As you start researching courses for the upcoming semester, you might have your pick of several sections. Is it better to choose Professor Smith or Professor Jones? There are a few strategies I’ve used that work better than flipping a coin.
✅ Start Local in our Facebook Community
If you’re using a dual enrollment program that your student will attend in person, there is a good chance that others in our community have already taken classes from that professor. Go into the HS4CC Facebook Group for your state and ask. We have Facebook groups dedicated to dual enrollment in every state. Find Your Facebook Group
✅ Check RateMyProfessors.com
When you’re picking a college class for your teen, it’s helpful to read what other students have said about the professor. Many students leave reviews after taking a course, and these can give you clues about what the teacher is like. Reviews often include:
- How the professor grades
- If they allow extra credit
- If they accept late work
- How hard the class is
- Whether students would take another class with them
Each professor gets an average score, plus a difficulty rating and a “would take again” percentage, but be careful. These scores include all the classes the professor teaches, not just the one you’re looking at. One professor might be great for one subject but not so great for another.
Also, remember that not all reviews are fair or real. Some students leave angry reviews because they got a bad grade. Some people may lie—or might not even be students at all!
✅ Read Several Reviews, Not Just One
Don’t rely on the number at the top. Read the actual reviews to see what students say about things that matter to you—grading, homework, communication, and flexibility.
✅ Look for Patterns
Ignore one-off angry or glowing reviews. Instead, look for themes that keep coming up. If three students say the professor doesn’t answer emails, it’s probably true. If most say the professor is clear and fair, that’s a good sign.
✅ Use Multiple Sources
Check public sites like RateMyProfessors, but also ask in our Homeschooling for College Credit groups. Our members are homeschool parents like you and can share what worked (or didn’t) from a homeschooling point of view.
✅ Check the Syllabus if It’s Available
Many colleges have a syllabus set up for use by all faculty. In this case, you can preview the course content and the grading rubric. If, however, the syllabus isn’t available, that may be because the professor has the academic freedom to create their syllabus for the course. If this is the case, accessing it ahead of time can give you insight into their grading style. Some professors include attendance policies, late work policies, and extra credit policies, among others. Knowing this in advance is really helpful! You can often get a feel for the expected level of strictness this way.
“Pro Tip: If the syllabus isn’t available for the upcoming semester, try checking the current or a past semester for a syllabus by each professor under consideration.”
-Andrea LaBass, HS4CC Texas Moderator
✅ Find Out How They Handle Communication
Professors who reply to emails quickly and clearly are easier to work with. Look for reviews or stories from other students that mention how the professor communicates.
✅ Adjunct: Tough to Say
When the college lists “staff” or “TBA” that may indicate they’ve added a section (because of demand) before having a professor locked in place. Often, this means they’ll need to find a part-time teacher/professor/instructor to teach the class. While this doesn’t always mean you’ll get an an adjunct part-time “freelance” professor, the odds are high that you will.
When I stopped teaching full-time, I switched over to the adjunct category. I served as an adjunct for over a decade and loved it!! It was the perfect job for me as homeschooling parent. But, in truth, most people don’t love being an adjunct and would rather land a full-time professor position.
In terms of course quality, an adjunct usually will NOT get to:
- choose the textbook, reading, or support materials
- create their own syllabus or modify the one in use
- write the curriculum, scope or sequence
- write/design the tests/quizzes
- pull strings or override situations in the system
Adjuncts don’t have offices on campus, advisees, access to a deep network at the campus, and may actually be brand new to the college’s system. An adjunct may not know how to use learning system (Moodle, Backboard, etc.) and may be teaching multiple sections at multiple colleges just to make ends meet. Furthermore, they may be “here this semester, gone the next” making it hard to do any kind of research into their teaching style.
It is estimated that about 50% of ALL CLASSES TAUGHT at ALL COLLEGES in the United States are taught by adjunct faculty. There is no one general characteristic to expect when your teen’s class is taught by an adjunct. Yes, your student might get an angry, bitter underemployed professor… but they might also find the highly motivated and eager professor who works his rear off trying to break into a very competitive profession.
✅ Avoid “TBA” When You Can
If the professor is “To Be Announced” and you’re choosing between that and a known professor with good reviews, go with the one you know. It’s risky to pick a class when you don’t know who’s teaching it.
✅ Ask an Academic Advisor
Many dual enrollment programs have dedicated academic advisors specifically for high school students. Sometimes, advisors at the college know which professors are supportive and which ones to avoid. They may also know which professors are more open to homeschool students or first-time dual enrollment students.
✅ Ask Your Teen What They Want
If this is NOT your teen’s first college class, they probably have a lot to contribute to the discussion. Your teen might prefer a laid-back professor, or maybe they want someone who really challenges them. Let them help make the decision, it gives them ownership and helps build college decision-making skills.
