How students use ratemyprofessors.com for feedback, forewarning and fun
If you’ve ever survived course registration season, the existence of the “Rate My Professors” site has probably not escaped your notice. Much like Yelp, Goodreads or Amazon, Rate My Professors (RMP) is a place for people to write reviews, though specifically for college students to review their professors.
Many students—myself included—use RMP to get a sense of how other students have felt about their experience with specific professors, in hopes of being able to take—or avoid!—those professors in the future.
Reviews on RMP are often able to provide a general sense of the professor’s teaching style, how difficult the course material is, and how willing the professor is to provide additional help when students need it.
Many of UD’s most esteemed professors make an appearance on the site, with reviews ranging from positive to negative, serious to downright hilarious.
According to one reviewer, English professor Dr. Mrs. Berry’s class is “interesting and engaging”. The student praises her for clearly outlining course material, and offering help that ensures students succeed in her class.
Dr. Moran—also from the English department—is featured in a review saying that “he pushes you to write your very best”. At a course difficulty rating of 3.8 out of 5, this student says that “getting an A [on a] paper from Dr. Moran is a lifetime core memory.”
Yet another reviewer describes associate theology professor Fr. Thomas Esposito as an “amazing lecturer”, saying that he is “generous and kind” and that “his classes are always something to look forward to.”
In a much more playful tone, Dr. Mr. Berry is labeled an “AMAZING MAN, 1000000/10”. And then, more seriously: “the material is clear to understand once he explains it in class […] but my GOSH I hated the pop quizzes.”
Aside from these more useful reviews, many students take to RMP to make fun comments about their professors.
Dr. Eitel of the theology department is “simply the GOAT”, while associate classics professor Dr. Sweet has been deemed a god: “He is omniscient, he literally knows everything”, writes one student. Another review states: “[He is] not from our plane of existence.”
Amusingly, Rome professor Dr. Hatlie is described as somewhat of a fashionista. “The corduroy, cheeky turtleneck, voguish scarf […] the man could’ve walked straight off the cover of my Esquire magazine” reads this brazen review.
“Moses leading Israel to the promised land” is how Dr. Crider’s class is described. Another student says that Dr. Crider is “like a polar bear. He’s quite helpful, and is super tall and intimidating.”
When asked to comment on his reviews, English professor Dr. Crider said that while he is no Moses, he wonders if he’s a “Narnia polar bear or a Coke/Pepsi polar bear?”. “Either way”, he said, “I should probably lose some weight and get some sun.”
“[Professors] have such high hopes for what we can convey,” Dr. Hanssen remarked in response to the many reviews that compliment her passion, “it is always a great joy when our students share our love and enthusiasm for the books and the quest for wisdom.”
“I have never checked my reviews (or anyone else’s, for that matter)”, said Fr. Thomas. “However, I will gladly pay 10 monk-bucks to the students who accepted my bribe to say positive things about me on that pernicious website.”