Indiana University-Bloomington Top Questions

In my smaller classes my professors know my name. My favorite class is my Journalism class because my teacher is so entertaining. Least favorite is definitly Finite Math because it's Finite Math. I think every student varies with their study habits, but for the most part students take their studying very seriously. Students here are very competitive when it comes to getting into a certain school like Nursing. Professors are normally very available during their office hours for help, but I haven't gone that much this year. I think IUB's academic requirements are very reasonable. Education here is mostly geared towards learning but there are so many programs you can attend to learn about how to get a job out of college.

I still remember my very first professor in my first class that I ever was enrolled in at Indiana University. That is how prominent the professors play a role in the lives of their students. I have yet to experience a terrible professor. Of course I have had my moments of disagreements with some, but never to seriously affect my academic status. I think to this day my favorite class was my film class that I took Sophomore year. Of course, this may be because of my obvious interest in the subject, but it helped that the professor truly loved what he was talking about. Also, one of my favorite classes is still my math class that I took freshman year. Just so you know, I despise math. But I loved my teacher and I loved all of the students around me who suffered alongside me, and that made it all the more enjoyable. My least favorite class probably would have to be the Geology class I took a couple years ago. It fulfilled one of the requirements that my department requires me to have before I am able to graduate, which is probably my only qualm with my department as a whole--the requirements. We end up taking classes that we do not want nor really need in order to succeed in the real world. But, on the other hand, I suppose it makes us more well-rounded individuals. But still, Geology? Rocks, really? As for my department, I have never had any major problems with them. The staff of advisors is impeccable--they have always been there to help me with my fears and doubts as I have traveled through this wonderful University. When I used to work on Kirkwood, as I mentioned earlier, I would often see some of my professors coming in to eat at the Restaurant I worked at, and they of course greeted me warmly outside of class. It is a great feeling, being known by someone who ultimately aids in the deciding of your fate in the adult world. I do feel like I am being prepared to succeed in the future. I do not feel as though Indiana University would let a student out into the real world unless they knew that the student could make it. There is an incredible resource, iucareers.com, which basically lays it out for you! Like I said, it is a great University. I cannot say enough nice things about it!

most professors in lecture classes do not know your name. however, in the smaller honors classes the professors get to know your name after about a month. the economics classes are great and interesting because they include current events. A100, basic accounting sucks. its notorious for being a horrible class that is a real pain for incoming freshman business students since you usually take it your freshman year. A lot of students study by themselves or in small groups with people from class who live in you residence hall.

A thing about the teachers at most schools is that if you talk to them and get them to know your name you will do better in the class. The big lecture halls make that difficult but all teachers have office hours and if I don't go into office hours I make a point of emailing my teacher every once in awhile so they will know who I am and they definitely appreciate you going out of your way for them. My favorite classes are obviously the ones in my major and then my least favorite are required ones outside my major but I feel like the requirements of classes outside your interest area are the ones that help you build a good foundation. I don't really enjoy english classes its just never been my thing but itll help me build a education foundation. Depending on the classes you take you may not have as much homework or reading to do but a class with alot will have an assignment everyday but they aren't too long usually. I would say that you get 16 hours a week if you keep on top of things. Classes at IUB are set up where you have to take a certain number of credit hours and each class is worth different amounts of hours. if you have a class that is 3 credit hours you will meet 3 hours a week usually and if you keep ontop of your work you should have three hours of work for a week. Again depending on the classes you take there will be participation. When you have a discussion section of a class you will be asked to participate and sometimes you can get some really stimulation conversations going. Lecture sections however will be more geared to getting your notes but smaller lectures will have participation and discussion. Most classes don't require you to go to class however some do and going to class is always a good idea and is recommended. There are certain people who can't hold a stimulating conversation but then there are people who can and if you look for friends who you can have intellectual conversations with I promise you that you can find those people here. IU students aren't really competitive in the classroom. There is kind of a general feeling that everyone wants to succeed in class. I am in a class called Compartive American Identities which is a pretty interesting class. I have never been interested by history but its fun to talk about the topics. Its a 2 hour course on tuesdays and thursdays which can wear you down but its still an interesting class. I am a psychology major. The psychology department is fantastic and I really enjoy my choice of major. When you get admitted to IU you usually apply to Univeristy Division however some student will apply as a direct admit to a certain school inside IU. I just got out of University Division and got admitted to the college of arts and sciences as a psychology major. In Univeristy Division they will help you understand how everything works and you are assigned to a counsler who helps you learn to pick classes. They make it really easy to understand the workings of IU. Most professors have busy schedules with office hours but if you want to get to know your teachers they would most likely be more than happy to sit down with you. I have never been the kind of person to go out to eat with professors but most teachers are really cool and like their students alot and will listen to what their students say and how their students feel. The other day I had a teacher hold me after class to ask me if I was feeling ok because you saw that I seemed out of sorts. Its entirely possible to get to know your teachers if you want. I like having requirements that are in all areas of learning. You will have to take english to math to social studies to science and you don't have to take alot outside your major but its kind of refreshing to have a class like that every once in a while. IU requires you to learn different areas of knowledge so that you can be a well rounded person. Graduate school is for getting a job undergrad is for making your well rounded and higher educated.

A lot of IU classes are huge lectures, and I like it. No subjective competition or teacher-student favoritism. Just hardcore grades and points. Yet a lot of classes are very small, beginning in your freshman year. And of course as you move up, they become smaller. However, the smaller the class, the more strict the attendance policy is. IUB students are not cutthroat competitive. If anything, I've noticed they are always willing to help or lend me notes if I miss class. We're in it together. I still think IU's admission requ's should be raised.

Most professors in classes outside of the intro classes will take the time to know your name and all of them are extremely helpful outside of class.

I've had quite a few large classes, but I've also had some great professors that I have been able to interact with and who are VERY helpful, some of which I still talk to occasionally and who would remember me even though I took their classes last semester. My favorite class is my History of Rock and Roll II class, by far. I am a music studies minor, and the class is excellent. It focuses on the music of the '60s and the professor is the greatest man to listen to. He is so knowledgable! I am sure, though, that once I take the Music of the Beatles class, that will be my favorite (and it is also taught by the same man, Glen Gass). My least favorite was Finite Math for the Sociological and Biological Sciences (A118) with Prof. Wheeler. Horrible requirement to fulfill, horrible class to sit through, waste of time, I didn't learn much of anything that is applicable to everyday life. I've met quite a few students who do the bare minimum of work, and then I've met quite a few who study MUCH more than anybody should (I DO live on an Honors floor, so this happens a lot). But go to the Library and it's always full of kids hitting the books. Class participation is much more common in smaller classes or upper level classes. It really depends on the teacher and how much they WANT you to participate. I have had some very interesting intellectual conversations outside of class, mostly with the people I live with. It really depends on the type of people you talk to. I haven't noticed much competitiveness yet, but I am a journalism major, so I might see it in the next few years (although they don't seem TOO intimidating so far). I think you'll find it more in the science majors and ESPECIALLY the business majors--they think they're gods. I would say that my History of Rock and Roll has by far been the most unique. IU was the first college in the nation to have classes like this, and we are lucky for it, although there are many other classes that might surprise you--we have a class about chocolate and one about beer, and I'm also taking one called "Elvis, Dylan, and Postwar America" that's great, too. I haven't gotten too heavily involved in my journalism major yet (although I was a direct admit), but I know that IU is known for its great J-school. The Honors program is tough to get into and I've talked to a few people that say it's too limited in its acceptance, but you'll have that. Also, it's focus is definitely on newspaper and PR, and other aspects like magazines, broadcast, and online media don't get as much attention as they should. My profs. have been wonderful so far, though, so no complaints, although the requirements for the major are a bit much, such as required Economics and Statistics, which for a person like me (I'd like to be a magazine editor) is a bit pointless. I have talked one on one with a professor or two outside of class, and I am actually studying abroad with a few other students with my History of Rock and Roll teacher in May. The requirements aren't too bad, although I feel the math/science requirements should be dependent on your major. I feel that in certain departments it is very much geared toward getting a job (like pre-Med and Business), but others are very open and let you take what you want from them.

Although IU is a large school, most classes have fewer than 30 students, so you're still able to have a lot of one-on-one contact with professors. IU has offered some really innovative classes - one class invited students to study World War II solely through comic books. The amount of studying obviously varies based on the individual, but my rule of thumb is that you get out what you put in; it's possible to scrape by in many classes with minimal effort, but at the end of the day, your diploma is going to be worth less. Many students take academics very seriously; we have students who go on to study at Oxford, Harvard, and other highly competitive universities. Although the school is technically a research institution, my experience has been that professors really do love to teach undergraduates and are very willing to work with students outside of class.

It's a tough game.

classes are good. a few school wide course. most professor willing to help lots of office hours the requirements seem fair favorite class corporate strategies least favorite a100 learning can be directed towards job or learning its up to you