Secrets to Finding Great Instructors

By Marty Nemko

You know it, I know it: some college instructors are great, others stink. To find the best ones: * Pick the campus's teaching award winners. The list is at the academic affairs office. * Check student ratings of professors. Some colleges make them available in the bookstore. * Ask department secretaries. They see all the faculty evaluations and may even give you the straight scoop. * Check out syllabi. Often they're on the Web, or the department secretary has them. * Over-enroll. If you plan to take three courses, sign up for four, attend the first session of each, and drop the worst one.

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