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When college students look through class schedules, trying to decide which course to take (or rather which professor), a number of us turn to the opinions of our fellow undergrads. We scroll the pages of ratemyprofessors.com (RMP) searching for an idea; looking for a hint into our unknown.
For 10 years, students have used this web site to evaluate their professors, and ‘warn’ others of the impending dangers. Increasingly, we are turning to RMP, with the question of accuracy in the writings of former students becoming suspect in the eyes of some.
A number of professors criticize the opinionated reviews listed on ratemyprofessors.com, while others find it not as harsh to take. I imagine there’s a correlation within this struggle of acceptance: professors with unflattering comments lean toward the side of disapproval, and those with fairly good comments find minimal fault with the site. But then again, I can’t say with certainty.
Even I, who does not base my decisions solely on the opinions of rating contributors, have an interest in what’s posted for the RMP audience. I initially heard of the web site about a year ago, when my political science professor talked of his first hearing of it from a former student. I recently asked his take on ratemyprofessors.com.
“Like so many things in academia, the responses to this web site are either, ‘He walks on water,’ or ‘He’s the antichrist,” said Professor Royse Smith, of CSN’s department of Social Sciences. “I think those [comments] associated with my teaching are fairly accurate. If you want to learn, I’m your man, but if you want an easy grade you need to be in another section.”
Littered through some of the professors’ profiles are the “easy A” seal of approval, and finding this highly regarded quality is considered a plus.
Within the written reviews, students are able to score professors in the areas of average easiness, average helpfulness, average clarity, overall quality, and hotness (you know, just for fun).
Professor Linda Foreman, of CSN’s department of Human Behavior, views ratemyprofessors.com as beneficial. “I think [ratemyprofessors.com] is a good way to hear from other students. This can be helpful when selecting classes.”
Foreman said she has read comments written about herself and CSN faculty, and believes it’s fair for students to grade them.
“Sometimes they are accurate, and sometimes I think they are not. We do not use this for official evaluation, but it does provide insight on how I might improve.” said Foreman.
First year CSN student Shana Watts feels grading professors is fair.
“We all deserve a voice. I haven’t really seen many unreasable ratings.”
There’s no definitive way of determining the accuracy of students’ postings (though I’m sure the average student isn’t being untruthful in their statements), but I guess this is only relevant in the case of the less than perfect rates some professors receive. I doubt anyone would be upset with the “great professor” comments, though the professor rebuttal is available in case a professor wants to refute students’ claims.
Donabel Hingpit, a first year student at CSN, says she thinks ratemyprofessors.com isn’t fair.
“I actually picked a professor that has a low rating, but in class he was really good.” Sophomore Liz Batres has a similar
view.
“Some students put down negative comments if they don’t like a professor for personal reasons.”
Students post comments with the intent of helping others steer away from professors with which they found fault. Posts like ‘stay away’ and ‘avoid at all costs’ are examples of the warnings (as if a life depended on it).
Some students wouldn’t think of registering without checking out what others have had to say about a professor. It’s like students are dependant on the site; class schedules come out and it’s off to ratemyprofessors.com; our electronic version of word of mouth.
“I use ratemyprofessors.com for every class I sign up for.” said David Garrard, a 1st year student at CSN.
I have even found myself looking through class schedules, seeing staff listed next to quite a few sections, and thinking...staff? I can’t look up staff!
Some students don’t have the luxury of picking their most desired professor, as many of them have schedules that don’t allow for it.
“I guess I do try to look at the professors’ ratings, but they don’t influence who I take,” said Brissa Leon, a sophomore at CSN. “I usually need a class and just take what’s available.”
There seem to be spikes in the times of ratings; the last day of class, and around the time everyone begins to get their grades. A number of students write of the A they received, to which they usually give fairly good comments. Students that get grades on the other end of the scale tend to voice their frustration with a professor’s decision (though I’ve noticed some instances where a student has done well, and gave a rating of disapproval). It’s as if grades will determine how a student will rate a professor, and patterns tend to accompany a professor’s profile.
Leon stated, “I think that when everyone’s opinion is the same, then it must be accurate.”
There’s a section of RMP called Site Guidelines, that include the do’s and do not’s of rating, (though I’m not sure how often it’s frequented, as it has a relatively small link at the bottom of the homepage). This provides a pretty detailed list of what is encouraged, and what’s grounds for prosecution.
CSN English Professor Adrian Havas says he’s largely a fan of ratemyprofessors.com.
“I think it serves a worthy propose, and it’s fair for students to grade us, whether we be instructors or professors. Students are, after all, paying for the privilege of attending college.”
When asked if he’d ever read comments written about himself he said he had.
“I have read the students’ entries for my courses. In general I agree with them. It’s rare to see a ‘cheap shot.’ But sometimes they do appear.”
“I know some professors who hate the site and think it’s just a place where disgruntled former students can ‘get back’ at them. Maybe there is a grain of truth in it. But also, I think it’s a case of the truth hurts, not just sometimes, but often. There are some poor professors out there.” said Havas.
The posts can have a substantial impact on a student’s decision to take a class. As Armano Burke, a second year student studying political science stated, “I actually dropped a class because of a rating that represented a professor as irrelevant, and focused on too much of their personal life.”
There seems to be a consensus regarding the usefulness of ratemyprofessors.com; for the most part students, (and a good amount of professors) believe RMP is fair, and students sharing their opinions isn’t a big deal.
Students have their perceptions of what a ‘good’ and ‘bad’ professor is, and as students register for classes, others opinions can take hold of their decision. But, should a professor be avoided on account of the opinions of a disgruntled few? I’m not so sure.
Ratemyprofessors.com has made its mark on the college and university set...a growing phenomenon, to which has varied opinions.
Ratemyprofessors.com is in the process of releasing an app for Apple’s iPhone, which will allow students to read and post comments, and rate from their cell phones. In the next few months, students will also be able to rate their college dorms, libraries and campus social life (among other things). |END
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