Indiana University-Bloomington Top Questions

In my smaller classes my professors know my name. My favorite class is my Journalism class because my teacher is so entertaining. Least favorite is definitly Finite Math because it's Finite Math. I think every student varies with their study habits, but for the most part students take their studying very seriously. Students here are very competitive when it comes to getting into a certain school like Nursing. Professors are normally very available during their office hours for help, but I haven't gone that much this year. I think IUB's academic requirements are very reasonable. Education here is mostly geared towards learning but there are so many programs you can attend to learn about how to get a job out of college.

I still remember my very first professor in my first class that I ever was enrolled in at Indiana University. That is how prominent the professors play a role in the lives of their students. I have yet to experience a terrible professor. Of course I have had my moments of disagreements with some, but never to seriously affect my academic status. I think to this day my favorite class was my film class that I took Sophomore year. Of course, this may be because of my obvious interest in the subject, but it helped that the professor truly loved what he was talking about. Also, one of my favorite classes is still my math class that I took freshman year. Just so you know, I despise math. But I loved my teacher and I loved all of the students around me who suffered alongside me, and that made it all the more enjoyable. My least favorite class probably would have to be the Geology class I took a couple years ago. It fulfilled one of the requirements that my department requires me to have before I am able to graduate, which is probably my only qualm with my department as a whole--the requirements. We end up taking classes that we do not want nor really need in order to succeed in the real world. But, on the other hand, I suppose it makes us more well-rounded individuals. But still, Geology? Rocks, really? As for my department, I have never had any major problems with them. The staff of advisors is impeccable--they have always been there to help me with my fears and doubts as I have traveled through this wonderful University. When I used to work on Kirkwood, as I mentioned earlier, I would often see some of my professors coming in to eat at the Restaurant I worked at, and they of course greeted me warmly outside of class. It is a great feeling, being known by someone who ultimately aids in the deciding of your fate in the adult world. I do feel like I am being prepared to succeed in the future. I do not feel as though Indiana University would let a student out into the real world unless they knew that the student could make it. There is an incredible resource, iucareers.com, which basically lays it out for you! Like I said, it is a great University. I cannot say enough nice things about it!

most professors in lecture classes do not know your name. however, in the smaller honors classes the professors get to know your name after about a month. the economics classes are great and interesting because they include current events. A100, basic accounting sucks. its notorious for being a horrible class that is a real pain for incoming freshman business students since you usually take it your freshman year. A lot of students study by themselves or in small groups with people from class who live in you residence hall.

A thing about the teachers at most schools is that if you talk to them and get them to know your name you will do better in the class. The big lecture halls make that difficult but all teachers have office hours and if I don't go into office hours I make a point of emailing my teacher every once in awhile so they will know who I am and they definitely appreciate you going out of your way for them. My favorite classes are obviously the ones in my major and then my least favorite are required ones outside my major but I feel like the requirements of classes outside your interest area are the ones that help you build a good foundation. I don't really enjoy english classes its just never been my thing but itll help me build a education foundation. Depending on the classes you take you may not have as much homework or reading to do but a class with alot will have an assignment everyday but they aren't too long usually. I would say that you get 16 hours a week if you keep on top of things. Classes at IUB are set up where you have to take a certain number of credit hours and each class is worth different amounts of hours. if you have a class that is 3 credit hours you will meet 3 hours a week usually and if you keep ontop of your work you should have three hours of work for a week. Again depending on the classes you take there will be participation. When you have a discussion section of a class you will be asked to participate and sometimes you can get some really stimulation conversations going. Lecture sections however will be more geared to getting your notes but smaller lectures will have participation and discussion. Most classes don't require you to go to class however some do and going to class is always a good idea and is recommended. There are certain people who can't hold a stimulating conversation but then there are people who can and if you look for friends who you can have intellectual conversations with I promise you that you can find those people here. IU students aren't really competitive in the classroom. There is kind of a general feeling that everyone wants to succeed in class. I am in a class called Compartive American Identities which is a pretty interesting class. I have never been interested by history but its fun to talk about the topics. Its a 2 hour course on tuesdays and thursdays which can wear you down but its still an interesting class. I am a psychology major. The psychology department is fantastic and I really enjoy my choice of major. When you get admitted to IU you usually apply to Univeristy Division however some student will apply as a direct admit to a certain school inside IU. I just got out of University Division and got admitted to the college of arts and sciences as a psychology major. In Univeristy Division they will help you understand how everything works and you are assigned to a counsler who helps you learn to pick classes. They make it really easy to understand the workings of IU. Most professors have busy schedules with office hours but if you want to get to know your teachers they would most likely be more than happy to sit down with you. I have never been the kind of person to go out to eat with professors but most teachers are really cool and like their students alot and will listen to what their students say and how their students feel. The other day I had a teacher hold me after class to ask me if I was feeling ok because you saw that I seemed out of sorts. Its entirely possible to get to know your teachers if you want. I like having requirements that are in all areas of learning. You will have to take english to math to social studies to science and you don't have to take alot outside your major but its kind of refreshing to have a class like that every once in a while. IU requires you to learn different areas of knowledge so that you can be a well rounded person. Graduate school is for getting a job undergrad is for making your well rounded and higher educated.

A lot of IU classes are huge lectures, and I like it. No subjective competition or teacher-student favoritism. Just hardcore grades and points. Yet a lot of classes are very small, beginning in your freshman year. And of course as you move up, they become smaller. However, the smaller the class, the more strict the attendance policy is. IUB students are not cutthroat competitive. If anything, I've noticed they are always willing to help or lend me notes if I miss class. We're in it together. I still think IU's admission requ's should be raised.

Most professors in classes outside of the intro classes will take the time to know your name and all of them are extremely helpful outside of class.

I've had quite a few large classes, but I've also had some great professors that I have been able to interact with and who are VERY helpful, some of which I still talk to occasionally and who would remember me even though I took their classes last semester. My favorite class is my History of Rock and Roll II class, by far. I am a music studies minor, and the class is excellent. It focuses on the music of the '60s and the professor is the greatest man to listen to. He is so knowledgable! I am sure, though, that once I take the Music of the Beatles class, that will be my favorite (and it is also taught by the same man, Glen Gass). My least favorite was Finite Math for the Sociological and Biological Sciences (A118) with Prof. Wheeler. Horrible requirement to fulfill, horrible class to sit through, waste of time, I didn't learn much of anything that is applicable to everyday life. I've met quite a few students who do the bare minimum of work, and then I've met quite a few who study MUCH more than anybody should (I DO live on an Honors floor, so this happens a lot). But go to the Library and it's always full of kids hitting the books. Class participation is much more common in smaller classes or upper level classes. It really depends on the teacher and how much they WANT you to participate. I have had some very interesting intellectual conversations outside of class, mostly with the people I live with. It really depends on the type of people you talk to. I haven't noticed much competitiveness yet, but I am a journalism major, so I might see it in the next few years (although they don't seem TOO intimidating so far). I think you'll find it more in the science majors and ESPECIALLY the business majors--they think they're gods. I would say that my History of Rock and Roll has by far been the most unique. IU was the first college in the nation to have classes like this, and we are lucky for it, although there are many other classes that might surprise you--we have a class about chocolate and one about beer, and I'm also taking one called "Elvis, Dylan, and Postwar America" that's great, too. I haven't gotten too heavily involved in my journalism major yet (although I was a direct admit), but I know that IU is known for its great J-school. The Honors program is tough to get into and I've talked to a few people that say it's too limited in its acceptance, but you'll have that. Also, it's focus is definitely on newspaper and PR, and other aspects like magazines, broadcast, and online media don't get as much attention as they should. My profs. have been wonderful so far, though, so no complaints, although the requirements for the major are a bit much, such as required Economics and Statistics, which for a person like me (I'd like to be a magazine editor) is a bit pointless. I have talked one on one with a professor or two outside of class, and I am actually studying abroad with a few other students with my History of Rock and Roll teacher in May. The requirements aren't too bad, although I feel the math/science requirements should be dependent on your major. I feel that in certain departments it is very much geared toward getting a job (like pre-Med and Business), but others are very open and let you take what you want from them.

Although IU is a large school, most classes have fewer than 30 students, so you're still able to have a lot of one-on-one contact with professors. IU has offered some really innovative classes - one class invited students to study World War II solely through comic books. The amount of studying obviously varies based on the individual, but my rule of thumb is that you get out what you put in; it's possible to scrape by in many classes with minimal effort, but at the end of the day, your diploma is going to be worth less. Many students take academics very seriously; we have students who go on to study at Oxford, Harvard, and other highly competitive universities. Although the school is technically a research institution, my experience has been that professors really do love to teach undergraduates and are very willing to work with students outside of class.

It's a tough game.

classes are good. a few school wide course. most professor willing to help lots of office hours the requirements seem fair favorite class corporate strategies least favorite a100 learning can be directed towards job or learning its up to you

At the moment, I do not have a favorite class or a least favorite class. They all are pretty equal this semester. My professors do know my name. During large lectures, participation is not frequent because it is usually a lecture, but during discussion sections, there is usually pretty decent amounts of student participation. Students study based on their work load, I think it is hard to judge the amount each student studies, it depends really on their work ethics.

Although one stereotype of IUB is having ALL 400+ lecture classes, is just not true. Although everyone who attends IUB is bound to have one of these classes, most of these classes also have a lab or discussion section, which is usually no more than 15 or 20 people. Although the professors who teach lecture are fabulous and really want you to succeed, the format of lab or discussion is to further engage the students in the class, making sure that everyone understands. At IUB, every student takes their academic work seriously. For many of the students on campus, weekday afternoons are spent at the library finishing homework or for group meetings.

My classes are good.

IU may be a state school with over 38,000 students, but so far through my freshman year, I've only had two classes with over 34 students, and even in those two large lectures with 250 people, my professor still knew my name! The faculty at Indiana University Bloomington is the school's greatest asset. However, make sure you take your adviser's words with a grain of salt. Although it's important to fulfill major requirements, make sure you take classes from multiple disciplines and utilize the wonderful resources and all departments on campus.

I have had eight true professors, two of which have known my name. That doesn't bother some people, I think it definitely gets old though. Office hours do help, but a lot of teachers still don't know your name after you go multiple times, and answering questions in class doesn't get you as far as everyone likes to say. Students in my classes have all been extremely competitive. IUB's academics in general are definitely geared towards getting a job. I would like the education to be more well-rounded. All I have taken so far are classes within my major and the future doesn't look much brighter for electives. I think other majors probably have a little more freedom in their course selections though.

In classrooms of 30 or less people my professors have always known my name. However, there are some classes with 100+ students and, of course, the teachers don't bother learning our names, and I don't blame them.

I do not know my professors by name sadly. As of now, my least favorite class has been Calculus and my favorite is still to be decided. I think students study more than most people think. I think we study at least 6 hours a day. Class participation depends on the class and the teacher I believe. I have been in a class where the teacher was dull and therefore students were not engaged. But with the right teacher, students really do get more involved. Since I am a dance major there is not as much actual homework, which is nice, but there is a lot more time that must go into it. With rehersals, we dance AT LEAST 16 hours a week, sometimes more. This makes me even more tired, on top of my limited sleep. I think the education at IUB is geared more towards just learnign then actually putting yourself out there, which is very problematic for me.

I know all of my professors by name. Class participation is very common in all of my classes. One of the most unique classes that I have taken is the American Musical class, which is a class devoted entirely to the history of musicals. The things that you learn at IU are geared towards getting a job I believe.

Some professors know my name while others wouldn't even recognize my face; it depends on the class. I hate calculus and love Spanish. Study time varies from student to student depending on their major and commitment. As a freshman, I am taking many introductory courses which involve lectures and do don't offer too much participation but I imagine the involvement will increase as I go on. The most unique class is a leadership course which requires you to meet with and advisor to critique you as a leader. You also have discussions with other students about your leadership experiences and go to speeches by famous leaders. Because I have recently switched my major from business to education so I am not completly familiar with my new department.

Some of the classes that I took last semester were pretty easy, but now they're getting more difficult. I have a mix between large lectures and small classes, and I don't really prefer one over the other. I make an effort to introduce myself to the professors so they (hopefully) know who I am. If I need help, I am comfortable going to office hours or arranging a meeting with a professor during the week, but I don't do that very often.

One of the most surprising things about IUB is that although the school is huge, the quality of classroom instruction is unparalleled. Class sizes, for almost all cases, are excellent, and professors are very passionate about getting to know their students as people; they try very hard to avoid the "just another face" attitude. Professors, with a few exceptions, are readily available to help students or just to chat, especially in the business school (my department). They in Kelley are truly devoted to helping prepare students for "life after college" and try to instill in us the idea that our time here is a means to an end (or rather, beginning- our future) rather than the end itself.

Some professors know your name, however, about one half of the classes are too big for the teacher to try. My favorite class has been Orville Powell's V161 Urban Problems and Solutions and E162 Environment and Public Policy, my least favorite was Y381. Most students do a lot of studying, however, there are many party-ers. Management in Public Affairs, through SPEA is one of the best majors available to those who are concerned about how the government works. The teachers are great and show concern that their students are learning correctly and take great pride at what they teach. The education at IU differs between departments, the business school and SPEA both take pride in gearing their students toward getting a job.

There are numerous professors that take the time to really know your name. I've had several classes where the teacher will recognize me which always amazes me. I am one of the students that learns more from listening to others comments than consistently raising my own hand. It's always wonderful when I have someone know who I am. I have so many classes and teachers that I have loved that I can't just narrow it down to one class. They have truly gone above and beyond in their teaching methods and have really sparked my interest in numerous classes. I've loved all my English classes as well as my gender study classes. I really enjoyed my business class on Operations as well. It was wonderful to listen and easy to understand what was being taught. I think that as far as intellectual conversation goes there is a mixture. Sometimes you can walk by people talking about the craziness that went on last night or at times you can hear someone talking about Chaucer or what other topic they have been discussing in class. I think one of the best classes on campus are the history of Rock 'n' Roll classes. I have loved every single one I have. The two teachers that teach those classes are some of the most amazing teachers I have ever had and you can tell they truly care about what they are teaching which makes the subject that more interesting. As for as gearing our education towards learning or getting a job, I think it's a little bit of both. I do wish that there was more required classes toward the end of our years in college that are about the job process and resume building. I think it would be helpful to have the same career services that are offered to the business school to all of the campus.

Though it is hard to skip all the huge lectures, it isn't hard to get to know professors if you make a little effort. In my lectures with several hundred students, the professor will call on people by name if they have come to office hours. I have also had several small classes, including a math class that I took through the honors college. There are many talented and studious people at IU and tons of great places to study. If you're looking for intellectual conversations outside the classroom, well, it depends on who you ask. Freshmen in the Northwest neighborhood (stereotypically) don't talk much intellect while students livign in other parts of campus are more likely to do so. Either way, IU has great academics .

Class participation is very common. Many professors have lecture style classes, but there are many classes that are very involved, especially as you get into higher level classes. The most unique class that I took in school was coaching football. Our class was taught by the head football coach, and was held at the football stadium. I also was able to attend practice. My major was sports marketing and management, with a minor in business. This major is intended for those who want to get into the business side of sports. I was able to learn a great deal, meet a lot of people within the industry, and gain a great deal of knowledge as I went into the real world. The major is heavily focused on businss, so I was able to take a lot of classes at one of the best business schools in the country. In addition, I was able to broaden my education with classes in science, math, and English. I felt that my education was really geared towards getting a job. In our major, there is a huge emphasis on the steps that need to be taken to break into a tough industry.

Right now, I'm taking five classes, and in four of those classes, the professor knows my name. The classes after the introductory level are pretty small. I'd say my average class size right now is about 10 students. My favorite class at IU was an experimental economics class, where we got to present research papers and be involved in the experiment that was conducted in the paper. Usually outside of language classes, class participation is optional. Outside of class, there's a lot of stereotypes. If you hang out with a bunch of frat guys, you'll get the typical meathead "how much can you bench" conversation. If you hang out with performing arts majors, you can find yourself discussing different types of plays. Typically, I probably put in about 4 hours of studying a day. I'm currently an economics, math, and Chinese major, and out of those three departments, I would say that the Chinese (EALC)department is the most involved. In all of my majors, I constantly get updates of job interviews, upcoming programs, and cool events. Most of my professors are involved with the campus outside of classes, so I see them on a regular basis. I'm taking a course right now called "Leadership In Cycling". It's essentially a course for student coaches of the Little 500 bike race. The instructor for the course is actually my coach for the race. All teachers are required to hold office hours, so getting in to see them is easy.

Shockingly most of my classes arent that big. Its an option. Freshman year I was in a 400 person class. However, for most classes a smaller section will be optional. In the two really large classes i've had they have met twice then on the third meeting it will be with a small "discussion group" of maybe twenty people maximum. Class size has never been an issue for me. If you are in a class of 80 or less your teacher will probably know your name. Most of your classes will be this size. In the sociology department the teachers are big on attendance. Obviously, its sociology so they want to see you interact and participate lol. Look up our specific majors, but IU is actually a really good school for certain ones. Highly ranked Business school, Journalism school, and Gender studies (human sexuality. We have the Kinsey institute on our campus)

Professors in small classes know your name. My favorite class is Russian, where we all know each other really well. My least favorite class is my Macroecon class because it has 350 people in it. Good students study all the time, bad students study about 3 hours a day, or else they'd flunk out. Class participation is common in classes where the teacher is friendly. There is little participation in math classes. Most students only talk about how wasted they got the night before, but there are also many who have intellectual conversations outside of class. The most unique class I've taken was Transylvania from historical and anthropological aspects. My Russian major is amazing, because you get to know everyone in the department and participate in Russian language events, plays, talent shows, and more. Econ is less exciting, but the adviser is the best one I've ever had. No one spends time with professors outside of class unless you go to office hours. IUBs academic requirements are fair, and useful. The IUB college of arts and sciences is about learning for its own sake. The School of Public and Environmental Affairs, HPER, and the Business school are geared toward getting a job.

I definitely wish classes were smaller. Professors rarely know who I am, unless they make a really concerted effort to learn names. A couple of my professors have actually learned names in bigger classes and it makes the class feel so much better. The best classes I've had have been tiny and discussion oriented. One of my favorites so far was in Religious Studies (outside both my majors) and was about gender in the Protestant Reformation. There were fewer than 20 people, and I was always motivated to do the reading because I wanted to have good discussions about it in class. In Poli Sci classes tend to be pretty huge but some of them have been amazing nonetheless. I've had a couple professors with really high expectations. In my modern political thought class the prof really expected us to be able to make and defend points in clear and concise ways and he only gave two A's. I (not so) secretly LOVE classes like that because it really means something when I get an A, and I feel like I learn so much from professors who are really pretty brilliant. At the same time I think that most poli sci classes are pretty down-to-earth and practical. That is, the exams tend to be really straightforward and easy to follow if you've been keeping up with class and doing homework. Because classes are so huge (and maybe because students are apathetic) there isn't much debate in class, which I would expect in a poli sci department. I think there's definitely a huge focus on getting a job--a HUGE percentage of people just seem to want to go to law school, whereas I find the study of politics genuinely fascinating. So that can be frustrating. Gender studies is interesting. It's interdisciplinary and I actually have taken several gender-related classes outside the department. I wish I could use more of those classes. My senior seminar in gender studies (called Gender and Population Problems) was unique and fabulous--the professor was into non-traditional and visual means of learning and so I got to make posters and draw and stuff. We would read these very serious academic demography articles and then draw "graphic novels" interpreting them. For our final paper, we had to write 10 pages of research and then present it in a non traditional manner; I created a series of postcards and flyers and even designed a t-shirt! It was pretty amazing. I've spent time with a couple professors outside of class but usually it's something class-related at their house. I find office hours INCREDIBLY intimidating, even with the most approachable professors. For my Leadership, Ethics, and Social Action seminar my professor invited us to her house, which is on the edge of a state forest, and we went on a hike with these two active environmentalists and then cooked out in her firepit. It was so exciting! I love academics (I'm kind of a nerd) but I also really like the classes that are a little bit non-academic and non-traditional. For example last semester I took indoor rock climbing and it was a great way to unwind for a couple of hours and get some exercise too. Do people talk about intellectual things outside of class? Not really. I mean, I do sometimes, and I like talking politics and gender and sexuality issues but a lot of people don't really. And sometimes it gets competitive, with people trying to show off how smart they are instead of just wanting to engage it conversation for the sake of it.

In the big lectures, it's easy to get lost. But a lot of classes are very small. It's really just a mixture of both, depending on your major. Some students are very, very motivated and intelligent. Oftentimes, these are the Business School students, since IUB has a great business program. Other kids just party all the time and fail their classes. IUB academic requirements are improving... every year, they up their requirements for SATs, GPAs, etc. However, there are some people here that probably shouldn't be. The journalism school is very career-oriented. From day 1, they push students to get internships, jobs, attend workshops, etc.