Florida State University Top Questions

I've had many fantastic classes here at FSU. Because this is a research university, all of the professors (and to a certain degree the TA's) are continuously working on projects in their fields, and all of that research feeds into the classes they teach. The best teachers strike a balance between what the world already knows about their subject (i.e. what you'd learn in the same class at any university) and what they and and their contemporaries are working on at the time. As with any school, you'll sometimes get teachers that you hate, those that don't make the subject interesting or who just don't seem to want to be there. This is often true in huge lecture classes, where it's nearly impossible to interact with your TA/professor about the subject, and unfortunately at FSU many of the liberal arts credits that Freshmen take are lecture classes. However (at least in the English and Classics departments which I belong to), the further you go in your major, the more engaging the material becomes and the more enthusiastic your professors are to teach you. And the liberal arts requirements certainly aren't all bad - FSU gives you a lot of freedom to choose classes that qualify. For example, I've taken a Religion in Fantasy Literature course (aka "the Harry Potter class") and a Philosophy through Science Fiction class, both of which were incredibly interesting, and made the usual dreary religion/philosophy theories more relatable by applying them to pop culture. By far the best classes I've had, though, were during my study abroad experience in London, where FSU International Programs has a study center. I could go on and on about this, but if study abroad is something you're interested in (and it really should be!) I'd be more than happy to talk about it in an interview.

I've had many fantastic classes here at FSU. Because this is a research university, all of the professors (and to a certain degree the TA's) are continuously working on projects in their fields, and all of that research feeds into the classes they teach. The best teachers strike a balance between what the world already knows about their subject (i.e. what you'd learn in the same class at any university) and what they and and their contemporaries are working on at the time. As with any school, you'll sometimes get teachers that you hate, those that don't make the subject interesting or who just don't seem to want to be there. This is often true in huge lecture classes, where it's nearly impossible to interact with your TA/professor about the subject, and unfortunately at FSU many of the liberal arts credits that Freshmen take are lecture classes. However (at least in the English and Classics departments which I belong to), the further you go in your major, the more engaging the material becomes and the more enthusiastic your professors are to teach you. And the liberal arts requirements certainly aren't all bad - FSU gives you a lot of freedom to choose classes that qualify. For example, I've taken a Religion in Fantasy Literature course (aka "the Harry Potter class") and a Philosophy through Science Fiction class, both of which were incredibly interesting, and made the usual dreary religion/philosophy theories more relatable by applying them to pop culture. By far the best classes I've had, though, were during my study abroad experience in London, where FSU International Programs has a study center. I could go on and on about this, but if study abroad is something you're interested in (and it really should be!) I'd be more than happy to talk about it in an interview.

The academics at Florida State are very competitive and well rounded. Students declare their major and are usually required to full fill their prerequisites before entering their major. Advisors work first hand with students, meeting with them individually whether through an appointment, dropping by unannounced, or via email. Advisors are often assigned to certain years of academics, meaning a different advisor for freshmen then seniors. The classes at FSU are surprisingly personal whether they are large or small. In my case, many of my prerequisites such as math and science were larger but the teacher or TA still knew who I was and my progress. Attendance was still important in these classes with teachers often calling you out if they noticed that you were not attending, since many students believe they can get away with missing class due to the size. Testing for these classes were often in a smaller environment, which helped and allowed for the teacher to answer anyone’s questions. Students are still very competitive in larger classes and it is often an easy place to make new friends since study groups are often established. Larger classes were often a bit of a relief as well since you probably knew someone else taking the course. Once I started focusing in on my English classes, since that is my major, I was surprised to learn of the small size of my classes. Coming from a small private school in South Florida, I found it very comforting to be in classes of on aver 25 people or less. My parents were also glad with this since they were nervous about the learning environment of a school with so many students. With these classes teachers are especially able to give one on one attention to students and monitor their success. I was even more surprised when I would have a teacher again for a different course a semester or so later and they would remember exactly who I was and what course I had taken with them. This is great because it allows the student to create a relationship with a teacher who could one day write the student a recommendation or help them find a job. The English Department is a great facilitator for learning, having some of the most intelligent professors/people I have ever encountered. One of my favorite classes was one that revolved around the works of John Milton and my professor could literally recite pages from Paradise Lost without ever even looking at the book. He had taught the material for over 30 years and still wished he could be half as smart as Milton. This teacher created a great environment for learning since students found inspiration in his passion for the subject. This professor was just one of the many passionate professors I have encountered at FSU. In my experience they have all been fair and understanding, besides a couple that I encountered outside of the English Department, but that still was apart of my growing experience. Another huge part of my experience was that I had the opportunity to study abroad in Florence through one of the best programs in the country. Florida State offers the opportunity to study in many different countries on actual FSU campus and with actual FSU faculty. The opportunity was life changing and I had the chance to experience people and places I had never encountered before. I still keep in touch with my professors and friends from overseas and cherish all the memories I made while abroad. One of the most interesting experiences I had in Florence was when a native told my friend and I that he loved FSU and couldn’t wait to visit his friends in Tallahassee that he made while working in the city. An even more interesting fact was that he had learned English from the waves of FSU students who come and go every semester. Overall the academics at FSU are extremely competitive and challenge each student to achieve their highest degree of learning. FSU gives each student the opportunity to be successful while attending the college and helps them set up their future.

I am an editing, writing, and media student at Florida State University. I love going to my classes and having hour long lectures with my classmates about the usefulness of certain textual elements and the philosophies they express. The one thing that always keep me eager about the next semester though is the faculty. Each semester I have different teachers and I have yet to be disappointed. I am so confident that I will receive a good teacher in the subjects I study that I do not even bother with rate my professor. My teachers always know my name, remain in contact with me, and even go out of their way to read articles or stories that are not even for their class. I have noticed that they really want us to succeed. It is as if our success is a direct representation of their success. Whether it is at out campus in Tallahassee or the one here in London, I have yet to find a professor who is not passionate about their work. They know we are the next generation of intellectuals who will evolve our world and the minds to come thereafter so they pave the way and inspire thought every time they have a chance.

FSU has a strong academic field, and I have personally enjoyed the majority of courses I have taken over the past four years in both the basic required courses for all students and the courses in my major department, English. Every class I have taken, aside from the 100 plus size lecture classes, have been taught by teachers who make a genuine effort to know each students name and help them both inside and outside the classroom. Teachers make themselves available for one on one time through office hours if you are ever having difficulty with the course. Class participation is a large part of the courses, encouraging students to interact with each other in class and through online class discussion boards. As an Editing Writing and Media major through the school's English department, I have had the opportunity to take classes that are geared not just on earning a good grade in the course but focus on what to expect outside of college. One of the best courses I've taken at the university is the writing workshop classes offered through the English department. Workshops are great for both English students who want a more in depth critique on their writing skills and non-English majors who want to learn how to better their writing over all to help on future papers required for other courses.

Academics are outstanding at Florida State. All of my professors know my name, and are extremely helpful. MY favorite class this semester was my French class. I was taught by a grad student, who was able to make learning foreign language fun and exciting. My least favorite class was my two hour literature class, but only because I'm not a fan of reading lengthy novels. I'd say the average student studies about twenty hours a week. Class participation is very common in all courses. It works well because it acts as a grade booster, but it also allows for more lively classroom sessions. When walking on campus I hear tons of intellectual conversations between students, usually about something they are learning in class. Some courses are competitive, especially the writing courses. The most unique class I have taken so far would have to be my poetic technique class. My teacher was very enthusiastic, and we had unusually interesting exercises to do. I myself am a creative writing major in the English department. The department it's self is very helpful. I constantly get e-mails about internship opportunities, as well as reminders about deadlines. Though I have not spent time with any of my professors outside of class, they are always open to the idea. It can be a little tough to get into Florida state, but they have clear requirements, and once you're in they are more than willing to help you stay on track. The overall education at this school is geared toward learning for it's own sake, but there are plenty of resources which can help a student plan a career path.

Academics here at FSU focus on a lot of interactions of student thoughts and ideas. The teachers, who really do a great job at not only teaching content, provide excellent support of outside sources that magnify the amount of knowledge being received. One of my favorite aspects of almost every class I have enrolled in is the participation requirement. Most teachers provoke discussion among students, creating a transfer of energy around a classroom that help produce new ideas and philosophies. Not only is the outcome amazing, but the process of discussion is really well stimulated around the class room. Being a Creative Writing Major, I have mostly taken literature and english focused classes, and I can honestly say I have not enjoyed anything else. The English Department is extremely well staffed with teachers and TA's that know the material and teach it in effective ways. Essay writing is very common, but is usually workshopped around the classroom from students and teachers helping to get a strong correction to any questions or concerns about an assignment. The great thing about all the teachers I have come in contact is they are always willing to help and advise outside the classroom. This has really benefitted my learning experience here and has helped me become really focused on learning. The large amount of class options are very beneficial to those focused on that course or for those who just want to learn. The academics here at FSU challenge students in an engaging way that provokes more learning and transfer of knowledge around the school.

Before I came to FSU, I was afraid that I would get in the larger classes of students. I was very wrong. Yes, there will be classes that you are in (such as lecture halls) that have from 100-300 students, but there are also classes that have 20. One of the classes I took this semester was Intro to PR. Before walking into the class I heard from many students that the class was a bit difficult and occupied about 200 students in the class at once. About halfway through with the semester, I felt that I was having trouble with the material and wanted to meet with the teacher for some help. He answered me within two hours and allowed me to meet with him during his office hours, where he helped me get right back on track and reassured me that I would do just fine in this class. The teachers at Florida State are willing to help you whenever. This is something that they love doing! If you feel that you are lost and struggling, by going to their office hours you can gain back your confidence in the material and the class. Sometimes the the professors will even email students about helping them out (that is if you actually try in the class and attend the classes) because they actually want the student to succeed. Each and everyone of my professors were unique and were so passionate about what they were teaching. This past semester I took Writing Editing and Print Online, and it became my favorite class, and the professor who taught it was also a plus. She was young and gave all of attention when it came to projects and discussions in class. She made the materials and examples relatable to students and made class fun! This class became like a little family within two weeks because the professor made the learning environment comfortable for us, where we helped one another out, and didn't ever want to leave class.

Academic experiences at Florida State definitely vary from major to major, but I have personally had a great experience, overall, with my teachers and classes. Many of the liberal studies classes that are required when you first begin, are very large and less personal. However, once I started my major (English), my classes shrunk to rarely being over 40 students. My teachers have always encouraged us to come to their office hours and are normally easy to talk to and work with. This is especially true with smaller classes--the larger ones mean the teacher has more people to work with, and, in that case, it can be harder to talk to them. Overall, I have had a good experience as an English major. My concentration is Editing, Writing, and Media, and the only complaint I have about it is that it is new as of a couple of years ago, so there are some kinks still being worked out. For example, many of my classes overlap in information, and I don't feel there is enough practice of applying the material to a professional setting. However, one of my teachers this semester dedicated half of a class to getting our feedback on how the major could be improved, because the faculty will be meeting to discuss the subject at the end of the semester. It meant a lot to me that she valued what we had to say, as students.

FSU is a big state university with around 40,000 students attending. There are many prestigious academic programs to accommodate the large student body. The choice of programs is very diverse and includes the sciences, humanities and arts. There is something for everyone. We have a very good medical school for those hoping to become doctors, an award winning film school that is recognized by the Directors Guild of America and plenty of humanities departments for the student interested in subjects such as history, political science and languages. There is a department for every student, whether he is looking for job training or is interested in learning for its own sake. One of the best things about the diverse course options at FSU is the amount of control students have over their schedules. Each program offers a huge selection of courses and professors. Often a student will be given a list of classes that count toward major requirements and can freely choose which ones interest them. Most classes are offered at different times of the day so a student can choose to take all morning classes or all evening class. There are even online classes for the commuter students who cannot drive to school every single day. Your schedule is completely under your control at FSU. There are many interesting classes at FSU. One of the most unique ones I have taken was Religion and Fantasy. We studied many famous fantasy series such as The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and the Harry Potter series. It was a fun way to earn a humanities credit! There are all sorts of classes to satisfy the interests of every student. The only drawback to attending such a large school is that many required classes are very large in number. Classes can have hundreds of people in them and take place in an auditorium. However the teachers who teach these classes are very helpful and always answer emails. They also have office hours to help the students who need more one on one time with the professor. Similarly, there are often tutoring stations in the library on campus, to offer some extra help. This goes for most of the professors at FSU. Every professor has office hours and most of them are extremely helpful. Overall, the academics at FSU are excellent, due to the great number of choices and the willingness of the teachers to help.