STREET

Do you research professors before you enroll?

“This teacher that I researched, a lot of students were saying this teacher is really good. Then one of my counselors said, ʻthat teacher, don’t take that, maybe he’s harsh.’ That’s her perspective, not your perspective.”

-Andrea Noblejas Child Development major

“If you want a good professor that is fit for you, then you should definitely use RateMyProfessor. Those rates are not kidding.”

-Daniel

Fire Administration Technology major

Community college, also commonly referred to as twoyear college--is anything but.

Whether it’s because of financial issues, “second chances” or any of the multitude of reasons, students attend community college with the hope that they will soon move on to something better: a four-year institution or a career.

This is even advertised as achievable in two years. Certain units, such as mandatory, at times irrelevant, general education requirements, and technicalities, such as nontransferable courses, however, make that difficult.

Graduating late is a problem across all higher education institutions. Reducing the amount of time it takes for community college students to graduate or transfer will significantly reduce six year graduates in four-year colleges.

By reducing general education requirements, or getting rid of them altogether, students can focus on their major or area of study and achieve their goals quicker. Pierce could also offer more in depth counseling and network more closely with other schools to provide the most accurate, specific articulation agreements for students to follow for their college of choice.

Students are encouraged to transfer to a four-year college with 60 units to have junior status. Of these 60 units, half are allotted to general education and the other half are allotted to the student’s major, ideally.

These units are typically expected to be accumulated in the course of two years, 15 units a semester.

-Katherine Castro ChildDevelopmentmajor

Assuming the student attends college full-time, they can knockout general education in a year. The National Center for Education Statistics reported in 2013

-Banya Pon Electrical Engineering major

“Yes I do. [I’m] basically choosing the professor I want to go with. Which one has more workload, or the other one who gives a better grade. I choose my professor through that.”

-Kiarash

–CORRECTIONS–

Volume 123, Issue 3

Page 2: The StreetBeat was mistitled, it should have read “How do you feel about law enforcement on campus?”

Volume 123, Issue 3 Page 7: All soccer photos were taken by Abdolreza Rastegarrazi.

Volume 123, Issue 3 that 69 percent of community college students work while attending college. Some students can’t attend full time and have to dedicate more time to complete classes they will hardly ever need. Additionally, because general education is required for most students, these classes are the most sought after and fill up quickly. Students are not able to enroll in the classes they need and have to wait longer to fulfill requirements.

Page 8: The shared byline was supposed to feature Ke-Alani Sarmiento and Ethan Roman, both reporters.

Students should research their professors before they add classes because it helps the student choose the best course and professor with ease.

Adding classes can be stressful enough so RateMyProfessor makes it easier for students to check how the professor teaches, and can help you prepare yourself for the class. Getting advice and information from experienced college students can help you make better choices when adding classes.

Textbooks are expensive so before you purchase your $100 book, look up your professor. Some students say you won’t even use the book all semester. Knowing this can work in your and your wallet’s favor.

If you’re stuck between choosing two different professors teaching the same course, it would be nice to know how the professor teaches so that way it can be easier for students to choose what professor is right for them.

Reading reviews doesn’t take up a lot of your time so If you have more professors to look up, you should research them before adding their class. Knowing what kind of professor you are going to take can help you get comfortable and confident with your decision.

According to the Department of Education, 23 percent of community college students graduate in three years, while a majority graduate in five. Community colleges entice students with low tuition rates.

According to the College Board, average in-state tuition for community colleges in 2014–2015 was $3,347. Compared to the average tuition at Universities of California, which is $12,240, $3,347 seems quite reasonable.

You can also find out how your professor teaches the course material. Knowing if there is a lot of homework or quizzes, as well as how students rate the tests, can help you decide if that class is right for you.

Taking notes might not be your favorite thing about going to lecture, you can find out if the professor gives a long lecture and if you’re forced to write every single thing down, or if you can take a few notes on what the professor says is important to know.

Attendance might be crucially important to some professors. If you’re absent more than three times they might drop you from the class, or they might not take attendance at all.

Every student should know this because if the student knows not to be absent or late then they can decide if they are able to be on time weather that’s a morning class or afternoon class.

You might be asking how can I trust someone else’s opinion online? You’re reading students reviews based on their experience, and you’re not putting anything on the line.

The more reviews a professor has, there’s a greater chance of understanding what they’re like. If other students agree with that review, they can thumbs it up so you’re not just getting one students advice.

I think everyone should research their professor before they add them because you don’t want to add a really strict or boring professor and it might be too late to crash another class.

Community college tuition is 1/4 the rate of UC tuition, but one common pitfall diminishes the frugality and increases time wasted.

Not all classes are transferable to the UC system, some are not even transferable to the California State University system.

Paul Attewell and David Monaghan, researchers of the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, reported in 2014 that 58 percent of community college transfers were able to bring 90 percent of their units, while 14 percent of transfers lost 90 percent of their units.

Though more than half of students are able to transfer the majority of their community college units, many enroll in a four-year college needing to make up the credits that were lost. Students would have to retake a low-level course in an institution with a higher tuition because the community college course taken previously, did not satisfy specific requirements. Students lose hours of course credits and hundreds of dollars and end up having to spend even more money on higher tuition per year because they can’t graduate on time. Escaping the community college system does not end all problems. By the time a student transfers, they may still be behind. After transferring from a two-year college with 60 units, 3 to 5 years later, to a four-year college, a student may expect to obtain a bachelor’s degree in two years. According to figures released by the College Board in 2009, this is not likely to happen, in fact, it takes college students an average of 6.2 years to complete a four-year college education. According to the Department of Education, less than 40 percent of students graduate college in four years while 60 percent graduate in six years. us with necessary knowledge. Researching a professor before choosing a class might cut the person short of the exact class they need. A student might hold off a semester just to get a “good” teacher. Instead of taking the class, trying hard and passing before moving on. Students can delay their graduation process due to being picky and doing research.

Students should not research or look up their professor before enrolling or taking their class. It can hinder both professors and students.

Most of those websites like RateMyProfessor can be inaccurate. When students read about the professor before actually taking the class, it can give a wrong picture of how they teach and who they are.

Some people might say it’s beneficial because you’re not going to waste your time if the professor isn’t what you’re looking for and you won’t be going in the class blind.

I can understand this, but can you understand before all these websites no one could tell how their professor was and people did just fine. We as a society have gotten used to being cushioned and given exactly what we want. The real world doesn’t work like that. We are tricking ourselves, because not being able to get a sneak peek as to what the professor is like will prepare us better for the future.

When we all leave college and move on into the harsh world, we are going to have to know what it’s like dealing closely with people that don’t necessarily rub us the right way but do provide

How can a student even make sure everything that’s being said about the professor is fact and something of substance, or a biased opinion from a few pissed off students?

Some may complain that they don’t learn the material as well if the professor teaches a certain way. Well information is information. It is supplied to you via slideshow most of the time. When it’s not, we should muster up our own will to learn the material to better ourselves. By law the professor has to provide the necessary material and knowledge to pass the class.

If an individual isn’t understanding it, it’s not because the teacher talks too fast or isn’t so enthusiastic every single day. It’s because said individual isn’t striving to learn the information.

When I want to learn something and pass a class, it’s not even about the teacher. It’s about the hard knowledge and making yourself understand it enough to pass.

Therefore, knowing more and researching a teacher before choosing a class is pointless because you can only truly tell from experiencing it yourself. What doesn’t work for other people, might work for you.