13 Things Students Love to Hate About College

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I think a complaint more interesting than the ones you mentioned (which are really just run of the mill everyday-type complaints) is that concerned with whether what you're learning actually matters. My major was Political Science, and throughout I would question whether my mind was being warped to accept pseudo-intellectual BS as important. I mean, I'm not saying the stuff was or was not important, but there was always that question... "does this even matter? What's the point?" I think that's a big complaint a lot of students have, unless they really love their subject from the get-go. I think what I've taken away most from College is not a wealth of "Political Science" knowledge, but knowledge about myself. I think I know myself more than before, and I know a little more about "life" (yeah yeah, whatever that means). But, I definitely don't give two hoots about whatever my major was. What was it, again? Pol... Pharmaceuticals? I forget...

Brandon of AL 2:59PM January 10, 2013

Transfer to Michigan State. They don't have them. Or essay tests either. Or projects. Just multiple choice tests. Classes are so big that if it isn't machine scored, they won't know if you passed the midterm until two years after you graduated.
Also, the social life is excellent. Notice the following statistics from just one issue of "Educational Statistics" (a kind of Book of Lists for educators):
1. Ranked 2-4th in gun arrests nationwide.*
2. Ranked 2-4th in alcohol rehab rates nationwide.*
3. Ranked 2-4th in drug arrests nationwide.*
*one category was 2d, one 3d, one 4th, but I forget which was which
4. 5th nationwide in "worst faculty". (This is a distorted statistic. If they fired the phys ed department, it would be 2d.)
It was easier than high school, but quite a bit tougher than junior high.
So does that make me a college graduate. (College was desparate to get good students. Gave me a scholarship when I hadn't even applied. Miserly parents took low bid. It was either there or Viet Nam. Made wrong choice, took scholarship.)

Brent Welke of IN 6:20PM November 07, 2009

Students today hate to read or do anything outside class. Multi-tasking is just not working for this generation of scholars. These students need to get serious and develop good work attitudes about school and life in general.
I am lucky in that I teach technical courses with a lot of hands-on labs and that helps keep students interested.
Sometimes the problem is the structure of the classes. Three hour lectures should be abolished.

sirteachyou of PA 8:38PM October 31, 2009

I have been practicing law for 22 years and attended Vanderbilt University 1980-84. At Vandy, I studied nearly every day and "earned" (in every sense of the word) A's and B's. I could not afford to party Thursday-Saturday like many of my classmates because, quite honestly, I didn't think I would pass unless I studied 24-7.
That said, half the professors that I encountered at Vanderbilt were inept at teaching. They couldnt hold the interest of a majority of the class. I was able to focus and force myself to "get through" the class due to my fear that if I missed something it would make a difference between a B or a D in the class.
But I am not like all students. Half of the class was naturally brilliant. Not me. I had to work for it. It seemed like 80% of the class was partying Thursday-Saturday yet they were still able to score high enough on papers and exams to make that my 100% effort look like "just a B" while their 50% effort resulted in an A.
Anyway, when I hear professors complain that 50% of the class is texting, surfing or sleeping I recall an old lawyer joke that applies here. During a trial, a lawyer noticed that one of the jurors was sleeping during his closing argument. When the lawyer asked the judge to wake up the sleeping juror, the judge replied "I'm not the one who put him to sleep, counselor."
So yes, 50% of the class isn't paying attention but that could be due to the proessor being genetically incapable of speaking in something other than a monotone. And that's why 50% of the professors will not make tenure. Good luck teaching at the local community college or high school.

Steve Ireland of TX 6:26PM October 31, 2009

As a college professor, I am amazed at the stuff 50% of my students put my way and call it quality. They try to pass off the absolute minimum work they can but find it critical to spend hours in Word of Warcraft, Facebook or partying. These are the ones that typically complain about being 'bored'.
We're not blind. We can see you sleeping in class, texting, surfing.. whatever. We also know you are probably not going to walk down the aisle in four years because you make excuses for everything you do. Best of luck at McDonalds. Oh, BTW, the other 50% of you are going to have great careers. I wonder what group you will be in? You can choose that right now.
As a prof, I spend many hours 'prepping' for class, delivering the material as best I can, and assessing the work, both good and bad handed in. If students put half the time we put into making the course happen, they would easily get very good grades. It's easy assessing A work. It gets progressively harder for the rest. It pains us seeing people fail. We know what that can mean for the rest of your life.
While you will have some profs just trying to get by, the majority are in it to help students achieve their dreams. Help us by doing your part.

New Media Prof of MI 11:15AM October 31, 2009

I agree with most of these complaints. But there is one complaint I cannot stomach: "My professor is unbelievably boring."
Do students really expect to be entertained for an hour every time they to class? Perhaps many of them have gone to the typical high school where most of what is learned is either hands-on or based on projects. In either case, they've probably not developed much mental stamina for any kind of discourse-based instruction. Perhaps they're inept at conversation themselves, particularly if anyone expects them to share a new insight.
When I went to college, I never went into the classroom with this you-owe-me attitude when it came to feeling entertained. If I felt uneasy, it was because I thought that I might not have a good enough question to ask or a sincere and meaningful opinion to share. There were instructors that could have some annoying habits, like not adequately expressing their expectations for a difficult paper. I also didn't care much for some of the teaching of the natural sciences when it seemed that the learned had no helpful way to connect to those who've seldom learned just by immersion in formalisms. Put I never felt they were obliged to entertain me.
The prospects for a student who complains about the boredom of lectures are certainly not all bleak. In fact, those who hate lectures or rigorous reading have an outstanding aptitude for teaching in K-12. There are fewer places where lectures and reading (not for the enhancement of skills) are so often disparaged.
I must disclose that I'm not a college instructor. In fact, I teach in secondary education.

Teacher of VA 6:17PM October 28, 2009