large class does not allow for the clear-cut learning experience. Students feel swamped and unnoticed by their professor in the large classroom setting.</p>
<p>It’s just difficult to ask question and interact with the professor. Of course you can come in for office hours, but its much nicer and more convenient to be able to ask questions on the stop and when it’s hot on everyone’s minds, particularly considering the rest of the lecture may build upon something you don’t understand.</p>
<p>Not everyone does; many prefer them and opt to attend larger universities for that (and other) reasons. I know a few people who rarely or never attend their large lectures and simply study on their own–they just don’t feel like the professor’s insight matters that much in learning the material. In my experience, those tend to be science/math types.</p>
<p>Seems to me there are two interactions a student could be having with a professor in class - either a discussion or a lecture. And the borderline is at about 12 students. Fewer than 12 and it can feel like a discussion taking place between the students and professor. Much more than 12 and you are one of the crowd sitting there listening to the lecture along with everybody else. Personally, I never saw much difference between sitting in a room with 40 other kids and listening to a lecture and sitting there with 400 other kids. Either way it’s the same lecture and much the same experience.</p>
<p>Try getting a letter of recommendation from a professor in a class of over 100 people. Not likely.</p>
<p>The downsides of large classes mainly falls on the uncertain quality of the Teaching Assistant you might get for your discussion sections. If you get an energetic, organized and communicative TA, you won’t mind it at all. If you don’t get one with those features, you’ll dread going to section.</p>