Naomi Rockler-Gladen's Blog

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

Ah, college weed out classes. These are introductory courses that are designed to scare students away from overly popular majors by weighing them down with excessive amounts of very difficult work. Here's what you need to know about these miserable educational experiences:

College Weed Out Courses

For some students, the weed out class is a rite of passage that stands between them and a major they're going to love. But for other students -- even those who make it through the weed out class with decent grades and a semblance of sanity -- the weed out class might be a message that this may not be the right major for you.

This was my experience with psychology. I took General Psychology my freshman year, as I thought I wanted to major in psych. The class was a typical weed out class, and it was miserable. The professor was unfriendly and unhelpful, and the TA was even more so. After getting a C on the midterm, I was determined not to let this class get the best of me. I got an A in the class.

However, I still let myself get weeded out. In the process of studying psych so intently, I decided that I really didn't like it much. If your major is the right one for you, you won't mind a little pain and suffering now and then as you learn the material -- and I was not getting anything pleasurable out of my hard, hard work. So I went shopping for other majors, and let myself get weeded out.

Besides, do you really want to be part of a department that seeks to get rid of prospective students? Sometimes, it's okay to let yourself get weeded out.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

Senior year is fun--but it's also stressful. For many students, true independence from your family is about to happen for the first time. You also have to say goodbye to the identity of being a student and figure out who you are in the real world.

I remember Senior Week at Rutgers University. Everyone was having a good time, but there was an undercurrent of sadness that no one was talking about. I was standing on a balcony overlooking the Raritan River with my friend Steve, and he voiced what a lot of us were thinking. "I'm scared about what I'm going to do with my life," he said.

This surprised me, as Steve was one of the brainiest and most practical people I knew. Sure enough, he went into software design and has become very successful. I knew he would.

Myself, I wasn't stressed out about the future too much because I thought I had all the answers. Lacking financial support from my family, and too chicken to experiment much with the real world, I got myself accepted to grad school so I could become a professor. I stayed true to this safe path for a long time and was a professor for eight years, until I finally realized what an awful choice this was for me. So then I got brave and became a freelance writer.

Seniors, if you're freaking out about the future, hang in there. You really don't have to have all the answers. Steve didn't, and he did fine. I though I did, and it took me a long time to make the right turn-- and I'm fine, too. Trust in yourself to go fumble around the real world for awhile and discover your path.

Here's more about the senior year graduation blues.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

The Princeton Review's coveted annual list of top party schools is out, and the University of Florida is on top. But how much does this list matter? Should worried parents automatically cross these schools off their list? Should students who want to party flock to these places? Like all of The Princeton Review's helpful rankings, students and parents need to understand that these are just a tool. They can help you gather information about what a school is like, but they shouldn't be your only source of information.

A few years back, I spent a year teaching at Indiana University. Lo and behold, that was the year IU was voted Top Party School. I wondered if my classes were going to be filled with students who could care less about academics.

Here's the thing: they weren't. Sure, I had some slackers, and more than one student who slept through my 1:30 p.m. class. But overall, my IU students were more interested in learning and thinking critically about issues than any students I've ever had. No lie.

IU is a big place--as are most of the schools on the top party list. Many students party--and many are involved with all the other things that campus has to offer, like sports, political activism, music, and yes, great classes. Even though I've not much of a partier, I would have loved going to IU.

So, don't rule out party schools--or rule them in without thought. Yes, there are campuses where partying really does dominate. But on others, partying is just one of many things students do.

Read more about the significance of the party school list.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

Yes, I'll admit it-- when it comes to TV, my tastes can be somewhat sleazy. So yes, I've been watching CBS' light summer favorite Swingtown, a nighttime soap about 1970s suburbanites that sort of pretends to be a period piece.

Anyway, amidst all the lurid bedhopping of the middle aged adults, Swingtown features a budding relationship between the main couple's college student daughter, Laurie, and her philosophy professor. Apparently he's quite fond of dating his students--but only his smart students.

Granted, Swingtown isn't exactly the best source of realism, but I'm always amused--and a little bit disturbed--by how professor student relationshops are portrayed on TV and in the movies. Yes, these relationships are sometimes portrayed as the source of job-related problem. In the case of Swingtown, Laurie's stereotypically dumb lifeguard ex-boyfriend is threatening to report her relationship with his uber-smart competition to the school. Nonetheless, these relationships always seem easier than they really are, without the complicated power discrepancies that can exist between a student and her (or his) current or former teacher.

Remember when Ross dated one of his students on Friends? Ross eventually dumped her because she was too immature, but he seemed awfully quick to jump at the chance to date a student. Most professors (most, I say, not all) have the sense to stay away from these kinds of entanglements.

Thinking about dating your professor (or your student)? Here's what you should know about professor-student relationships.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

Ever think about taking a year off beforecollege? For many, this isn't just a fantasy. The so-called "gap year" is becoming so common that industries have sprung up to help young people plan activities during their year off. During the gap year, students do all kinds of things--earn money, travel, do charity or missionary work, teach English or work abroad, and so forth.

Is this the right choice for you? Clearly, there are advantages and disadvantages to the gap year-- and it's not for everyone.

However, my experiences as a professor lead me to think that many students would benefit from this alternative. Seems to me that an awful lot of students are in college because they feel they have to be. A gap year could help students figure out if college is really for them.

And yes, in my experience, many students don't have the maturity they need to get the most out of college. Heck, I'm not completely sure that I had this maturity. A year of having to make your own decisions, and of seeing the world from different perspectives, can make a difference as you begin your college experience.

Keep this in mind: in many countries, it's not the norm to go right from high school to college. For example, in Israel, high school graduates have mandatory military service (three years for boys, two for girls). And after the military, young Israelis commonly travel for months or a year before finally going to college. With that kind of experience in your past, you're bound to be able to handle common college stressors better.

Again, the gap year isn't for everyone. But if you're unsure if college should be your next step, investigate this option, which is growing in popularity quickly.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

For students who don't want to be a "number" on a huge state university campus, liberal arts colleges provide a welcoming alternative. But are these schools affordable? A year at an average state school will run you about $13,000, including tuition, room, board, and fees. At a liberal arts college, the price can easily be three times this amount-- or more!

So are liberal arts colleges only for rich kids? Absolutely not. In fact, most liberal arts schools are pretty anti-elitist, and the last thing they want is to fill their campuses up exclusively with kids who can afford a $160,000 education out of pocket. If a liberal arts college thinks you're a good enough student and a good enough match to get admitted, they will try their very best to make sure you can afford it.

Liberal arts colleges regularly give large need-based awards that are based on the data from your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Many schools will give students need-based scholarships that cover a large percentage of their projected need--and some schools give awards that take care of most or all of the need. On top of this, students can take out loans and receive addition financial aid from outside the school.

In addition, there's also merit-based scholarships. If you're an excellent student, you may be eligible for both a large need-based and a large merit-based scholarship. Students in this category may find that a liberal arts college is actually more affordable than a state school.

Of course, this doesn't include everyone. Those price tags are high, and there may just be schools you cannot afford no matter what. But if you're committed to the idea of a liberal arts education, you absolutely should not let the price tags prevent you from applying.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

When I was a professor, I always felt a pang of envy when I watched students take notes on their laptops. Being a bit of a techno-geek, I would have loved that!

Sadly, back in the day when I was an undergraduate, I didn't even own a computer. Very few students, as those coveted little Apples ran around $3000 apiece--over three times as much as the fabulous laptop I use to type these blog posts-- and contained only laughable amounts of memory. I stood in line for hours sometimes for the privilege of typing my papers on a computer in the campus lab. So the concept of being able to actually carry around a computer and use it to take notes in class was like something out of a science fiction movie.

So I'm the kind of student who would have loved to have taken notes on a laptop. But is this the best strategy for you? Cool as this concept may sound, it requires that you have above average typing skills and lots of comfort with your computer. It also means you need to be able to resist temptation. Sadly, my own powers of concentration aren't stellar, so I suppose Facebook and IM and Solitaire and all the other cool stuff you can do on a laptop besides listening to that soporific history professor would have a problem for me! If you can't resist the goodies, maybe you should stick with a pen and paper.

Here are some pros and cons to keep in mind of laptop computer class notes versus paper class notes.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

Thanks to the Internet, it's become easier than ever for prospective students to check out college campuses. Colleges and universities have their own websites, where you can find valuable information about majors, student life, financial aid, and all kinds of stuff. Many websites even offer virtual tours, so you can get a good idea of what the campus looks like. And with lots of college ranking sites online, like the Princeton Review, students can get lots of information about schools without ever leaving their computer.

But does all of this replace a traditional visit to a college campus? Of course not. Yes, if you truly are unable to travel to a campus you are considering--for financial or other reasons--a campus tour might be a decent substitution. But if at all possible, spend at least a day on campuses that interest you.

Why is this so important? Well, for one thing, keep in mind that the college website is, in part, a public relations tool. The website isn't going to lie about what's available on campus, but they also want to portray the school in the best light possible. You need to get a feel for the campus, warts and all.

In addition, there's really no substitute for being there, walking around, attending a class or two, and finding out what everyday life is like on campus. Shopping for a college isn't like shopping for a sweater, which you probably feel perfectly comfortable buying online. Shopping for a college is like buying a house. You're going to live there for a significant period of your life. You wouldn't buy a house online-- and you shouldn't buy a college this way either.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

High school students: are you ready to go to college? Really ready? If you're not sure, here's an article that may help you:

Are You Ready for College?

Here's the thing: higher education involved a major commitment of time, money, and willingness to learn. It's also a choice, and in my experience as a professor, I don't think that students always recognize this. Colleges and universities are filled with students who are miserable and/or resentful because they really don't want to be there, and don't realize that they don't have to be there.

Here are some reasons why people choose to go to college. If these are the only reasons why you want to continue with your education, consider other alternatives:

• It's the "thing to do" after high school is over.
• It's the norm for people in my community and/or social class to attend college after high school.
• My parents expect me to go.
• My high school friends are all going.
• My boyfriend/girlfriend is going.
• People will think I'm dumb or lower class if I don't go.
• I have to go because otherwise, I won't be able to live the lifestyle I want.

All of these reasons point to one major expectation: people see higher education as a prerequisite to a middle class lifestyle. There's something to this, as people with college educations often have more earning potential. However, this isn't always the case--and it's also the case that people with technical or business school degrees, or no degrees at all, can do well financially.

Look into all your options. If you step into that college classroom that first day and don't feel at least a little bit excited, you may be in the wrong place.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

Looking for a great professor? Here are some tips for choosing a college instructor or professor:

How to Choose a Good Professor

However, keep this in mind: the best professor for you might not be the best professor for everybody.

In fact, looking for a teacher that suits is a little like dating. (No, don't date your professor, as that's generally a bad idea.) In the dating world, there's always this "perfect catch" who has all those qualities everyone wants: looks, smarts, charisma, a good income, a good family, and so forth. That's the obvious choice, and this person is probably in demand.

On the other hand, if you open your mind when dating, you're likely to come across a "diamond in the rough" candidate who doesn't look as good on paper (or probably in person) than the "perfect catch." But the more you get to know this person, the more you realize he or she has other unique qualities, and that he or she does possess those things you need, if not in such an obvious way.

Some professors are the equivalent of the perfect catch. They're charismatic, entertaining, and probably great teachers. But there are other shyer, weirder, and possible even somewhat boring teachers on your campus that have quite a bit to offer as well-- and these teachers might be a better match for your needs than you realize.

When asking student's opinions about why they do and don't like their professor, listen hard. Are these reasons that are actually important to you? And remember, public opinion isn't everything. Stop by a lecture or two or a professor's office hours to get a better feel for what this person is really like.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

Commuting-- that's a great way for students to save money, right? Live with Mom and Dad in your old room, eat their food, and drive to school every day. Oh wait... there's that "drive to school every day" part, huh? Now that gas prices are commonly up to $4 a gallon and more, suddenly commuting is no longer such a cost effective alternative to living on campus. Read more about this problem in this article from The Houston Chronicle:

A Change in Course for College Students

One solution that students are choosing is carpooling. Students don't always love this, as it limits their freedom to come and leave campus as they like-- but they do love the reduction in fuel expenses. And for some students, public transportation to school is becoming a popular option--although this only works for those who live in relatively urban areas.

So, students are making do. But what an incredible shame that commuting is becoming such an expensive option. College students have become the victims of two economic crises-- rising tuition and rising fuel prices. The ability to live at home can help offset the expense of tuition a bit, but when commuting becomes expensive as well, students have fewer options. And like everything else, it's students and families who don't have much money in the first place who are burdened most by this double whammy-- including nontraditional students who are trying to balance work, family, and school.

If you can make do without a car, students, do it. Here's an article that might help:

Should College Students Own Cars?

Best of luck with school, students-- and with getting there.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

As high school students prepare for college, how involved should their parents be in the process? Families differ quite a bit in their approach. In some families, parents do it all; the FAFSA, help with the applications, keeping track of deadlines, driving their kids for college tours, the works.

And in some families (like mine, as a matter of act), parents don't help much at all. Kids are mostly on their own, except for the FAFSA, which parents have to fill out if they want their kids to receive financial aid.

Of course, there are lots of families that fall somewhere in between as well. So what approach is right for you?

As a former professor, I can tell you that some kids really need a lesson in figuring things out for themselves. They seem lost by the simplest of problem solving tasks, and completley overwhelmed by time management and deadlines. Thus, I suspect that many parents help too much with things like college applications, and would do better to let their children figure things out for themselves-- or at least some things, like deadlines.

On the other hand, some kids--like myself--received precious little help with this confusing process. Parents can be a huge help to students in helping to organize paperwork, visiting schools, and just being a source of moral support. A lack of help can put kids at a distinct disadvantage.

Talk to your kids about the college application process, and figure out what role you will play in assisting. If possible, meet with the student's guidance counselor to help figure this kind of stuff out. Good luck with the college application process!

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

Let's face it-- not everyone gets into their first choice colleges. But if you have your heart set on your first choice school, should you try to get in the following year by transferring in from a backup school?

This depends on your situation. If you're going to try this, you need to make sure the first choice school really is the best choice for you-- and that the backup school can't offer you exactly what you want or need. Keep in mind that transferring is a big hassle. You usually lose credits, and you have to go through that horrible freshman year adjustment period all over again. If you're going to go through that, make sure the transfer is absolutely worth it.

Second, do your research and find out how difficult it is to transfer to your first choice school. If you can, visit the school and talk to admissions officer. At some schools-- especially elite ones-- it's more difficult to get in as a transfer than it is a graduating senior, even if you do really well your freshman year at your backup school.

If you're attending a school with the intention to transfer, do everything you can to make the most of your life at your new school. This is important partly because a transfer is no guarantee. It's also important because if you give your new school a chance, you may find that it's a perfect wonderful match for you-- and then you can avoid the hassle of transferring. And even if you do transfer successfully, it's a good idea to make the most out of your time at the backup school, as you'll be spending a year or two in this environment and want to have the most valuable experience that you can.

Good luck with your college applications!

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

Is it a good idea to get married as soon as you graduate from college?

Sometimes. I certainly know people who have been together since college. My sister in law got married right after college, and she and my brother-in-law are now expecting twins-- and I can't imagine a couple that's more compatible. And a good friend of mine who got married during college has been with her husband for almost 15 years.

But I also know quite a few people who got married right after college who got divorced, and quickly. I was so excited to attend the wedding of one of my students last summer, only to find that they split up less than a year later. And this story is not the least bit unusual.

Students, if you are considering getting married, please think about putting it off for just a little while-- even if you're pretty sure you know it's the right decision. This is such a major commitment, and the last thing you want to have going on as you start your new life is a bad marriage and/or a divorce. Take the time to get to know each other in a setting outside of school, and spend a little time getting your career and your life outside of college together before you make this huge commitment.

In some places, it's common to get married young, so people feel pressure and get married because it seems like the thing to do when college ends. I taught at a little college in small town Minnesota for a few years, and those rings started popping up on girls' fingers like a fashion trend. Thankfully, many of those marriages are going strong. But others are not.

Here are some things to think about regarding marriage after college.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

When I taught college, one of the most frustrating things for me was how ill prepared students were to write college level papers. Many high school students are not graduating with skills that professors expect them to understand.

This results in both frustrated students and frustrated professors, and with grades that aren't as high as they should be. Unfortunately, this also sometimes results in lowered standards, as many professors give up after reading enough inadequate papers and don't require elements of paper writing that students really do need to know. Of course, this hurts no one but the students.

In my experience, one thing many students are not learning adequately in high school is this: how to cite sources correctly. Students need to come to college with an understanding of how to cite sources within the text of a paper and in the bibliography. They need to be able to use APA, MLA, or Chicago style-- and they need the understanding of style guides in general to be able to figure out how to use unfamiliar style guides.

I can't tell you how many bibliographies I've seen where students had no clue how to cite information correctly. The most frustrating thing I came across frequently was the citing of web sources with just a URL.

Another thing that students often have no idea how to write is a literature review. This is a more advanced skill, but students really ought to have some understanding of how to do this before college. Here's some information on how to write a literature review.

A final skill that students often lack is one of the most basic ones-- how to write an introduction. Students: first impressions count, so you need to master this skill!

Here's some more information about how to write a college term paper.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

Ever notice that dorm room posters tend to lack variety? Here's a great blog entry that claims to list the most overused dorm posters ever:

Top 10 Most Cliche College Dorm Posters of All Time

When I moved into a dorm 20 years ago, the list of cliche posters was a little bit different-- but it was also pretty similar.

I don't think the clever but completely overused "Periodic Table of Mixology" was available 20 years ago. In abundance, however, were dozens of posters about alcohol-- especially beer, and including those tacky neon light beer signs that look like they were stolen from a restaurant, but that actually came from a cheesy mall gift shop. Let's see... can you think of anything more stereotypical that could be in a college student's room than a picture of beer?

Oh, wait, there might be one thing more stereotypical than beer decorations-- and that's the semi-naked woman poster. That "High Street Honeys" poster (you know, that "five naked women" poster that you've seen a zillion times) wasn't around back in the day, but there were no shortage of pinup girl type posters around the dorms. Guys, here's a newsflash for you: if you want to impress the real-life girls of campus (the kind you do not find in posters), don't hang tacky pictures of half-naked women on your walls. That doesn't exactly scream "great dating prospect."

Of course, the "look at me, I have culture" art prints have always been popular too. When I was in college, everyone had Van Gogh's "Starry Night" hanging from their wall. Including me.

Looking for some other ways to decorate your dorm room? Here's how to give your space a cheap dorm room makeover.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

I wish I had Facebook when I was a college freshman-- and not just because I'm kind of a computer geek. It seems to me that Facebook is making the process of getting adjusted as a freshman so much easier by allowing new students to get to know each other before coming to campus.

My little sister is going to college in the fall. She's been accepted to St. Mary's College in Maryland. And for several months now, she's been corresponding with other incoming freshmen on Facebook. Her new class-- which doesn't even officially exist yet-- has a discussion group, and fellow students are adding each other as friends.

How cool is that? For me, one of the hardest parts of going away to college was not knowing anyone. You come to school to this sea of faces and know nothing about anyone. Thanks to Facebook, that's no longer true. Students who come to campus already know each other--well, at least a little bit. They've had the chance to find a few people that seem like potential "real life" friends. When they walk into the cafeteria alone for the first time, there's a pretty good chance they can look around and find someone they've met online.

So, as I've been thinking about Samantha's new college experience, I had a related experience of my own, coincidentally. I found Steve, the very first person who I met during college orientation before my freshman year-- on Facebook, of course. So I may not have had the opportunity to meet fellow freshmen online before college began, but at least I can "re-unite" with old friends.

Need some info on freshman year? Here's a list of college dorm room necessities and freshman year 101 survival tips.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

Should a college education be tax deductible?

U.S. presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton both think so-- or, at least, they think that a significant portion of a college education should be tax deducatable. Both have included proposals in their campaigns to achieve this. Obama's plan is more generous than Clinton's, but the two plans are very similar.

Obama proposes to make the first $4000 of a college education fully tax deductible. By fully, this means that a student's parents (or the student, if he or she is not a dependent) will receive $4000 back from the government to pay for college expenses. Obama wants this tax break to be annual-- that is, $4000 a year for as long as a student is in college. He also proposes that this money be based on last year's tax returns so that the money will be available when tuition is due in the fall.

Clinton proposes that the first $3500 of college expenses be partially tax deductible. She wants the first $1000 to be fully deductible, and then the second $5000 to be 50% deductible. Clinton also favors that the funding be available at the beginning of the school year to pay for tuition costs.

Is this financially feasible? With the rising cost of tuition, I sure hope so! Ideally, the money spent by the government would be compensated in the long run, because college graduates make more money and pay more in taxes over a lifetime. In addition, the government could theoretically save money because they would not have to manage so many student loans.

Read more about Barack Obama & Higher Education and Hillary Clinton & Higher Education.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

College students hate the ridiculously high price of college textbooks. And professors hate the high cost too. Most professors have quite a bit of compassion for the young people they spend so much of their time with, and publishing companies that go out of their way to exploit these young people for a profit are resented by professors.

As the price of textbooks gets higher and higher, professors are fighting back by ordering cheaper books and by making use of digital resources instead of textbooks. Here's an article about this issue in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette:

Faculty Members Fight High Cost of Textbooks

Now there's something else professors can do to help students save money on course materials. Student PIRGs (Public Interest Research Group), a popular student activist group on many college campuses in the United States, has created an "Open Textbook Faculty Statement of Intent." Available on the Student PIRG website for professors to sign, this document states, "

"By signing this statement, faculty members state their intent to include open textbooks in their search for the most appropriate course materials, and they declare their preference to adopt an open textbook in place of an expensive, commercial textbook, if the open textbook is the best option."

Professors, come read the petition and sign it!

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

Students: are there some things you wish you had known before you went to college? Here's some things I wish I had known.

I wish someone had told me not to live in the freshman dorm. For some reason I thought that would be a good idea, but unfortunately it was like High School Part II. I would have been better off with a more mature mix of freshmen and upper classmen. For that matter, it wouldn't have been so bad to live in a single sex dorm instead of a coed dorm, but at age 18 that idea sounded horrible to me.

I also wish someone had told me to register for a full load of classes my first semester, and then to drop the class I liked the least. That would have saved me a semester with the calculus professor from hell. Someone did convince me to take fewer classes my first semester, which was a good idea.

And I wish someone had warned me to stay away from the drama. Honestly, it doesn't make the least bit of difference who's dating who, or that someone said something about someone else. Years later, I have no idea what the drama was about, but it sure seemed important at the time.

I also wished someone had persuaded me to get a summer internship. Because I had to work during college, I figured I wouldn't have time for an internship. But that's not true, as many internships either pay or expect students to work for free for a limited number of hours, leaving time for a part time job.

Here are some things that every student should know before freshman year.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

When it comes to interactions with students, professors all have their pet peeves. (For me, it was students who turned in papers without staples. Grr, it makes me cringe just to think about those papers with crinkled edges! But I digress.) One of the things students do that drives professors crazy is to ask the following after missing a class:

"Hey, did I miss anything important today?"

Why do professors hate this? Well, some of them get ticked off because they're on a bit of an ego trip. They want to believe everything they do is important, and the inference that some of the things in their class might be deemed as unimportant is maddening.

But even for professors who aren't on a major ego trip (and yes, believe it or not, most professors really aren't egomaniacs), it's annoying to hear someone ask, 'Did I miss anything important today?" The majority of professors really do put a great deal of effort into creating meaningful classes. The last thing they want to do is waste students' time with information or activities that isn't important. To suggest to a professor that a whole class period's worth of information might be deemed unimportant discounts this effort.

Appropriately sarcastic responses to this question might be:

"No, I just spurted out random useless information that won't be on the test, as always."

"No, class wasn't the same without you there, so we just sat around and moped."

Here's a few other things you should never say to a professor.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

OK, I've officially found the coolest thing on the Web in a long time, thanks to MTVu. It's a format for professors to respond to anonymous student comments on RateMyProfessors.com. It's brutally honest and it's hilarious. Check it out:

Professors Strike Back!

The comments about me on RateMyProfessors.com are fine, so there's no need for me to respond to those. But the comments about me on the MySpace "Grade My Professor" page are nasty. Here's the worst.

"Worst teacher I have ever had at ANY level. She honestly seems a little retarded, and she can't give a lecture at all. On top of that she expects way too much considering she is a bad teacher. AVOID AT ALL COSTS."

In the spirit of Professors Strike Back, here's my response:

No, I never expected too much from my students, especially in the easy 100 level pop culture class you apparently took from me. If you couldn't keep up with the workload in there, maybe you're the retarded one.

And don't worry. Avoiding me at any cost will be easy. I'm not a professor anymore. And the best part of that is, I don't have to deal with rude, ungrateful students like yourself who don't have the class to tell me what they think of me to my face.

Hmmm. That felt good.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

Are college textbooks no longer necessary? Here's a recent article here at Campus Life by D. Chen that makes this argument:

College Textbooks No Longer Necessary

As a former professor, I do agree with many of the points in this article. The college textbook industry is notorious for its exploitation of students who are required to purchase materials for their classes. Thanks to technology, there are so many other low cost ways for students to get much of the same information they might find in a textbook-- and in ways that are potentially much more interactive. In addition, today's Generation Y college students are accustomed to using technology to find information, and many young people learn better in an interactive format.

But obsolete? As a professor, I'm nervous about what we would lose if we cut out textbook reading completely from our classrooms. Reading requires discipline, and it's very much needed to develop strong writing skills. One problem with today's fast-paced technology is that students do not have as much patience and discipline for learning as they need to be successful in the working world. At work, students are going to have to sit down with material that is tedious and dry and make sense of it independently.

I'm a strong advocate for multiple modes of technology in the classroom, and I certainly think we're past the days where textbooks are used almost exclusively. But let's not get rid of them yet.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

I've heard so many college students say how much they dread taking history classes. This seems like such a shame to me, as I've always thought history classes are some of the most valuable you can take-- especially at the college level, since these classes tend to be much more in-depth and though provoking than high school history.

Here's why you should take a college history course-- and why you shouldn't dread it!

• An understanding of history will help you understand current events much better. As a voter, you'll understand the issues in a more in-depth way and be able to incorporate you knowledge into your voting decisions.
• To understand other cultures and their traditions, it's very helpful if you understand about a culture's past as well as the present.
• History will help you understand all kinds of subjects better, from political science to economics to communication.
• History is about much more than just memorizing dates and names (which may be what you did in high school, but there's much more to it in college.) In college history classes, you learn to analyze how events and people influence each other, and also how the past influences the present. This is much more interesting than memorization.
• History is the most fascinating story there is-- and a good professor can make this story and its wild cast of characters come to life for you.
• High schools typically do a pathetic job teaching students about current events and history. Let your college education fill in the gaps!

Here's some college history class tips to help you choose the right class and excel.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

When I was a professor, one of the things that annoyed me most was when was when students failed to do assigned readings.

After teaching for awhile, it became painfully apparent to me how many students were blowing off the readings altogether, or doing them at the last minute. Only the minority of students regularly completed the readings for the days they were assigned. And many students read selectively, searching for material that might be on the exam, and nothing else.

The prevalent attitude that "the readings are a waste of time" makes me so sad. Students, the readings aren't busy work. Your professor can only tell you so much about a topic during lecture, but large amounts of material can be presented through a reading assignment. If you don't do the reading, you're losing the opportunity to learn a large fraction of the course material. Your grade will suffer, and you simply won't learn as much.

In addition, college level reading is an important skill. By not reading, you not only miss out on the material itself-- you miss out on the opportunity to build your vocabulary, reading comprehension, and writing skills. All of these are skills you will need in the workplace-- especially writing. In order to become an advanced level writer, you have to read lots. There's no way around that.

I know, I'm getting a little preachy, and I try not to do that. But the growing attitude that it's no big deal to blow off the readings really bugs me. Students, please make an effort to do your readings, and to complete them for the day they are assigned.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

Should U.S. colleges and universities with large endowments be required to set aside at least 5% of their money for financial aid and to offset tuition costs? Several proposals in Congress back this demand-- and quite a few well-endowed school are fighting back with lobbyist muscle. From a city with more than its share of wealthy and prestigious institutions of higher learning, here's a story about the issue in The Boston Globe:

Colleges Guard Soaring Endowments

Why are colleges and universities opposed to this legislation? Much as they may sound like misers, their reasoning is sensible, at least somewhat. Endowment money, which largely comes from alumni donations, is invested tax free and is used as a buffer to prevent against hard times. It makes sense to use endowments conservatively. In addition, schools are always nervous about government involvement, as freedom of speech and expression in the academy is a crucial principle to preserve. On top of that, schools argue that financial aid to elite schools has increased quite a bit in recent years, and many students from less-than-wealthy families are attending at little to no cost.

But did I mention that this argument is only about 5% of the endowment?

Elite institutions like Boston College and Harvard University can't spend 5% of their endowments to help offset student costs? As The Boston Globe article points out, Harvard's endowment is bigger than the gross domestic product of Montana.

And 5% is unreasonable? Give me a break.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

Are college students coming to college with the necessary study skills? Are high schools preparing students by teaching them how to take lecture notes, read and process difficult material, outline and write polished essays, and study effectively for multiple exams?

High schools are all different, and the answer to this question may vary by school. However, as someone who taught college students for 14 years, my experiences indicate to me that high schools are doing a terrible job.

One thing high schools need to do much better is teach students how to take lecture notes. I was lucky: my 12th grade English teacher, Ms. Mauger, took it upon herself to sit down with her students and go over our notebooks. She explained what I was doing wrong and helped me improve. As a result, I knew how to take notes in college.

Other students are not so lucky. I can't even tell you how many times a freshman student came to me to discuss why they did poorly on an exam. Frequently, a look at the student's notebook revealed the problem. Many students told me that no one had ever taught them how to take notes, so no wonder they were struggling.

This is just one area of college prep where high schools need to improve. When students come to college, they're spending too much time just learning how to be students. To some degree, this will always be true, as nothing can fully prepare you for the college experience. But high schools could sure do a better job.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

Oh my God, not again.

Today--February 14, 2008-- a gunman stepped from behind the curtain at a crowded lecture hall at Northern Illinois University. He shot 21 people, including the graduate student who was teaching this ocean science lecture class. At the time of this writing, six people have died, including the shooter, and at least two others are in critical condition.

After the massacre at Virginia Tech this spring, this tragedy is all the more raw and horrible. As someone who spent 18 years of my life as either a college student or instructor, this just breaks my heart.

Colleges are emotional places filled with stress, anger, and occasionally, rage. Students are anxious, angry, and frustrated about grades. For graduate students, who commit such a major portion of their lives to school, these feelings are all the more intense. The NIU shooter was a former sociology grad student, and one can only imagine his motivations.

To everyone at Northern Illinois University: my thoughts and heart are with you.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

The majority of students change their majors while they are in college-- so if you're thinking about changing yours, don't feel like you're doing something unusual or wrong.

When I first went to college, I was going to major in psychology. Then I took general psych. As many students know, general psychology is one of those "weed out" classes that's used to try to keep a popular major from becoming too overcrowded. The class is made intentionally difficult so that students are discouraged by their low grades and go major in something else. In my case, I actually got an A in general psych, but I weeded myself out anyways because I disscovered the major wasn't what I thought it was.

Then I took some history classes, since I liked that subject so much in high school. I liked them and became a history major. The next year, I started taking communication classes, and liked that so much that I became a double major.

My experience was pretty typical. After all, how can you know exactly what you're interested in when you just enter college and haven't even taken any courses? In my case, I knew nothing about the communication major when I started college, so of course I didn't choose that major right away.

The problem with changing majors occur when it causes you to stay in school longer. In my case, I changed early enough that I easily graduated on time. However, if you change your major after you've already taken a bunch of classes, you might add semesters or even years onto your time in college.

Is changing majors the right decision for you? Here's an article to help you decide if you should change your college major. Good luck with your decision!

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

Should children of illegal immigrants be entitled to the same in-state college tuition benefits as other in-state students? Along with other immigration issues, this has become a major issue in the Republican presidential primary.

Whenever I hear Republicans debating this issue, my first thought is this: don't you have anything more important to discuss?

There's a laundry list of serious crises in the United States. A health care system that's clearly failing the people. A Social Security system that's about to run out of money. Global warming. A looming recession. Not to mention the War in Iraq, the threat of terrorism, and serious foreign policy messes in Iran and Pakistan.

So are we really worried about an 18-year-old in Arkansas who's going to have the opportunity to <gasp!> go to college? With everything else that's going on, is this kid who's jumping at the chance to sit in a college classroom a serious threat to national security?

The issue here is whether the kids of people who immigrated illegally should have the opportunity to attend college at in-state rates. These are kids who were born in the United States, and who therefore are citizens. They're not looking for a free ride-- only the opportunity to pay for college at an affordable in-state rate. This will open doors to these young people to higher paying careers-- along with higher levels of taxation to help pay for someone else's college education.

This is really a threat to national security?

The immigration debate is complicated, and we need to work hard to find some workable solutions that are fair to everyone. But keeping a kid out of college is not going to solve any problems at all. Republican candidates, please. Choose from the laundry list of social problems and real threats to national security and abandon this ridiculous issue.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

Online college classes are becoming more poular every year. To a large degree, many of the students in these classes are nontraditional, older students who would not be able to attend college without this relatively new option. Here's an interesting article about the growth of online college courses among nontraditional students in the Seattle area:

Seattle Students Flocking to Online Study

To what degree is this a positive thing? Overall, I think the positive benefits of online classes definitely outweigh the negatives. Access to education is paramount to the quality of a democracy. Not everyone has the money or life circumstances that allow them to spend four years of their lives on a college campus in their teens and early twenties. For people with young children, online education can suddenly open up a world of new options.

However, I worry that as online classes expand, it may create educational class disparities in new ways. Will we reach a point where the "haves" get a college education in a traditional classroom, and the "have nots" only have access to online learning? If this becomes the case, it seems likely that the quality of online education will suffer, and that employers won't take online education nealry as seriously as they should.

The thing is, online learning works fabulously for many students-- both nontradition and traditional. And for some students, it's not an optimal way of learning at all. (Here's some thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages to online education). A truly accessible educational system would make both traditional classroom learning and online distance learning affordable and available to everyone, regardless of their learning styles.

In other words, the growth of online higher education seems quite promising, but it' shouldn't be seen as a panacea to our educational problems.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

The graduating class of 2008 is facing more anxiety than ever about getting into the schools of their choice. Here's an article from the New York Times that focuses on Connecticut-- but this is a nationwide trend:

Class of 2008 College Entrance Anxieties

Much of this has to do with simple demographics. College students of today-- the so-called Generation Y college students--are members of a baby boom generation. The original Baby Boom generation, born between 1946-1966, consisted of children born to those returning from the service and starting a family. The oldest of the Baby Boomers are retiring, and everyone's in a frenzy about the economic consequences of this huge generation on Social Security.

But that's not the only crisis. The Baby Boomers had a generation of babies of their own, and these kids are going to college now and facing a daunting application pool. And other factors are at work as well. The price of a college education is monumentally more expensive than it was after World War II. Even without the G.I. Bill, which helped thousands of servicemen pay for college, the post-war price of education was much more within the reach of families and individuals. Today, there's more competition than ever for scarce financial resources, making college out of reach for many.

Another problem is today's notion that a four-year undergraduate degree is necessary. Other nations have much stronger technical education programs. In the U.S., this kind of education is not as common, and it's seen by many as inferior. As a result, many students go to college who would be better served by a technical education, further increasing competition.

As this presidential election unfolds, we can only hope that candidates will address some of these issues. A strong nation depends on the available and affordability of first-rate higher education.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

As the primary season hits full swing in the United States, something exciting and unusual is happening. The votes of college students are being taken seriously, especially by the Democratic candidates.

That's something we just don't see enough of in this country. There's a vicious cycle going on. College students voter turnout is low, and candidates don't pay much attention to them and their issues-- like rising tuition costs, student loans, and the quality of college education It's hard to say which comes first, but it's certainly a cycle that most certainly is detrimental to young people n the United States. It's quite the opposite with senior citizens. Seniors vote in large numbers, and issues such as Social Security and Medicare are always at the forefront of the election debates.

Largely, this unusual fight for student votes has been fueled by Senator Barack Obama, who won in Iowa in part because of his ability to win the votes of young people. Obama's emphasis on change is getting noticed by Generation Y college students, many of whom have grown up jaded by politics that include an unpopular war and the Monica Lewinsky scandal. And now that Obama's got the young vote, Hillary Clinton is fighting for these votes as well. In her New Hampshire primary victory speech, Clinton positioned herself in front of a rallying audience that consisted largely of young people. She spoke out against "predatory student loan companies" and applauded students for voting their "hearts and their minds" (a not-so-subtle jab at Obama).

Wow, do I ever hope this continues. Students, whatever your political interests, get involved in this election and make sure these candidates don't forget you.

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen

Spring Break travelers: here are some important Spring Break travel tips to keep in mind. Most are pretty obvious. If you're going to drink, do so with caution. Pay close attention to your belongings. Avoid Spring Break travel scams.

But here's a Spring Break problem you may not be familiar with-- students falling off hotel balconies, sometimes to their death. This is sometimes known as "balcony diving." This has become a big enough problem in Florida that climbing balconies is now illegal, punishable by fines.

Why in the world does something so pointless like this occur? Of course, alcohol is usually involved. Students sometimes get too close to the edge and fall. But what often happens is that balconies become a mode of transportation. It's late at night and someone wants to get to a party on a different floor, and the elevators are packed. So they climb the balconies to get to a different floor. Or, they climb the balconies just for fun, impaired by alcohol You don't have to be an honors student to know this isn't the smartest thing to do.

I don't like to get preachy in my blog, but for heaven's sake, students, don't climb on balconies. Do you really need to risk your life in such an utterly pointless way to have a good time? If the elevator's out, take the stairs. If you're smart enough to get into college, you're smart enough not to do something this stupid.