Academic Instincts (Use the Force, Luke)

Now that classes have begun, it's time to talk about something extremely important, especially for new students.  As you enter each new class, your spider senses are going to start tingling.  You may find yourself feeling particularly bad vibes about one class, while another class makes you sit up and pay attention...a huge smile appearing on your face.  These are your academic instincts making their first appearances.  Learn to trust them.

I've always been one to trust my gut instincts about things--I've been told that "theatre people" (and yes, it does have to be said with the dreaded air quotes) are especially sensitive to vibes, mojo, juju, and any other euphemism for the general "feel" of something.  But every student can develop these extrasensory gifts when it comes to their classes, as long as they know what to look for.

Listen to the idle chatter around you.  If you hear more than five students say, "this is the second time I've taken this class.  I hope I pass the damn thing this time!" the hairs on the back of your neck should start to prickle.  Focus in on who is doing the talking.  Do these stellar students look like they've slept in their clothes?  Do they, perhaps, look as if they spend an inordinate amount of their time partying?  This can tell you that you're actually going to have to attend the class and concentrate on the work required.  Remember, there is no such thing as a "blow-off class".

Take a look at the professor.  We often don't realize how much information we acquire from body language.  When the professor walks in the room, is he or she actually looking in the eyes of his or her students?  Or is he/she looking at the ground?  A professor who is actually engaging their students with eye contact from the moment they open the door is something you want...a professor who doesn't even want to look at you, probably not going to be as engaging or exciting in the classroom.

How big is the class?  Yes, large classes are a necessity if you are in a larger university environment.  You're going to have some classes that have more than 300 students in them.  But it is very difficult to have any kind of personal academic relationship with your instructor when you're one of 300 students.  How do you distinguish yourself from the pack?  Who are you going to turn to when you have questions?  If this large class is a requirement, make sure there are lines of communication clearly established in the course syllabus (who can you e-mail if you have a question?  Will the professor actually be available for office hours?)

How many TAs are there?  Do me a favor, if you're in one of those gi-normous classes, count the number of TAs that surround the professor on the first day.  If the TAs are forming an impenetrable wall around your instructor, bombarding him or her with their questions (usually about upcoming thesis projects), the chances are VERY slim that your sorry ass will ever get within twenty feet of the professor.  Approachability is incredibly important, especially in your first year of college.  And, as I've said before, TAs are still learning how to teach...they can do more harm than good (although some of them are lovely).

Take a look at the syllabus.  I can't stress enough how important a syllabus is in determining your future in any given course.  If you remember nothing else, remember this: the syllabus is your contract with the professor (funny, I think I've written that before!)  You need to read and understand what is expected of you.  Some professors will write incredibly detailed syllabi, including honor code, school holidays, weapons policies, religious holidays, emergency procedures, the air-speed velocity of the European swallow, and migratory patterns of the guinea hen (ok, not the last two, but you get the picture).  You should expect to see due dates for major assignments and tests (if these are NOT present on your syllabus, that is a HUGE warning sign that your professor is fairly disorganized...take note.)  Take a look at the work load for the course and consider that work load in comparison to the work load for your other courses.

Listen to the professor lecture.  Is he or she engaging and interesting to listen to?  Or have they learned their teaching style from Ben Stein in Ferris Bueller's Day Off?  Does your professor whip out the laptop and lecture directly from a powerpoint presentation (there is a particularly hideous ring of hell reserved for people who do this.  I have been known to create voodoo dolls of anyone I know who reads off of a powerpoint presentation.  If you have to give a presentation in class, don't even THINK about merely reading a powerpoint.  Bad people do that....seriously, I think Hitler read his presentations from powerpoints).  

If, at the end of one class, or two, you have a weird feeling in the pit of your stomach, run (and I mean RUN...no walking) to your advisor's office.  Some advisors will understand when you say that you have bad juju about a class--I've said it myself and I get it when my students say it to me.  If your advisor is a bit more square-shaped, spell out the situation.  Were you bored out of your skull?  Tell them!  Do you feel like the work load for that one class, on top of your other classes, is going to be too much?  Say that!  You need to understand that your advisor can NOT help you unless you tell us what is going on in your head.  Don't worry about sounding or feeling stupid.  I guarantee that I have said or done far more idiotic things in my life.  My response will always be, "no worries, how can I help?"  If you are specific about what is freaking you out (work load, too big of a class, boring professor), we will do our best to help you through the crisis.

Now that I have lifted a huge metaphorical X-Wing Fighter out of the swamp of ignorance, I'm going to bed (I really have to stop watching Star Wars so much).