Iowa State University Top Questions

Most lectures are very large but many have recitations in which students meet with a TA in groups of 15 to 20 once or twice a week. In addition, free supplemental instructions is offered on a weekly basis. There are also help rooms for subjects such as math or physics that you can visit at any time during the day to ask for help at. Finally, tutoring is very inexpensive and easy to get in almost any course.

Large lectures suck. You feel lost in a sea of students and the professors don't help you, they make you ask the TA. But my upper-level labs and lectures are very close-knit and the professors are very personable. They are more than willing to go out of their way for you (well the biochemistry ones at least).

Only one professor of 6 know my name- even after I've visited their office several times. My favorite class is Theater 106 taught by Jane Cox-she doesn't cover so much material that it is frustrating and unmanageable to study for. She tells us what is important and what we would be interested in. She is so helpful with questions and I've never seen her in a bad mood! Her class is very encouraging because it one class that actually makes me feel like I can succeed at something. My major is Finance. The college of business is very well organized and the program requirements are very clear. The college of business staff, however, is very unhelpful! I have had 2 different advisers. Setting up meetings with them is totally pointless. They never tell me anything I don't already know. I go to them for help and they send me somewhere else. I feel that Iowa State's academic requirements are very manageable, but many of the classes I have taken have been very discouraging based on teachers who don't care about students or the fact that I am not a great test taker, but that's all I ever do in my major! Iowa State's education is definitely geared towards learning and not job preparation at all. The college of business has a great Career Services office, but you have to go out of your way to use that service-we're not taught job prep things in our classes that are REQUIRED!

My favorite class is design 131. I love to draw and learning how to do it correctly really helps with my major!

The higher up in my course level that i get, it seems like the professors become more familiar with you. One thing I don't like about Iowa State is I will walk by a professor I have or have had and I never know whether to say hello to them or not cause I'm not sure if they remember my face. I love my advisor in journalism because she was also a member of my sorority, although she attended Drake. But I feel like even if I don't feel familiar and close with my professors I do have a staff member that I can talk to. I know in my department I have been pleased with their curriculum they give you guidlines and options, because sometimes the classes they choose aren't exactly what you are looking for and they do a good job with really hearing you out and giving you options. Iowa State has some of the top colleges in the state and nation and I think that is very impressive.

Most of the classes I take are large lecture courses. I don't feel like I know the instructors well but that is due to the large classes. Class participation is not common in my lectures. In the college of human sciences my advisor is extremely helpful and very knowledgeable about my courses.

Academics are great here at Iowa State. I have comfortable professor to student relationships where I know that if I have any questions or concerns, I can go to one of them for help. Class sizes are great once you get into your designated major. Academic requirements are good, however, for some of the language requirements (foreign language) they are more literature based rather then actual speaking requirements, which I wish were different.

Like I said my majors are pretty small so my classes are as well. I think most of the teachers I've had know me, but that's also because I make it a point that they do. I think you could easily "hide" in class if you wanted to. The teachers in my majors are very helpful if you need it. I think it's pretty much like any other school, you get out what you put into it, and as far as the students here go, I don't there's really a sterotypical Iowa State student. How competitive and intellectual students are completely depends on the person.

Academics at Iowa State are great. The engineering department is ranked very high. Recently, I have not liked my professors because I feel like I am teaching myself everything. Once I get past the generals, I feel the professors will improve. I do not talk much with my professors outside of class, which is something I hope to work on because they are the people to write recommendation letters for future careers. Education for me is both geared for a job and learning. The industrial engineering department does everything they can to make sure you will find a career fit for you after college, but they prepare you well enough so that you know what you are doing. Academics have been challenging for me lately, but that is why I switched to engineering: for the challenge.

Studying is very easy especially living in a sorority. Class sizes make it easy for interactions and communication one-on-one with the professor. All professors have been very helpful and try for hands-on technique rather then large lecture.