University of Missouri-Columbia Top Questions

As previously mentioned, anyone who wishes to have a relationship with a professor may have one so long as they take the initiative. Professors will not seek you out... they have too many students to try and reach out to everyone. However, they are more than happy to foster a relationship if you show some interest (go to office hours). In all honesty, I do not know that I have ever had a "bad" class at Mizzou. I was not fond of "Introduction to Leisure Studies" because I thought that the subject matter was extremely dull. Most of my classes have been absolutely wonderful. Students study for various amounts of time... it really depends on how high a student wants their GPA to be. Some students never study, but you usually don't see those individuals second semester. Class participation is not very common in large classes. However, many of the smaller classes are completely discussion-oriented (additionally, many larger classes will have a weekly discussion section). As with any institution, some students are more competitive than others. The History Department if amazing. To begin, our academic advisor is fantastic. She has great suggestions for courses outside of the major, and simply knows about everything there is to know about the department. I have yet to have a bad class or professor in the history department. The professors tend to be brilliant, the classes entertaining, and the workload reasonable. I attend office hours every once in awhile in order to spend time with a professors. If I'm enrolled in one of their courses, I usually take a tentative assignment to garner feedback. However, I also visit when I'm not enrolled in their courses in order to receive additional help or simply to catch up (granted, this is a select few professors). Mizzou's academic requirements are fine. They are not strenuous, but force you to diversify and become somewhat more well-rounded. In my opinion, admission standards are a little low.

Very wide range of academic abilities and teaching abilities at Mizzou. As always, class quality depends more on the teacher and students than on the actual material covered in the course. Be sure to ask other students about a professor before taking his/her class. In general, class participation is moderate, and the environment is not competitive at all. Most students are pretty nonchalant about their academic work. The professors are usually very accessible and willing to help. Yes, my professors know my name. No, I don't spend time with them outside of class. The graduation requirements are not very stringent, although there are distribution requirements. This is not a particularly challenging school.

Do professors know my name?? Are you kidding me...yeah they might know my name but many of them haven't given a rats butt about me and my concerns in the class! However, for all the bad professors I've had, I've also had some pretty awesome ones as well who are willing to go above and beyond to help me with my concerns. I absolutely hated my Sociology 1000 and English 1000 classes! The teachers (which were grad students may I add) were terrible! They had no desire to even try to be nice and they never seemed to help me with the concepts I was having trouble grasping! Also TAs...I think there should be certain restrictions as to who is allowed to assist a class. For one it would be nice if we could understand half the things they were talking about(either due to poor english or poor people skills). And grad students as teachers is not always the best idea either! I guess its just their lack of experience in teaching, but still it is what has kept me from getting an A o r B in the class! Intellectual conversations do happen sometimes with students here on campus, but I don't know how many times I've been walking to class and have heard some of the dumbest, most juvenille things coming out of peoples mouths. I feel that Mizzou prepares some students for getting jobs and heading into the real world! However, I feel that depends on what college they are in. For example, I am in the school of nursing and I feel that by the end of my college life I will be highly prepared to get a real job. I say this because many of the students I've seen go through the nursing program have come out with a wide array of knowledge and seem to be ready to graduate! I have heard a lot of good things about the teachers you have once you're in the clinical portion. Many of them are there to help, whenever you need them and they are usually some of the nicest people you'll meet! I'm looking forward to my next two years of school just for that reason!

You have to make an effort for your professors to know your name. It's a blessing (getting to know them for rec letters) and a curse (they'll know if you're absent). My fav class is medical microbiology and immunology. Least fav is university calculus 2. The amount that students study depends on their major. Class participation depends on the type of student and if the professor encourages interactivity. Competition depends on the major again. Pre meds are pretty vicious. Mizzou is geared toward getting a job.

I think that it is hard for the professors to know your name just because of the large class size. In my small classes the professors definitely know my name. Students have to opportunity to ask questions in class and the professors also are very open to talking after class and making a meeting with you in their office.

The early classes are large lectures, so you have to make an effort, but most of those split up once every week to smaller groups. I also have smaller classes where the prof's definitely know you. And there's so many classes to choose from that by my sophomore year I was in smaller classes had first name basis with some faculty members. I love my sociology classes and international classes. I'm a journalism and international relations major so I get to take a wide range of things. The spanish department is great, everyone is very friendly and helpful, as with every department I work with. Sometimes it's confusing trying to figure out what you have to take if you're double majoring, but there are people willing to work with you.

My professors know me for the most part, especially the ones in my major. I think the academic requirements are pretty standard in all honesty. The education here is definitely geared towards getting a job.

Professors do know my name, atleast in smaller classes. You have to make yourself known in a larger class. Favorite class: History of Southern Politics. This class will make you love learning. Students are very competitive, but it depends on which department you are studying in. Journalism, yes, very. Most unique class I have ever taken: History of South Politics. English department is very traditional, very classical. I wouldn't recommend it if you want something different, more up to date. Not a very progressive department. Political science is very small. If I could do it over again, I would have a major in the College of Agriculture, because they love their students and treat them the best out of any other department. Business is also a great one. Certain departments are geared for learning (english, political science) and not job getting. I would definately recommend Business for a job-focused department. I would get a minor in business if I could just to get the benefits of that department.

Professors get to know your name, if you give the effort to know theirs. This is a large school and its up to you to make the effort. On average students should be studying about 3-4 hours a day.

Some of my professors know my name, most of them seem to go out of their way to avoid students. I try hard to be a part of class and to know my profs but it doesn't seem to work. My favorite class was Peace Studies, and my least favorite class was Economics. That class needs to go or get changed.