No matter what year you are or what school you attend, it quickly becomes clear to any collegiette that your professors have the ability to make or break your college courses. Though there are always certain standards set by the university or college, it’s their personalities and the way in which they choose to run their classes that widely determine the type of experience you have. Just like the students, no two professors are the same. However, there are certain titles that are able to identify instructors from all faculties.
Meet the seven professors you are sure to meet during your college years.
1. The Traditionalist
Whether it’s refusing to use modern technology in the classroom or requiring the purchase of a textbook from 1982, it’s safe to say they’re stuck in the past. You get a strongly worded email from them before classes even begin explaining their strict policy on cell phones and why laptops will not be allowed in the classroom. They stick to traditional teaching methods and never stray from the lesson plan. Oh, and if you have a question, you better raise your hand because speaking without permission will not be tolerated.
2. The Hot Mess
They can be seen sprinting to class on any given day, forgetting to tell you class was canceled or losing that 10-page paper you turned in that happens to be 40% of your grade. You cant help but feel sorry for them when you hear them explain why they still have yet to grade a three-month-old assignment, and you’re terrified to discover the avalanche that is their desk at office hours. It’s clear they rarely have their sh*t together, and there are many times you’re left wondering how they got their teaching degree in the first place.
3. The Nutty Professor
Every school has one – that one professor that only can be described as a total nut job. They’re incredibly loveable and a total expert in their field, but there are many times when you find yourself struggling to understand what the heck they’re even talking about. They’ll quickly shift from textbook material to the totally hilarious television show they were watching last night and love to get their students thinking outside the box. Whether you end up enjoying their class or not, you’ll never forget their name once you graduate.
4. The Mentor
Without our parents around, it’s easy to miss grown-up guidance every once and awhile. Luckily, the best professors become much more than just your instructor. They’re open to almost anything and encourage student opinions to be shared, no matter how much they may disagree. They treat their students like their kids and want to be a positive influence on their lives. They understand the struggles of college and genuinely care about what is going on in your life outside of the classroom. You love their class, immediately become Facebook friends with them at the end of the semester and keep in touch throughout your professional career.
5. The Newbie
You mistakenly identify them as another student on the first day of class and aren’t exactly sure how they’re qualified to be teaching students just a few years younger than them. They try their very hardest to gain the students’ attention but half the time you’re too distracted by how much you adore their modern wardrobe and trendy use of technology. Their lectures are a little disorganized and they still haven’t mastered answering students’ questions, but you can tell it’s just nerves. They improve as the semester goes on, and you end up feeling proud of their progress just as much as they are of yours.
6. The Pushover
Some people just aren’t cut out to handle a room of rowdy college students. They’re some of the friendliest and kind-hearted teachers you’ll ever meet, but their bleeding hearts tend to get stepped on by grade-hungry students. They try to set up penalties and attendance policies the first day, but as the semester goes on, they start to lose track of the rules and the people who choose to ignore them. They instill total trust in their students, avoiding the fact that some don’t exactly deserve it. They give out a lot of As and have an “easy class!!!” rating on ratemyprofessors.com.
7. The Drill Sergeant
On the other end of the spectrum is the hardcore, ex-Marine who believes proper discipline is the answer to just about anything. They run class the same way they ran boot camp with harsh restrictions and swift punishments for anyone who dares to challenge them. Their classes are tough, but they always reward the students who put in the effort. They live and teach by the definition of tough love and the idea that hard work pays off. You resent their ruthlessness in the beginning, but by the end of the semester, you can’t help but thank them for it.
Best of luck on your new semester of professors, collegiettes!