Rating Rate My Professors

Student’s weigh in on the professor-ranking site

JESSICA MILLS / ASST. FEATURE EDITOR / THE USD VISTA

For many college students, checking reviews on the well-known anonymous professor-ranking site “Rate  My Professors” has become an imperative step in the class registration process. By looking up a professor by name or school, students can read through reviews left by peers or write one of their own. 

Rating categories include level of difficulty, likeliness  to take the course again, and an overall ranking scale from one to five. Because of the site’s anonymity, students frequently leave blunt reviews ranging from highlights to shocking experiences. 

With the add/drop deadline approaching on Feb. 15 and classes quickly filling up, there is an added pressure surrounding the importance of honest feedback from fellow students to aid in choosing classes. 

However, the site still lacks a verification process for identifying who is leaving the reviews. Which begs the question: are these ratings reliable?

USD Senior Kate Roberts is cautious about taking the reviews too seriously. 

“Honestly, there aren’t a ton of comments for some of my professors, and the comments come off as more of someone wanting to rant and complain,” Roberts said. “So, I don’t always make it the end all be all.” 

Senior Max Wetter also remains mindful while scanning over ratings. 

“Students at USD far too often judge a professor’s quality by how easy, engaging, or kind they are, and don’t often reflect on whether or not they learned anything,” Wetter said. “I have had professors with a bunch of five star ratings who I learned virtually nothing from, alongside many other students in the class. It’s a helpful website, but definitely not foolproof.” 

Rate My Professors includes optional tags that one can add in the review process to best describe the professor. The tags range from “lots of homework” and “tough grader” to “caring” and “hilarious.” 

Students searching for a class with a light homework load or flexible professor may benefit from this feature. Additionally, beneath the scale ranking portion on the website, reviewers are also given a comment box for up to 350 characters. Here, students can illustrate past experiences or any other thoughts.

However, despite the diverse reviewing options, Sophomore Piper Murphy shared her disappointment in the website and the unrealistic expectations it often creates. 

“I have actually taken a class based on a rating, and I think I was a bit disappointed because it didn’t live up to how it was described,” Murphy said. “But, nonetheless, it was still an interesting class, just in a way that I wasn’t expecting.” 

While some students remain hesitant over the credibility of the site’s reviews, others find Rate My Professors to be a valuable tool in deciding between classes and professors. 

Junior Amshu Singh expressed how helpful the site has been throughout her undergraduate years. 

“In my experience, I had fairly accurate results from using the site,” Singh said. “Usually, professors are similar to ratings, and most do not get high ones unless they truly meet high standards.” 

Senior Breck Damaschino explained the website’s effectiveness in preparing for a new classroom atmosphere. 

“The student reviews are pretty insightful and prepare me well for the teaching style and workload that the class will provide throughout the semester,” Damaschino said. “I’ve never personally had an experience where the general consensus reached by previous students about the professor or course on Rate My Professors has been challenged.” 

Rate My Professors remains a popular resource across campuses nationwide. According to its website, there are currently 15 million total reviews, including over 1,300 for USD professors. Opinions on the helpfulness of the site’s reviews vary among USD students. While the reviews may never be entirely foolproof, Rate My Professors can provide an insightful reflection of the popularity of a professor and the structure of a class. 

Next time registration comes around, consider checking out what your peers have to say first.