Interpreting professor ratings and choosing the best instructors strategically involves analyzing available data, understanding the context of the ratings, and aligning your personal learning style and goals with the right instructor. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you make an informed decision:

1. Understand the Source of Professor Ratings

• RateMyProfessors: A popular site where students rate professors on quality (1-5 scale), difficulty (1-5 scale), and other factors like clarity, helpfulness, and workload. Some reviews include tags (e.g., "tough grader," "lots of homework").


• University Evaluations: These are often more formal and may focus on teaching effectiveness, course organization, and student satisfaction. They might not be publicly available but can sometimes be accessed through academic advisors or department offices.


• Word of Mouth: Feedback from peers or upperclassmen can provide personal insights into a professor’s teaching style.

2. Interpret Key Metrics in Ratings

a. Overall Quality/Effectiveness

• Look at the average rating (e.g., 4.5/5 on RateMyProfessors). A higher score generally indicates a well-liked and effective teacher.


• Pay attention to specific comments about communication, engagement, and ability to explain complex topics. A professor with a high rating but comments like “easy A, no learning” might not be ideal if you prioritize deep understanding.

b. Difficulty Level

• Difficulty ratings (e.g., 3.5/5 on RateMyProfessors) indicate how challenging the professor’s course is perceived to be. A higher difficulty score isn’t necessarily bad—it might mean the professor has high standards or assigns rigorous work.


• Match the difficulty to your goals. If you’re looking to build expertise, a challenging professor might be better. If you need a lighter workload due to other commitments, opt for a less demanding one.

c. Workload and Grading

• Check comments or tags about workload (e.g., “lots of reading,” “tough grader”). Some professors are strict graders but fair, while others might be inconsistent.


• Consider whether the workload fits your schedule and whether the grading style aligns with your strengths (e.g., essay-based vs. multiple-choice exams).

d. Student Engagement and Support

• Look for feedback on whether the professor is approachable, offers office hours, responds to emails, or provides constructive feedback.


• A professor who is supportive can make a big difference, especially in challenging subjects.

e. “Would Take Again” Percentage

• On platforms like RateMyProfessors, the “would take again” percentage shows how many students valued the professor enough to recommend them. A high percentage (e.g., 90%+) is a strong positive indicator.

3. Contextualize the Ratings

• Sample Size: A professor with a 5/5 rating but only 2 reviews is less reliable than one with a 4.2/5 rating from 50 reviews. More reviews generally mean a more accurate representation.


• Course Level: Ratings for introductory courses might differ from advanced courses. A professor teaching a 100-level course might be rated as “easy” but could be more challenging in a 400-level course.


• Student Bias: Some students rate professors poorly due to personal grudges, bad grades, or unmet expectations (e.g., wanting an easy A). Look for patterns in reviews rather than isolated complaints.


• Date of Reviews: Older reviews might not reflect the professor’s current teaching style or course structure. Prioritize recent feedback.

4. Align Ratings with Your Learning Style and Goals

• Teaching Style: Does the professor lecture heavily, encourage discussion, or use hands-on activities? Reviews often mention this. Choose a style that matches how you learn best (e.g., visual learner, interactive learner).


• Subject Interest: If you’re passionate about the subject, a challenging professor might push you to excel. If it’s a general education requirement, you might prefer someone less demanding.


• Grade Needs: If you need a high grade for GPA purposes (e.g., for grad school), prioritize professors with fair grading and reasonable workloads. Avoid “tough graders” unless you’re confident in the subject.


• Time Commitment: If you’re balancing multiple courses or extracurriculars, avoid professors known for heavy workloads or strict deadlines.

5. Look for Red Flags and Green Flags

Red Flags

• Consistent mentions of unfair grading, lack of clarity in expectations, or unresponsiveness.


• Comments like “doesn’t teach, just reads slides” or “exams have nothing to do with lectures.”


• High difficulty combined with low quality ratings (e.g., 4.5 difficulty, 2.0 quality) might indicate a frustrating experience.

Green Flags

• Repeated praise for clarity, passion for the subject, or willingness to help students.


• Comments like “tough but fair” or “challenging but I learned a lot.”


• High “would take again” percentage and positive feedback on office hours or feedback.

6. Strategize Your Choice

• Create a Shortlist: Identify 2-3 professors teaching the course you need based on availability, ratings, and schedules.


• Compare Metrics: Use a table to compare their overall rating, difficulty, workload, and key review themes.


• Example:

• Match to Goals: Choose based on your priorities. If you want to learn deeply, pick Prof. Johnson. If you need a good grade with less stress, choose Prof. Smith.


• Ask Around: If possible, talk to peers or academic advisors for additional insights about the professors on your shortlist.


• Plan a Backup: If your top choice’s class fills up, have a second choice ready. Also, check for waitlist options or the possibility of switching sections early in the semester.

7. Additional Tips

• Attend the First Class: If your university allows it, sit in on the first lecture of multiple sections to get a feel for the professor’s style before committing.


• Check Syllabi: Some professors post syllabi online or share them on the first day. A syllabus can reveal a lot about workload, grading policies, and expectations.


• Consider Department Reputation: Some departments have higher standards or better teaching resources, which can influence professor quality.


• Balance Your Schedule: If you’re taking multiple courses, avoid stacking too many “difficult” professors in one semester to prevent burnout.

Conclusion

Okay, let's break down how to interpret professor ratings and use them strategically to choose the best instructors for you. This is a multi-faceted approach, as "best" is highly subjective!

I. Understanding the Rating Systems:

• Common Platforms:


• RateMyProfessor (RMP): The most well-known. Provides numerical ratings (often out of 5) for overall quality, difficulty, and (previously) "hotness." Students can also leave written reviews.


• University-Specific Evaluation Systems: Many universities have internal systems that students use to evaluate professors at the end of each semester. These are often more detailed and can include specific questions related to course content, teaching methods, and assessment fairness. Access to these might be restricted to current students.


• Other Sites: Sometimes you'll find relevant information on sites like Niche, Reddit (university-specific subreddits), or even LinkedIn (to see a professor's background and publications).


• Key Metrics and Their Meanings (RMP as an example):


• Overall Quality: A general indication of how satisfied students were with the professor's teaching ability, helpfulness, and overall contribution to their learning experience. This is usually the most important number.


• Difficulty: This refers to the perceived workload and the intellectual challenge of the course. A high difficulty rating doesn't necessarily mean a bad professor; it might just mean the course is inherently demanding. Consider your own learning style and preferred level of challenge.


• Would Take Again: This is a very powerful indicator. If a high percentage of students would take the professor again, it's a strong sign that they had a positive experience.


• Written Reviews: This is where you'll find the most nuanced information. Read them carefully! Look for specific examples and patterns.

• Teaching Style:


• Clear and Organized: Do students describe the lectures as well-structured and easy to follow?


• Engaging: Does the professor use interesting examples, real-world applications, or interactive methods to keep students involved?


• Enthusiastic: Does the professor seem passionate about the subject matter? Enthusiasm can be contagious!


• Pace: Is the pace of the lectures too fast, too slow, or just right? This is subjective but important.


• Use of Technology: Do they effectively use technology to enhance learning (e.g., online resources, interactive simulations)?


• Helpfulness and Accessibility:


• Office Hours: Are they readily available and helpful during office hours?


• Responsiveness: Do they respond to emails and questions promptly and thoroughly?


• Approachability: Do students feel comfortable asking questions and seeking help?


• Provides Feedback: Do they give constructive feedback on assignments and exams to help students improve?


• Assessment and Grading:


• Fairness: Do students perceive the grading as fair and consistent? Are the grading criteria clearly defined?


• Clarity of Expectations: Are the assignments and exams clearly aligned with the course material?


• Workload: Is the workload manageable? Are there too many assignments, or are they appropriately challenging?


• Relevance: Are the assignments and exams relevant to the course learning objectives?


• Personality and Demeanor:


• Respectful: Do they treat students with respect?


• Patient: Are they patient with students who are struggling?


• Humorous: Do they use humor effectively to make the learning environment more enjoyable? (This is subjective, but can be a plus for some.)


• Constructive Criticism: Do they give useful and kind criticism?

• Know Yourself: This is the most crucial step. Before you even look at ratings, consider:


• Your Learning Style:


• Visual Learner: Do you prefer diagrams, charts, and videos?


• Auditory Learner: Do you learn best by listening to lectures and discussions?


• Kinesthetic Learner: Do you learn best by doing, through hands-on activities and experiments?


• Reading/Writing Learner: Do you prefer textbooks, articles, and note-taking?


• Your Preferred Level of Challenge:


• Do you thrive in demanding courses with a heavy workload?


• Do you prefer a more relaxed pace and a lighter workload?


• Your Academic Goals:


• Are you trying to get the highest possible grade?


• Are you primarily interested in learning the material, even if it means a slightly lower grade?


• Are you looking for a professor who can provide mentorship or research opportunities?


• Your Time Commitment: How much time can you realistically dedicate to the course each week?


• Research:


• Gather Data: Consult RateMyProfessor, university evaluation systems (if available), and any other relevant sources.


• Read a Variety of Reviews: Don't just look at the overall rating. Read as many reviews as possible to get a well-rounded picture.


• Look for Patterns: Are there recurring themes in the reviews? Do students consistently praise or criticize the professor for the same things?


• Be Wary of Extremes: Extremely positive or extremely negative reviews can sometimes be biased. Focus on the more balanced and detailed reviews.


• Consider the Date of the Reviews: A professor's teaching style may have changed over time. Pay more attention to recent reviews.


• Filter and Prioritize:


• Identify Key Factors: Based on your self-assessment, identify the factors that are most important to you (e.g., clear teaching style, helpfulness, fair grading).


• Rank Professors: Rank the professors based on how well they align with your key factors.


• Consider Alternatives: If your top choice is not available, have a backup plan.


• Cross-Reference (if possible):


• Talk to Upperclassmen: Ask students who have taken the course before for their opinions on the professor.


• Attend the First Lecture: If possible, attend the first lecture of multiple sections to get a feel for the professor's teaching style. (Check with the department about the rules around sitting in on classes.)


• Look for Syllabi Online: Some departments/professors will provide syllabi online before enrollment. This can give you an idea of the workload, grading criteria, and course content.

• Subjectivity: Ratings are inherently subjective. What one student finds helpful, another may find annoying.


• Bias: Reviews can be influenced by factors such as:


• Grade Received: Students who receive a good grade are more likely to leave a positive review.


• Personality Conflicts: Personal conflicts can lead to negative reviews, even if the professor is generally a good teacher.


• Difficulty of the Course: A challenging course may result in lower ratings, even if the professor is doing a good job.


• Small Sample Size: If a professor has only a few reviews, the ratings may not be representative of their overall teaching ability.


• Changes Over Time: Professors can change their teaching style, course content, and grading policies over time.


• Not All Professors are Rated: Many excellent professors may not have a significant presence on rating sites.


• Don't Rely Solely on Ratings: Use ratings as one piece of information, but don't let them be the only factor in your decision.


• Focus on Learning: Ultimately, your goal is to learn the material. Choose a professor who you believe will help you achieve that goal, even if they don't have the highest ratings.


• Required Courses: Sometimes you don't have a choice of professor. In these cases, try to adjust your expectations and find ways to supplement your learning (e.g., study groups, tutoring).


• Sometimes the "Hard" Professors are the Best: Don't shy away from courses with "difficult" professors. They may push you more and ultimately lead to greater learning and intellectual growth. Just be prepared to work hard.


• Consider the department's reputation: Talk to students in that department for more insight, especially if you're majoring/minoring in the field.

Choosing the best instructors strategically involves more than just looking at the highest ratings. Here's how you can interpret professor ratings and make an informed decision:

• Consider the Context: Different professors may excel in different contexts. A professor who is great for a large introductory course might not be the best fit for a small, advanced seminar, and vice versa.


• Look at Multiple Sources: Don't rely on just one rating website. Check multiple platforms (like RateMyProfessors, Koofers, your university's own evaluation system, etc.) to get a more comprehensive view.


• Pay Attention to Specific Criteria: Different students have different preferences. Here are some criteria to consider:


• Clarity: How well does the professor explain complex concepts?


• Easiness: This can be subjective. Some students want a professor who makes the course material easy to understand, while others prefer a professor who challenges them.


• Helpfulness/Approachability: Is the professor accessible and willing to help students outside of class?


• Feedback: Does the professor provide constructive feedback on assignments and exams?


• Organization: Is the course well-structured and does the professor communicate expectations clearly?


• Engagement: Does the professor make the material interesting and engaging?


• Read Comments Carefully: Written comments can provide more nuance than numerical ratings. Look for trends and recurring themes in the comments.


• Consider Your Learning Style: Different professors teach in different ways. Some may rely more on lectures, while others may incorporate more group work or discussions. Think about what learning style works best for you.


• Look at the Distribution of Ratings: A professor with all perfect ratings might be suspiciously easy, while a professor with a mix of high and low ratings might be more challenging but ultimately more rewarding.


• Consider the Course, Not Just the Professor: Even the best professors can be hampered by a poorly designed course, and vice versa. Try to find out more about the course structure and structure your expectations accordingly.


• Ask Around: Talk to other students who have taken the course or the professor. They can provide insights that might not be reflected in online ratings.


• Be Open-Minded: Even if a professor doesn't have the highest ratings, they might still provide a valuable learning experience.


• Trust Your Instincts: If you've sat in on a lecture or interacted with the professor and had a good feeling about it, that can be just as valuable as online ratings.