What do you hate about university studies?

the one thing i hated most about my university was my freshman psychology class…it was taught as a “pit class” so about 600 students, and was taught by 4 different professors. one professor would teach on one area of psychology, like experiments, then he/she would give their test. then the next time we met for class, a different professor would be up there giving their presentation on their own section, like developmental, of it. it was IMPOSSIBLE to get used to the note- and test-taking styles in that class. one would write a very detailed outline for us to use for notes and the next would write a word on a page then ramble off on a tangent. then one test would be all multiple choice, and the next was practical application and the next would be all vocab. that class was HORRIBLE!!!!

At the very first: The “social incompetence” of some professors. I met several very arrogant ones being unable to deal with “normal” people or just fefusing to keep staying “down to the earth”. In my Vor-Diplom-Prüfung one asked me a question which I answered correctly (I can proof that): I got a very bad grade because of the prof’s ignorance. He insisted that there are no tides at all in the baltic sea – but there are: I took courses in oceanography so I know, although they are by far not as high as in the North Sea. But his ignorant attitude (and the resulting grade) influendced my life severely.

Another example: a prof specialising on city geography. He went really mad at the officials because a guest prof (I think he was from sweden) wanted to offer a course (just a Vorlesung / reading / listening course) in his field on a special topic. It was denied. The following semester the arrogant prof had to have his Reading: never heard at university something less unmotivated and boring.

Of course, these are only examples from german universities, and I could tell you several more shocking incidents. But let’sget back on what’s desirable: Most important to me is, that teachers of every level are staying very close to their students and their needs – in academic regards, of course 😉

Tahini (I wish to avoid your real name), as far as I got an impression on your personality I don’t think you are like such a “bad german” prof I described (there are many good profs as well!!!). So keep staying in contact with your students, talk to them on the same eye-level, and you’ll be / stay a very good university teacher.