The 25 Best College Professors In America

A great professor can inspire a student, create a comfortable learning environment, and generally bring a course to life.

RateMyProfessors.com released its annual list of Top University Professors today, charting the best teachers in higher education based on student reviews. 

These 25 professors were noted for accessibility, clarity, and ability to cultivate a discussion, among many other traits. They come from a variety of subjects and from schools all over the country.

The top professor — Penny Livermore, a classics professor atLoyola University Chicago — is genuinely adored by her students. One wrote, "Penny is seriously an angel embodied in human form. She sees the best in everyone and will work with students in every circumstance."

#1 Penny Livermore, Classics, Loyola University Chicago

Courtesy of Penny Livermore

What students say:

"Penny is seriously an angel embodied in human form. She sees the best in everyone and will work with students in every circumstance. She is the next Mother Theresa! She feeds you, tells you stories, and gives you As!!! I was blessed to have the honor of meeting her!"

"Penny (as she would like you to call her) is the most wonderful woman. She is so inspirational and a breathe of fresh air. She sees us as PEOPLE (who happen to go to school) instead of just students. If you take her class, go talk to her and you will feel so good about life. Her class is awesome! Take her!"

#2 Devon Hanahan, Spanish, College of Charleston

What students say:

"By far my favorite professor at CofC! Very laid-back and funny. Will find fun ways to help you learn the material including Jeopardy games and fashion shows :) She has the best ratings at CofC for a reason. Will give study guides for exams and the oral interview (all you have to do is chat with her!) TAKE HER!!!"

"Love her!! Her teaching is crystal clear and she will explain something until you get it! She invites you to her house and to hang out with her outside of class! She moved one of our tests because she didn't feel like we were ready yet! She really wants to see you do well! Study guides, a friendly face, and a good attitude! Take her!"

#3 Kenneth Anderson, Music, University of California San Diego

What students say:

"There is no bad word to say about Ken. I went really intimidated by the fact that I can't sing, but then you realize everybody else can't sing either and we're in there for the same reason - to get rid of the fine arts req. He manages to get 300+ people to sing BEAUTIFULLY. It is so much fun in his class. How could I not recommend it? 20 thumbs up"

"I love this class! Professor Anderson keeps rehearsals lively and entertaining. He's got a great sense of humor and you actually end up learning a lot about the origins of gospel music. The concerts are a lot of fun to participate in, especially while singing with the phenomenal vocalists he invites to solo for us."

#4 Rosalind Hall, Music, Brigham Young University

Courtesy of Rosalind Hall

What students say:

"Next to my mother, Sister Hall is my favorite woman on the planet. She truly loves her students and is loved in return. She is extremely helpful and provides many opportunities for students to grow and learn. She is THE BEST."

"Absolutely amazing teacher. Hands down one of the best professors at BYU, and one of the best people you will ever meet. If you ever get the chance to take choir from her do it. You will become a better singer and a better person."

#5 Kevin Raiford, Business, College of Southern Nevada

Courtesy of Kevin Raiford

What students say:

"Very awesome! You will only fail if you don't do the work! Group projects are great in his class, and he always know how to explain his material. He is devoted to his classroom and his students. If you need help with ANYTHING, he is there! One of the BEST instructors at CSN!"

"you would be a fool not to take his class. by far one of the best teachers i have had.he the real deal. his resume and actual work experience in the field of managerial accounting make what he teaches real. He goes out of his way to help his students. If he taught underwater basket weaving i would take that class too."

#6 Debra Farrer, Education, California University of Pennsylvania

What students say:

"Extremely nice teacher. She is excited to teach and will help you with any questions you have. The class is really easy as long as you go and turn your work in. I didn't use the textbook much-her powerpoints are wonderful."

"Dr. Farrer is a great professor. She is very clear on what she wants from her students. The tests come from your notes and they are relatively easy. We did a lot of fun projects in her class such as learning centers, making our own books and learning about fun activities to get children involved in. I would definitely take her again if I could!"

#7 Bridget Middleton, Mathematics, Santa Fe College

What students say:

"I have a very hard time understanding math, but the way Mrs. Middleton explains it, it makes so much sense. She shows us different ways of solving and let's us use the method that's easiest for us. She tries to give us immediate feedback as much as possible so we know what needs improvement."

"I have never had a teacher that actually goes out of her way and care the way Mrs.Middletondoes, she is very nice, understanding, and hot! definitely recommend her class over any other hands down!!!"

#8 Claude Mark Hurlbert, English, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Courtesy of Claude Hurlbert

What students say:

"Hands down best professor. I learned more than I could have ever asked. Most caring, personal, intelligent professor ever. He connected our class through personal tragedies and triumphs and I feel so comfortable with everyone and consider every single one of them friends. He really cares about his students and is ALWAYS willing to help!"

"He's very helpful. Makes you write a 15pg single spaced book,but gives you almost all semester to do it. Sounds hard, but it's really easy. Parts of the book will be due at different times, and the class reads different pages of your book and gives you feedback. It doesn't sound fun, but in the end, you'll love it! he's always willing to help!"

#9 Dr. ­­­­Kimora, Criminal Justice, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Courtesy of Kimora

What students say:

"I had Dr. Kimora for two classes and they were both amazing. She will teach her lessons in a step by step well-organized manor and will always answer any questions you have. If you ever take her for a class it is worth it because you will enjoy it and will also find out about your mistakes if you made any."

"Professor Kimora is one of those professors that can change your life and view on topics. She is an excellent mentor & I HIGHLY recommended taking a course(s) with her. She is very enthusiastic about teaching & loves to do it, she speaks crystal clear & loves helping people. she is extremely fair & gives you the grade you deserve. She's the BEST!!!"

#10 Warren Schultz, Education, St. Joseph’s College

What students say:

"He is the best professor in the child study department. He gives us the information we need to know to be successful teachers and always does an arts and crafts project before the end of class with us. Its only a midterm, final, 2 lesson plans, and a literature presentation. Take him."

"What can you say about Mr. Schultz? He is a great Professor...He's caring, always available to help out students, and has funny stories that tie into the class. Highly recommend that you take his classes if you can."

#11 Myra Bloom, English, Oral Roberts University

What students say:

"It is a very good class and Professor Bloom is most helpful. There is a lot of information but you do not get bored about the library. The video was amazing. The trial searches Professor Bloom designed were excellent and taught me how to search with the best terms and strategies."

"That was amazing, so many resources that are so easy to use. Prof. Bloom is funny and she knows the content. Wow."

#12 Sarah Satterfield, Music, College of Central Florida

Courtesy of Sarah Satterfield

What students say:

"Awesome class. She really covers the milestones and highlights of the history of music extremely well, very easy to follow along as long as you take down notes. Overall just one of the nicest professors I've ever met."

"Great person, excellent teacher, and really loves her field! She's kind and loves helping students and makes class very enjoyable. Lectures get a bit long at times, but the dull moments are bearable. I recommend her to anyone - music majors, art majors, even math majors who need the humanities credits."

#13 Raj Bose, Business, University of Phoenix Hawaii Campus

What students say:

"Mr Bose is an outstanding instructor. He is very easy to understand and relates his marketing experiences through his teachings and apply it to the real world challenges."

"Raj kept the discussions interesting and relevant by always posting articles and you tube videos that went with answers and comments in the discussions. He helped bring real life facts to the text. It made the concepts easier and more fun to learn."

#14 Andrew Russakoff, Computer Science, St. John’s University

What students say:

"MOST AMAZING PROFESSOR AT ST JOHNS! he is the greatest. class never lasts longer than 40 minutes, he tells you exactly what you need to know and never tries to trick you. easy A and you learn a lot! i wish i could take his class over and over again"

"This Professor made class fun, he played the bagpipe on St. Patricks day. Easy to understand and very lenient. On exams he even gave hints to what the answer is. Must go to class though or you'll miss out. Talk to him after class for help or just to joke around or electronics. Very understanding"

#15 Karen Turner, Business, University of Miami

Courtesy of Karen Turner

What students say:

"Best teacher I've had at UM. Genuinely cares about students and makes sure students are immersed in the subjects. Brings in real life examples and applications. Gives great life long legal advice as well. Surprised she doesn't work full time as a lawyer because she's that good. If you try very hard, you will do well."

"Excellent teacher, extremely nice. She can break anything complicated down into something very simple. She's very open minded about grading on quizzes and exams, and she's extremely helpful with them as well as the paper. She's also more interesting in lectures than most for the subject."

#16 Pietro Lorenzini, Criminal Justice, Governors State University

What students say:

"This was a terrific class. It was filled with information which is useful but was based on theories and jurisprudence. Great class with a refined and highly intellectual professor. I recommend it to all who are interested in criminal justice, political science and law school."

"For me this was a hard class but the professor made it worth the effort. He is smart, articulate, knows his subject real well and seems to care about students. He is very attractive too. Believe me, take Lorenzini if you can cause he's worth it!"

#17 Donald Franks, Mathematics, California University of Pennsylvania

What students say:

"Dr. Franks is definitely the best professor I have ever had. I hate math, but he made it enjoyable. He is smart and hilarious! I didn't mind coming to class at all. It was a privilege having him for class. :)"

"Worth getting up for an 8 AM Class with him. Awesome professor and still talks to you even when the semester is over and is always willing to help!"

#18 Paige Baltzan, Business, University of Denver

What students say:

"Ms Paige is a gift and I would not have been able to remain in school while working without her encouragement. She believed in me and that made all the difference for me."

"Paige strives to go beyond just teaching and insists that you learn and can apply the material before leaving her course. She cares that you learn - a new experience for me. Plus, she is really easy on the eyes."

#19 William Hoston, Political Science, University of Houston – Clear Lake

Courtesy of William Hoston

What students say:

"Good teacher & very helpful. Research paper, 3 reading critiques & two exams. Overwhelming at first but he does a good job organizing class & keeping students up to date with assignments."

"My favorite professor took the LSAT prep course got accepted into 3 law schools. Hopefully starting in the fall. Awesome prep, revises your personal statement and writes everyone a letter of rec."

#20 Garry Merritt, Languages, University of North Georgia – Oakwood

Courtesy of Garry Merritt

What students say:

"I was so afraid to take Spanish but Mr. Merritt was the best teacher ever...I really enjoyed his class he made it fun for all and was always willing to help!!! My first spanish class ever and I made an A!!!"

"Professor Merritt is an AMAZING teacher! He loves what he does and he makes class VERY fun! He put extra credit on all the tests and quizzes. I don't think I have ever enjoyed going to a class so much in my life! I would recommend him to anyone and everyone! :D"

#21 Margaret Jordan, English, Wayne State University

What students say:

"Dr. Jordan is the only professor I know who can not only introduce you to a text but can also take you within it and make you feel like you are experiencing exactly what the author intended for you to feel. It's okay to be wrong, because in her room no one is wrong. She welcomes dialogue and puts everyone at ease. This is my second class with her."

"Professor Jordan was an amazing professor. She was great at giving complete information. The class discussions always made class enjoyable. She just did not lecture but rather we all as a class were involved in teaching."

#22 Kevin Kreider, Mathematics, University of Akron

Courtesy of Kevin Kreider

What students say:

"Probably one of the nicest professors I've ever met or had for a class. He's extremely helpful if you need the help. Also, he is willing to work with you if a situation arises in that you have to miss class (i.e. missing a week of class in an 8-week summer session). I wish all professors were like him."

"Two words: must take! His passion for teaching shows in the quality of his lectures and he's really helpful when you see him at his office hours. He's well liked amongst the students because he actually cares about your success. I wish every professor was like this guy. Dr. K is the man!"

#23 Jessica Damian, English, Georgia Gwinnett College

What students say:

"I'm a first year college student and this professor has no idea how much she has inspired me. She is without a doubt the best teacher to take!! As long as you attend classes and work hard, you won't have an issue. AMAZING PROFESSOR!!! AND A BEAUTIFUL PERSON!!!!!"

"Best teacher I have ever had. Amazing grasp on learning and focuses on class discussions over busy work.She focuses on each student individually and cares a great deal about all of them. Her goal is to help you succeed not only in her class but in the rest of your life. To top it all off she is gorgeous too! TAKE HER!!!!"

#24 Susan Young, Mathematics, University of Akron

Courtesy of Susan Young

What students say:

"Mrs. Young is an amazing professor. She teaches the course in an organized, straight-to-the-point fashion. She provides sample quizzes and tests, so you're never surprised by an exam question. Plus, if you're bordering an A or B in the class, she'll bump you up if she knows you've put in effort."

"Mrs. Young is an excellent math professor. She is articulate, explains concepts well, and her teaching style engages the student as she frequently poses questions and solicits for students' responses/feedback as she gives a lecture. She also updates Springboard (online website used at Akron) in a prompt manner. Highly recommended!"

#25 Anna Bass, Management, Southeastern Louisiana University

Courtesy of Anna Bass

What students say:

"I really adore going to her class. She is so enthusiastic about teaching and so well at teaching the materials that you want to learn in the class. Not only does she have experienced with what she is teaching but she also brightens your day and make you laugh and enjoy her class to the fullest."

"Awesome teacher! Knows her stuff and very easy to learn from. Gives a different quote every class and talks about the author of quote. Very willing to help with anything. I would highly recommend her."

Student Health Insurance for Study in Brazil

When getting ready to review abroad, there area unit variety of considerations that students ought to take into thought. Not the smallest amount of those considerations is that the matter of insurance. it's necessary for college kids to be accustomed to the health system of their host country, so they're ready and apprehend what to expect ought to they become sick or bruised throughout their keep.

Since 1988, everybody in Brazil—including legal foreign residents like international students—has warranted access to medical aid. The Brazilian health care system consists of an outsized public, government managed system, the Sistema Único First State Saúde (SUS), that serves the bulk of the population, and a non-public sector, managed by insurance funds and personal entrepreneurs.
SUS sits on 3 basic principles of catholicity, comprehensiveness, and equity. catholicity states that every one voters should have access to health care services, with none sort of discrimination concerning complexion, income, social services, gender, or the other variable. those who create use of the government’s free public health system pay nothing for doctors’ fees, lab fees, hospitalization, surgery, or pharmaceuticals.

However, as a result of wait times area unit long and therefore the non-public system provides higher care, the additional affluent Brazilians usually use the non-public system, that covers regarding two hundredth of the Brazilian population. tho' foreign residents in Brazil area unit lined by Sus, the bulk of them opt for non-public insurance in Brazil. we have a tendency to advocate that international students invest in camera insurance before starting up on their study abroad.

Many insurance corporations in Brazil provide four principle varieties of medical insurance plans: non-public insurance, postpaid medical practice, medical cooperatives, and company health plans. prices of personal insurance in Brazil vary in line with the supplier, coverage, and region. The plans additionally provide varied terms and conditions. for instance, some non-public insurance policies need the policy holder to pay the hospital bill up front and so acquire compensation from the underwriter, whereas alternative insurance corporations can pay the bill directly.

Another option is to decide on to get student insurance back home before outward for Brazil. you would possibly notice that your current insurance supplier has taking part doctors and hospitals in Brazil, and extends coverage to you throughout your travels. If this can be not the case, we provide variety of plans to students World Health Organization area unit coming up with on learning, traveling, or visiting in Brazil, as well as the Atlas Travel and Student Secure plans. make certain to look at a policy fastidiously before getting it, to confirm that it meets your specific wants.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Distance Learning

Like any kind of educational program, distance learning comes with a host of pros and cons. Before you enroll in any kind of distance learning program, make sure to carefully consider these in order to be sure you’ll be getting an education that meets your personal needs, strengths and career goals.

Distance Learning Advantages:

• Lots of flexibility. With distance learning courses, students can complete their course work from just about anywhere, provided there’s a computer and internet connection. This allows students to work when and where it is more convenient for them without having to squeeze in scheduled classes to an already busy life.
• No commuting. Taking a course online can be one way to cut down on costly gas or public transportation. Since students can often work from home to complete their class assignments, both time and money are saved in cutting out the trips to and from class.
• Numerous choices for schools. Even if you live in a community with few or no colleges distance learning allows you to choose from a wide variety of schools to complete your education. You may find online schools that specialize in your particular field or one that can provide a great general education. Either way, your options for education will be greatly expanded.
• Lowered costs. Prices for online courses are generally cheaper than their on-campus counterparts and you won’t have to worry about commuting, moving or getting meal plans on campus, some additional benefits to learning from home.
• Learn while working. As distance learning can usually be completed on your own schedule, it is much easier to complete distance learning courses while working than more traditional educational programs. Keeping your job gives you more income, experience and stability while completing your degree giving you less to worry about and more time to focus on your studies.

Distance Learning Disadvantages:

• Lack of social interaction. If the classroom environment is what you love most about learning you may want to take a step back and reconsider distance learning. You’ll likely get some interaction on chat rooms, discussion boards and through email, but the experience will be quite different than traditional courses.
• Format isn’t ideal for all learners. Not everyone is an ideal candidate for online learning. If you know you have problems with motivation, procrastination and needs lots of individual attention from an instructor you may want to think long and hard before enrolling in an online learning program.
• Some employers don’t accept online degrees. While a majority of employers will, there are some who still see a stigma attached to distance learning. Realize that your online degree may not be the ideal tool for some job fields or for future learning.
• Requires adaptability to new technologies. If you’ve never been one to love working with technology you will probably get a lot less out of an online course than your more tech-savvy counterparts. Make sure you feel comfortable working with computers and with online programs before you sign up for a class.
• Not all courses required to complete the degree may be offered online. It makes sense that more practical majors like nursing aren’t offered entirely online, after all, part of the degree is learning to work directly with patients. Find out all the requirements of your degree to see what may need to be completed offline.

Top Distance Learning Schools

	Kaplan University - Associate's, Bachelor's, & Master's Degrees. Kaplan University provides students with the tools and resources to become successful in their educational settings. Kaplan University is an accredited university that offers students affordable online classes.
	University of Phoenix - Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, & Doctoral Degrees. University of Phoenix is a highly regarded university with classes available online and in a classroom setting. University of Phoenix offers a very diverse class curriculum that prepares the students to become successful employees upon graduation.
	Grand Canyon University - Bachelor's & Master's Degrees. Grand Canyon University stands out as a university offering quality undergraduate and graduate level online courses. An accredited university, Grand Canyon lets students take classes at their own pace and convenience.
	Capella University - Bachelor's, Master's, & Doctoral Degrees. Capella University uses its well respected faculty, vast resources, and educational foundation to educate students to be the brightest in their fields. Capella University is an accredited university with a vast number of degree options.

What are the pros and cons of distance learning courses in Europe?

Have you ever thought of enrolling in distance learning courses? Sometimes you may feel discouraged to come study in Europe because of the bureaucratic procedures you have to go through to obtain, for example, a study visa. Some other times it is the fact that you may not be able to afford your staying in another country what makes you veer away from studying abroad in Europe. No matter what your reason is, the good news is that you can still study in Europe without leaving your home: why not enrolling in distance learning courses?

Benefits of distance learning courses

Many European universities and colleges are now offering education opportunities through distance learning courses as they have quite interesting benefits for students such as:

• Distance learning courses set you free from space and time constraints: you can study wherever your are and whenever you feel more focused to learn as long as you have an Internet connection to access the learning system
• More affordable: this is definitely one of the advantages of enrolling in distance learning courses. You can study from home, compared to having to move abroad
• Large education offer: unlike in the real world, you are limited by the study programs available at the school of your choice. However, you may choose to enroll in distance learning courses at any school in Europe from the convenience of your home
• Support: this is actually one of the features I’ve most appreciated of the distance learning courses I’ve taken. You can conveniently email your teacher and have your questions resolved within a few hours. Or you may also ask a question to the rest of your classmates in the forum or chat room of the learning system
• Distance learning courses promote lifelong learning: indeed, many of those of us who have ever enrolled in a distance learning course do it because we need to increase our knowledge in a specific subject after having finished our degrees. With distance learning courses, you can still keep your life style and work while updating your knowledge without any type of clash

A disadvantage of distance learning courses

While distance learning courses might be an option for many of you, you have to think that not all degrees can be studied through distance learning. You should also think of one disadvantage all distance learning courses share: social isolation. The interaction among students and teachers is done online, which may be a negative side as you may loose one of the most important parts of your life as a student: social interaction with other people.

WHY TEACH ENGLISH?

Whence, and where, and why the English major? The subject is in every mouth—or, at least, is getting kicked around agitatedly in columns and reviews and Op-Ed pieces. The English major is vanishing from our colleges as the Latin prerequisite vanished before it, we’re told, a dying choice bound to a dead subject. The estimable Verlyn Klinkenborg reports in the Times that “At Pomona College (my alma mater) this spring, 16 students graduated with an English major out of a student body of 1,560, a terribly small number,” and from other, similar schools, other, similar numbers. In response, a number of defenses have been mounted, none of them, so far, terribly persuasive even to one rooting for them to persuade. As the bromides roll by and the platitudes chase each other round the page, those in favor of ever more and better English majors feel a bit the way we Jets fans feel, every fall, when our offense trots out on the field: I’m cheering as loud as I can, but let’s be honest—this is not working well. The defenses and apologias come in two kinds: one insisting that English majors make better people, the other that English majors (or at least humanities majors) make for better societies; that, as Christina Paxson, the president of Brown University, just put it in The New Republic, “ there are real, tangible benefits to the humanistic disciplines—to the study of history, literature, art, theater, music, and languages.” Paxson’s piece is essentially the kind of Letter To A Crazy Republican Congressman that university presidents get to write. We need the humanities, she explains patiently, because they may end up giving us other stuff we actually like: “We do not always know the future benefits of what we study and therefore should not rush to reject some forms of research as less deserving than others.” Well, a humanities major may make an obvious contribution to everyone’s welfare. But the truth is that for every broadly humane, technological-minded guy who contributed one new gadget to our prosperity there are six narrow, on-the-spectrum techno-obsessives who contributed twenty. Even Paxson’s insistence that, after 9/11, it was valuable to have experts on Islam around is sadly dubious; it was Bernard Lewis, a leading scholar on the subject, who consulted closely with Dick Cheney before the Iraq War, with the results we know. Nor do humanities specialists, let alone English majors, seem to be particularly humane or thoughtful or open-minded people, as the alternative better-people defense insists. No one was better read than the English upper classes who, a hundred years ago, blundered into the catastrophe of the Great War. (They wrote good poetry about it, the ones who survived anyway.) Victorian factory owners read Dickens, but it didn’t make Victorian factories nicer. (What made them nicer was people who read Dickens and Mill and then petitioned Parliament.) So why have English majors? Well, because many people like books. Most of those like to talk about them after they’ve read them, or while they’re in the middle. Some people like to talk about them so much that they want to spend their lives talking about them to other people who like to listen. Some of us do this all summer on the beach, and others all winter in a classroom. One might call this a natural or inevitable consequence of literacy. And it’s this living, irresistible, permanent interest in reading that supports English departments, and makes sense of English majors. Bill James dealt with this point wonderfully once, in talking about whether baseball is, as so many people within it insist, really a business, and not a sport at all. Well, James pointed out, if the sporting interest in baseball died, baseball would die; but if the business of baseball died—which, given all those empty ringside seats at Yankee Stadium, doesn’t seem impossible—but the sporting interest persisted, baseball would be altered, but it wouldn’t die. It would just reconstitute itself in a different way. And so with English departments: if we closed down every English department in the country, loud, good, expert, or at least hyper-enthusiastic readers would still emerge. One sees this happening already, in the steady pulse of reading groups and books clubs which form, in effect, a kind of archipelago of amateur English departments. The woman with the notebook and the detailed parsing of how each love affair echoes each other in “Swann’s Way” is already an English professor manqué. (Or, rather, a comp-lit professor.) If we abolished English majors tomorrow, Stephen Greenblatt and Stanley Fish and Helen Vendler would not suddenly be freed to use their smarts to start making quantum proton-nuclear reactor cargo transporters, or whatever; they would all migrate someplace where they could still talk Shakespeare and Proust and the rest. Indeed, before there were English professors, there were… English professors. Dr. Johnson was the greatest English professor who ever lived—the great cham of literature, to whom all turned, Harold Bloom plus-plus—and he never had a post, let alone tenure, and his “doctorate” was one of those honorary jobs they give you, after a lifetime of literary labor, for Fine Effort. The best reading and talking about books was, in the past, often done by people who had to make their living doing something else narrowly related: Hazlitt by writing miscellaneous journalism, Sydney Smith by pretending to be a clergyman. So then, the critic Lee Siegel asks, quite pertinently, why don’t we just take books out of the academy, where they don’t belong, and put them back in the living room, where they do? The best answer is a conservative one: institutions don’t always have a good reason for existing, but there are very few institutions that do exist that didn’t get invented for a reason. The space between a practice and a profession is as wide as any social space can be. And what professions do that practices can’t is remain open to what used to be called “the talents.” To have turned the habits of reading and obsessing over books from a practice mostly for those rich enough to have the time to do it into one that welcomes, for a time anyway, anyone who can is momentous. English departments democratize the practice of reading. When they do, they make the books of the past available to all. It’s a simple but potent act. I am, let me add quickly, a living witness to this: my father is the son of a Jewish immigrant butcher and grocer, a wise man but hardly a reader. My father, who loves to read, worked his way through Penn, back when you could, to become… a professor of English, with a specialty in the eighteenth-century wits, Pope and Richardson and Swift and Fielding. Without an English department and an English major, he would never have had a chance to make that journey in so short and successful a time—and, I feel bound to say, the practice of talking about books would have been poorer for it. (Mine would, certainly.) The best way we’ve found to make sure that everyone who loves to talk about books have a place to do it is to have English departments around. The study of English, to be sure, suffers from its own discontents: it isn’t a science, and so the “research” you do is, as my colleague Louis Menand has pointed out, archival futzing aside, not really research. But the best answer I have ever heard from a literature professor for studying literature came from a wise post-structuralist critic. Why was he a professor of literature? “Because I have an obsessive relationship with texts.” You choose a major, or a life, not because you see its purpose, which tends to shimmer out of sight like an oasis, but because you like its objects. A good doctor said to me, not long ago, “You really sort of have to like assholes and ear wax to be a good general practitioner”; you have to really like, or not mind much, intricate and dull and occasionally even dumb arguments about books to study English. The reward is that it remains the one kind of time travel that works, where you make a wish and actually become a musketeer in Paris or a used-car salesman in Pennsylvania. That one knows, of course, that the actuality is “fictional” or artificial doesn’t change its reality. The vicarious pleasure of reading is, by the perverse principle of professions, one that is often banished from official discussion, but it remains the core activity. So: Why should English majors exist? Well, there really are no whys to such things, anymore than there are to why we wear clothes or paint good pictures or live in more than hovels and huts or send flowers to our beloved on their birthday. No sane person proposes or has ever proposed an entirely utilitarian, production-oriented view of human purpose. We cannot merely produce goods and services as efficiently as we can, sell them to each other as cheaply as possible, and die. Some idea of symbolic purpose, of pleasure-seeking rather than rent seeking, of Doing Something Else, is essential to human existence. That’s why we pass out tax breaks to churches, zoning remissions to parks, subsidize new ballparks and point to the density of theatres and galleries as signs of urban life, to be encouraged if at all possible. When a man makes a few billion dollars, he still starts looking around for a museum to build a gallery for or a newspaper to buy. No civilization we think worth studying, or whose relics we think worth visiting, existed without what amounts to an English department—texts that mattered, people who argued about them as if they mattered, and a sense of shame among the wealthy if they couldn’t talk about them, at least a little, too. It’s what we call civilization. Even if we read books and talk about them for four years, and then do something else more obviously remunerative, it won’t be time wasted. We need the humanities not because they will produce shrewder entrepreneurs or kinder C.E.O.s but because, as that first professor said, they help us enjoy life more and endure it better. The reason we need the humanities is because we’re human. That’s enough.

Online Education - Today's Buzzword

Students world over are whole-heartedly accepting online education. The advantages of online education have made it the popular mode of education among the students of all age groups in all parts of the world. This growing popularity of online education has led to the emergence of a large number of educational institutions offering online education for a wide range of subjects. The growth of educational institutions offering relearning facilities has been significantly high in the US, Europe and the developed nations of the world.

Online Education- Changing Perception

In the past people perceived online education as an unserious and unscrupulous way of laying hands of a fast degree and getting good grades without much effort and hard work. People also had doubts about the reputation of education institutes offering online education. However, the times have changes significantly and today the majority of educational institutions offering online education are well established. Most of the world's leading education institutions have commenced online programs, which vindicate the validity of online education. Most of the online courses offer in-depth learning to the students in their respective educational modules.

Factors Contributing To The Growth of Online Education

Online education is becoming popular because most of the educational institutions offering online courses ensure qualitative learning. Talented professors and subject matter experts are at the helm of affairs at almost all accredited universities and colleges offering online courses and online degree programs. The students can be assured of good results in such courses.

Here are some factors that have contributed to the fast paced growth of online education:

· Flexible schedule

The biggest advantage of online education is that the students can do effective utilization of their time, which is the most precious resource. People participating in online education have the freedom of maintaining a flexible schedule, which helps them tremendously and it has come as a boon for the people who are working and want to continue their education.

· Student-Centered Learning

The students in online education have an advantage because they are in charge of their learning experience. The students can prioritize their schedule and complete the assignments as per their comfort levels and convenience. This is possible because the teachers in online mode of education are not teaching you all the time. As an online student, you have the liberty to select the mode of learning.

· Fair Playing Field

Online education is growing in popularity because it offers a level playing field to all the students. When you are learning online, your performance is the only criterion that affects the decision-making and your gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, and other considerations do not cloud the decision making process. This is one of the major factors contributing to the growth of online education.

All these advantages of online education may prompt you to join e learning. However, before you take the plunge and enroll in an online course, please make sure that you are familiar with the methodology of online education.

Good Majors for Pre-Med

Good Majors for Pre-Med 

It's not easy to get into medical school, so it's not surprising that hopefuls want to do everything they can to stand out from the crowd. From choosing impressive extracurricular activities to declaring a major, serious contenders need to plan ahead during the early days of their undergraduate studies. While no single major will best prepare you for the study of medicine, considering course requirements and admissions committee advice will help you make an informed choice.

Consider General Admission Requirements

No specific undergraduate major is required to get into medical school, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, but broad-based preparation that includes biology, chemistry, math, physics and English courses is recommended. While a background in all of these areas is important, admission requirements published by the Association of American Medical Colleges say that schools require more courses in some areas than in others. Most schools want to see one year of biology, one year of physics, one year of English and two years of organic chemistry on your transcript.

Research Your Dream Schools

While the course recommendations published by the AAMC provide a guideline for required course work, individual medical schools might have requirements different from the general rule. Research the admission requirements at the schools where you apply to make sure your chosen undergraduate major gives you the courses you will need. The Medical School Admission Requirements online tool provides a comprehensive list of medical schools in the United States and Canada, along with links to the schools' admission websites.

Know What's on the MCAT

Most medical schools require that you write the MCAT, a test that assesses your knowledge base for the study of medicine. Before selecting your major, consider what the MCAT covers and ensure that your course of study will give you a foundation in those areas. The Verbal Reasoning section asks you to read, think about and draw conclusions from written passages. The Biological Sciences portion covers molecular biology, microbiology, cell biology, human anatomy and physiology, genetics and evolution. The Physical Sciences section includes a number of topics in both chemistry and physics.

Consider Expert Opinion

Sunny Gibson and Brenda Lee, two members of medical school admissions committees, emphasize that you need more than the right courses and the right grades to make your medical school application stand out. However, they mention that a strong foundation in the sciences with good grades is an important starting point. If you're trying to decide between two majors that both fulfill your prerequisite requirements, choose the one that interests you most. That way, you're more likely to study hard and keep your grades up. Some people believe that majoring in nursing may hurt you in the admissions process. Not necessarily, say Gibson and Lee -- as long as you get all your medical school prerequisites and can explain your choice to admission committees.