In honor of the first few weeks of school, let’s talk about stereotypical red and green flags associated with professors.
The first week of classes, sometimes known as syllabus week, can go either way. Some professors will slowly walk through the syllabus and give an overview of the class, while others will ask you to look over the syllabus on your own as they jump directly into the content of the course. However, not going over the syllabus is not necessarily a red flag, as some course content is so rigorous that a syllabus day is a disservice to the student. Therefore, I do not recommend you make a green or red flag ruling on a course or professor solely on this metric.
But then your professor starts scrawling in illegible cursive on the board. As you squint to read what they wrote, you realize that you are missing all of the content because you are staring at a word that looks like a bunch of scribbles. You sigh and lean over to the student sitting next to you, they give you a shrug. This Red Flag makes you wonder if the add-drop period is over yet (it is), how will you ever learn the content?
In this scenario, it is probably best to “pre-learn” the material before the class if you have a textbook or notes that are given to you beforehand. Additionally, try to focus on listening to what the professor is saying rather than reading directly off of the board. This red flag can be overcome with slight modifications!
Yet, this is not the only issue you are confronted with. You look over the first homework assignment, and it is entirely different from what you learned in class. You recall how your professor got sidetracked on the first two slides and then sped through the last ten slides in the last seven minutes of class. The course involves multiple professors, so you are sure that the pacing has to be kept the same for all sections, but if your professor can’t pace, well….
This red flag is hard to overcome, I recommend asking your peers about the teaching styles of the professors in different sections. Perhaps you could transfer sections, or if the professor doesn’t mind, just sit in on a different section lecture without transferring. This would allow you to assess how much content you are actually missing out on and determine if you are actually at a disadvantage, it’s entirely possible that the whole course is poorly structured.
Now for an undeniable green flag: the professor who plays random video clips that suit the conversation. This is more prevalent in HASS classes where the content can be more fluid. I love a good political or sociological discussion accompanied by a relevant Simpsons or South Park clip, these professors are a massive green flag. I totally recommend taking a HASS class as an elective or just for fun because these courses are more discussion-based and facilitate learning in an engaging way.
It’s also a super green flag when professors talk about their personal lives with students, as it breaks down social barriers. Students feel way more comfortable engaging in dialogue and asking questions when they know the name of their professor’s daughter’s bunny, or that they also enjoy a good dinner at Karma Kafe on Washington Street.
No matter what type of flags your professors exhibit this semester, attitude is 90% of the battle. Sometimes, success is up to individual motivation. So don’t let a little bad handwriting or a strict late policy get in the way of your Dean’s List semester. Happy Fall Semester Ducks!
