University of Iowa Top Questions

I actually have 3 professors this semester that know my name (out of 4). Although it's true that there are several larger classes, the professors DO want to get to know you. Office hours are key. Also, a lot of classes are smaller since they are discussion based. Not every class has hundreds of students!!! Favorite class = Microbiology/genetics Least favorite = Organic Chem Students are pretty competitive but also helpful. It makes me a better student.

I chose Iowa academically because their Journalism programs is great and selective. On top of that, I have had several friends go to the University and felt that it was a good fit for me. Teaching Assistants are helpful, but professors really always do have their doors open to students needing help or just wanting to chat. While I would be lying if I said I wasn't intimidated my first lecture (because around 200 were in it) I would be lying if I said that I ever felt lost or wasn't accomedated.

The academics at the University of Iowa are very important. After all, we are first and formost students. My favorite class so far is Biostatistics. I went into that class thinking it would be extremely hard and boring. By the end of the first day, I knew that class would be my favorite. The material is hard, but the professor is great. He takes the time to get to know the students and identifies with them. All professors here at the university have scheduled office hours, which are times set apart from class to give the students the opportunity to ask for help. It's also a time that we can meet up with some other students from the class and learn off of one another.

If you put forth the effort, professors will know your name. They are required to hold office hours each week and if you go in there and get to know them they will remember you when you are in class. My favorite class is Consumer Behavior and me least favorite class was Managerial Accounting. I am very happy in the business school and within the marketing department. The requirements are good for the most part, but I feel that some of prerequisite and core classes for the college of business are unnecessary. The education here is a mix of wanting students to get a job when they graduate but also wanting them to be knowledgeable all around in aspects unrelated to future employment.

The professors are nice, they want to help you out. TAs are knowledgeable and know who you are. They are more flexible with meeting times and where to meet. One of my TAs holds office hours at Starbucks, it is more relaxed and they seem more approachable. A lot of classes are tolerable, however a lot of students take math or science classes at local community colleges or over the summer because they can be challenging. A lot of people are turned off by the foreign language requirement at Iowa, but they make it manageable.

I feel like I have gotten an above average education while attending Iowa. It is nationally accredited in many different areas and we have a University Hospital that holds MAGNET status. Any major a person decides to pursue, they will benefit from attending Iowa. I know I have a major in Communication Studies, so I am in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The classes I have taken that count towards this major have been awesome classes. I have loved my professors and teaching assistants. The content of my classes has been different every time. I have been privaleged to take courses that range from Television Criticism to Nonverbal Communication to a class on Family Communication. I have taken a lot of technology based person, and I am not a technology person - but they have been such interesting classes that I have grown to appreciate technology more. I have also taken interpersonal communication classes that have opened my eyes and helped me see my relationships and interactions with others in a new light. Now that I am a senior, I have taken classes with highly ranked and published professors. Yes, they know my name and yes, they'll say hello to me if I pass them on a street. I have also taken large lectures with upwards of 300 people, and the professors constantly encourage the students to come see them outside of the lecture hall. Every professor and teaching assistant is required to hold office hours and I constantly hear, "Come to my office hours, even if you don't need help, if you just want to talk." I think that is such a positive thing to hear as a freshman, that the teachers do want to help you and do support you. I have had a lot of classes that I have truly enjoyed. My favorite class last semester was my Nonverbal Communication class. It was so interesting and I was constantly entertained and excited in that class. I don't know whether it was the teacher or the content that I loved more. My least favorite classes would've been when I came to Iowa as a Business Student. I am not cut out for the statistics or economics that went along with being a business major, so I was pro-active and found a major that suited me and my career goals. Everyone is different, everyone learns different and studies different so it is hard to say what all 30,000 of us do, because we are all unique and that is what I love about Iowa. Obviously, during mid-terms or finals week it is A LOT harder to find a table at the library than the first week of classes, but I think that is true of a lot of schools. The most unique class I've taken was a Western Civilization course. I don't have much to say about it but it was definitely interesting. I don't find myself socializing outside of class with professors, but I know a lot of other students who do. I had one really close teacher my freshman year, who constantly encouraged me and helped me change my major. He was always there for me, unfortunately he retired, but I still keep in contact with him. Before he left he wrote his phone number and address on a piece of paper, he asked me to update him periodically. I still do that.

The diverse choice of classes-- from Law in the Muslim World to Art of the Netherlands has allowed me to gain a vast understaning of international cultures. My professors have encouraged students to attend office hours, participate in class discussions, and invest in a research project involving a certain aspect of the class. I regularlly attend my professor's office hours-- it is a chance to talk to a leader in the field of their study. The education at Iowa is geared toward expanding and challenging one's ideas of the world-- a true liberal arts education. However, the UI has oppurtunities for career fairs and employer outreach. Depending on a student's major-- such as political science or international studies, one may have to do a lot of the leg work in finding a job for post graduation. However, if a student has a goal, focus, and determination to "hit the ground running" to find a career, then there is nothing that will stop a student from finding the job of their dreams. I must say, Iowa students have to work hard to break into other markets-- such as DC, New York, or L.A., mostly because students are competing with all of the highly regarded/local schools in that area. Therefore, jumping on a plane to do interviews, network, intern in another part of the world, or contacting leaders in a career field thousands of miles away is a necessity!

I love my social psychology class, because it is interesting material. My professor has a passion for what she teaches, and that makes the class better, because then her loving it makes you more interested in it also. I love the pre-medicine department and the psychology departments; both have very knowledgeable and friendly people that I can always go to for help if have questions. I feel comfortable around everyone, and it's great. However, sometimes I feel frustrated or discouraged in pre-medicine, because so many smart students decide on that major, and you must compete against them in all of your classes.

Depending on the class, some classes are lecture style (literally with hundreds of students) and others are a more traditional "classroom" setting with around 20 people. Professors are always very nice and willing to help. They are more than willing to meet with a student outside of class to provide extra help or have an interesting conversation. It is recommended that students study about 2 hours outside of class for every hour they spend in class, but this is only a guideline. Some classes take much less time, while others take much more.

I think for the most part professors do try to remembers peoples names as it is very important. Class participation is common as its usually counted in most classes toward the final grade. My major is History and I've spent some time with professors outside of class especially with my Colloquium class that was very interactive and is a great class that all History majors are required to take.