University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Top Questions

Every semester I take about 1 class that is taught in a large lecture hall. Other than that, my class size ranges from 8 students to about 30 and for the most part, every professor I've had has known my name. My major is English, and my English classes are on the smaller side so it is easier to discuss topics. I really enjoy that because it is easier to make friends in a smaller class and speak up than in front of 150 kids. How often people study is really based off of their majors. For example, my "studying" as an English major is really reading books a lot. My roommate's "studying" is learning Spanish vocabulary, and my pre-med friend spends hours memorizing formulas. Overall, we have a very hard-working campus that understands the importance of incorporating fun into work.

proffessors dont my name, but mostly because i dont ask them for help. the ta's do know my name.

Most professors know my name because I make them remember me. I show up at office hours and talk to them when I have questions. Sometimes, the professors do not want to answer questions, which is uncool. But I ask anyway. I hang out with some people in my class sometimes too.

While I love the University for the social life it provides for me, the academics are second to none. When looking for internships or jobs, just the name "university of Illinois" puts a smile on an interviewers face. While the name helps, the education provided here at the University is exceptional. Being an engineer, our program is revered across the country, and there is a definite reason for it. The Professors that teach the classes are using textbooks that THEY wrote. There names show up in scientific journals weekly. Being able to pick the brains of the elite of the elite is a experience that is hard to come by. The only downfall is the classes are so big the Professors may not know you by name, but if you put in time out of class to approach these Professors they are very nice and wiling to help.. Being respected within the engineering community really helps when getting a job, since there is no better program in the Midwest. Being such a good program, competitiveness comes as a given, but most students are not stcuk up. Students here like helping other students, and enhancing the intellect of others.

Many professors know my name, primarily because I ask them questions during their office hours at times. Office hours are a great way not only to meet your professor, but further indulge yourself into your curriculum. There are many possibilities for your major to go, so why not persuade yourself by learning more. If you want to excell at UIUC you must take the initiative and teach yourself. Don't just go to lecture or read the book, but try to do it all and really understand your study. If I saw my professor out of class I'd buy him a beer.

No professors DONT know youre name. Least favorite class....MCB 250...way too demanding.

Academics are easy to summarize. You are either in hard classes or you aren't but there are few occasions where a professor will know you well unless you make an effort to get to know them. In a class of 600 (most freshman courses) this means that you have to brown nose a little bit. If you need to be told what to do every day and need someone to hold your hand, Illinois may only set you up for failure. I personally would rather just do my work without having someone be "disappointed" in me for missing class, but that's just me. If you stay on top of your work and go to class (I can't emphasize that enough, just go to class) then you'll be fine. I personally am an Urban Planner in the College of Fine and Applied Arts. One of the smaller schools on campus and I've had the opportunity to get to know some of my professors and have been lucky enough to have some smaller classes. Most gen eds are large lecture halls where you either come to class and learn or you read the whole book and do the homework. You get out what you put in.

Even though U of I is so large, I personally have very small classes and I'm only a freshman. All of my classes this semester (second semester freshman year) are still Gen. Ed. courses yet I dont have a class that's larger than 50 people. This is nice because I get to know everyone in my class and make I don't just feel like a name on the attendance sheet. The professors know my name and are willing to help out any way they can.

I feel like very few professors know me by name--just my French classes so far. I feel like students study a lot but don't want to admit it; competition definitely varies, but it's more intense than high school in the sense that students choose to be here and many want to get into graduate schools, which require amazing grades. I spend very time with professors outside of class, but that's mostly up to the student to decide.

I think in most cases, the student has to make the effort in order for the teacher to know his/her name, as I have done, because many classes are so large. Ways to get to know your professor are introducing yourself at the beginning of the semester, visiting office hours, and e-mailing when necessary. Class participation is common here on campus, a lot more prevalent than in high school. My major is Speech and Hearing Science, and even though classes can be a lot smaller than those in more predominant majors, getting to know the professors, T.A. and doctoral/grad students are crucial to networking and succeeding.