My S has 3 classes that require an iClicker 2 this semester. They seem common in large classes. My D had one for several large classes but my other S never needed one at his school (much smaller classes all years).
Made the mistake of looking up a couple of Dās potential professors on ratemyprofessors. Wonāt be doing that again! :-S
So my mom and I have been trying to figure out the bill access thing. Turns out it is the system they used last year not this year. Thatās why it wasnāt working! ~X(
Bad @LexieAnn?
Itās difficult to sift through and find the truth on rate my professor. My older S would use that a little, but didnāt put much stock in it for choosing his classes. You never know if the negative kids actually put in the required effort/went to class/did the homework, etc.
True @psychmomma Only 2 of my 6 professors for this semester were on there and both had favorable reviews. Plus upperclassmen speak very highly of 4 of the 6 of them.
My S found better info asking around, although he had a few classes where his classmates and good friends hated the prof and he loved the prof.
Some school reddit pages have interesting threads where kids are asking about a certain class and other kids will jump in with opinions on the professors. I canāt say if these are any more legitimate, but they seem like honest expressions.
Also- it was interesting to see some threads have professors jumping in to help students with their questions about programs, classes, campus, etc.
When my DD was taking classes at our local cc we used to check rating on ratemyprofessor. It was somewhat helpful. DD doesnāt have her schedule yet, but when choosing adviser she could not find them on ratemyprofessor.
@Undercovermom1, just 1 was especially bad. But like @psychmomma said, I probably need to take it with a grain of salt. Part of it was someone angry they got a B. Somewhat timely with our recent discussion about how grades will probably be different in college. I know once students are actually on campus, they will find their tribe and have people they trust to give recommendations on what classes to take/avoid, same with professors. Itās just the planner in me that would go through that and stack a schedule full of 5 star professors.
Actually, itās probably good that wasnāt around when I went to school, especially with some classes I had to take for my major that were only taught by one person. And he was hard. And there was no avoiding it. So, better not to read all kinds of people complaining about how awful it was ahead of time. LOL
@psychmomma just ordered our DSās first book - his stats professor sent out an email to describe what they actually need/donāt need to save $$ with purchasing the text. I found a good used one on Amazon. The other classes are confusing - it says estimated book costs and lists a bunch, but I canāt tell which ones he actually needs.
I see the iClicker on there for his Economics class, looks like he can buy a 1 or 4 year license. Any advice from those with older kids in college? I canāt tell if heāll only need this for his Econ class. Most of his classes are small at his college (30 - 40 students max), and only Econ shows the clicker so far. Heās in computer information systems, so I donāt know if he will ever use the iClicker again after Econ classes (he takes 2).
I look at ratemyprofessor the way I look at Yelp or Trip Adviser. For every 5 star review, there is one with a terrible report. One person will say it was the cleanest, most hospitable, comfiest hotel at that price range EVER, and the next will mention dirty carpet and scummy sinks. So I go with the average and call it good. I suspect professors get rated the same way. Student A loves the guy, would take as many classes at he teaches, Student B warns kids to avoid at all costs.
D has found more useful talking to the kids on GroupMe. Itās a small school, so chances are for many classes there is no choice of profs. So it helps to know in general what the kids think, knowing that YMMV for each and every one.
We leave a week from today. It seems like there are 9,000 little things that absolutely, positively have to be done by then. Tonight is the last conference call with the school, and nearly every key department (FA, business, Residence Life, etc.) will be involved. Weāre planning on listening in, but I suspect we wonāt have much of a chance to ask questions with that many people on board and all the parents who will call in. But we may learn something important.
We have a last shot, a last trip to the unmentionables department, a last stop for more space bags (not enough of the best size, too many of the wrong size), more iās to dot and tās to cross involving school documents, things to order from Amazon sent to the school, and a decision about books she knows she will use and ordering them now or waiting until school starts. Most all will be rentals for $30 or less. Yay. Oh, and a form for the scholarship her church awarded her that has to be sent to the school. Kinda wish theyād awarded it sooner than last week though.
Iām tired already.
Iām so glad I still have time before college. Last night I talked to one friend nervous about his orientation today and another super nervous about moving in/starting her sport next week. And X-rays confirmed I still have a sinus infection after a month and 2 rounds of antibiotics. So now on to the 3rd round. Ugh
@sseamom - my stomach dropped when I read that you leave in one week. This summer has flown by and wonāt slow down. Good luck tying up loose ends.
On the good news front, older S decided to take a week off and visit us two days after S moves away. Lol. He did ask if we were going to be too depressed and ruin his visit. Iām sure the distraction will be good and will postpone my emptyish nest for an additional week.
@psychmomma youāre not kidding! Shortest summer ever! Weāve decided that the driverās license isnāt going to happen. D is annoyed, but with her working 5 days a week we just ran out of time.
@readingclaygirl I hope your sinus infection clears up. I had one last year and it really knocked me down.
And I just found out that my older D has been working 7 days a week because her restaurant is short a manager (sheās an assistant manager). She wonāt even be able to come see Sseakid before she leaves, so weāre all going to eat at her restaurant next Monday since itās their slow day. Older D works nights and sleeps days so we wonāt get any other way for the sisters to see each other before we leave! :((
My daughter has to have a clicker for her physcics class for class participation. I think this is the only one she gets a grade for homework and class participation.
Iām glad you get to do that! Iām sorry my older two wonāt see S before he leaves, but they can text and FaceTime.
Are your kids bringing stuffed animals to school? My S has a bunch. I think his pokeball and pikachu may be going, as well as an emoji pillow. He has an alien he got when he was 2, and itās been on his bed all these years. His fabric is see-through and his antennas pop out. He will stay home. Gosh, he will need to scoot over - Iāll be laying on that bed in tears in 23 days.
D has a collection of stuffed giraffes that are staying home. But as a little kid she had Lambie (Lamby?) who was a Beanie Baby. Heās kind of old and ratty and she doesnāt sleep with him anymore, but for a long time she couldnāt sleep without him. She had a second one Lambie 2 that traveled with her, but was not as loved. H decided she needed a new Lambie to take with her so he had me scouring Goodwill for one-and I found a brand new, no longer valuable as a collectorās item one. He plans to secretly leave Lambie 3 on her bed. Mr. āIām going to do cartwheels down the sidewalk after we drop her offā is actually as sentimental as I am.
Yes. @psychmomma All the ādoās and dontās of packing for collegeā articles Iāve read peg them as a ādonātā but I donāt care! Iām bringing 2- my stuffed bear Iāve had since I was 6 and a little stuffed monkey from the college bookstore. If my sister was not living at home for college, who knows how many she would bring! We call her the stuffed animal queen- they take up half the full sized bed and she has 3 nets full of them. Although approximately half of those in the nets belong to me! :))
Marquette is an iclicker school, D16 has several classes. I donāt have to buy the clicker right, she can just down load an app on her smartphone right?
When I went to orientation several weeks ago the psychologist recommended making their new room as close to their old room as possible including bringing stuffed animals or blankets to aid in the transition. My son will not be taking any animals but wants to take his Eagle Scout blanket .