DS really liked his TAs

[Anonymous]

Just sharing this because there is usually concern for large research universities not having a good undergraduate experience because the courses are taught by TAs.

DS is at a UC and really likes this model. He came in as a freshman but with basically junior status from all the APs and DE courses. As his UC gives credit but doesn’t wave GE requirements for APs there are a few lower division courses he needs. His first quarter was a mix of lower division but mostly upper division courses. He said he felt a little weird being in courses with kids 2-3 years older him but the TAs made him feel really welcome. He’s liked having top notch faculty who give great lectures and insight but then getting to have the discussion sessions with the TAs. He’s said they were really good.

[Anonymous]

+1, this was also my experience. It's possible to have a bad TA, of course, but it's more than possible to have a bad professor.

[Anonymous]

Many underestimate the value of TAs (graduate students acting as teaching assistants for small break-out groups from large lecture classes) and adjunct professors (adjuncts typically are working professionals with current industry knowledge and connections).

TAs often relate better to students and adjuncts are great resources for current industry knowledge,internships, and full-time job openings in their field.

[Anonymous]

The worst TAs are those who have difficulty speaking the English language. Usually just found in STEM courses.

[Anonymous]

Some TAs are great, others not so much. Same as professors. I think the reason many get frustrated is that neither professors or TAs are really rewarded career-wise for being good teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many underestimate the value of TAs (graduate students acting as teaching assistants for small break-out groups from large lecture classes) and adjunct professors (adjuncts typically are working professionals with current industry knowledge and connections).

TAs often relate better to students and adjuncts are great resources for current industry knowledge,internships, and full-time job openings in their field.

That might be true for adjuncts in professional programs, but in many other settings, adjuncts are "professional adjuncts" -- underpaid instructors adjuncting 5 or 6 class and barely making ends meet, because they are cheaper than full time professors for the university.

[Anonymous]

Which UC specifically is your DC at?

Thanks for this helpful feedback!

[Anonymous]

He’s at UC Davis. I don’t know if this is unique to Davis or if the other UCs are like this too but the graduate student TAs are really great. I know when DH and I were TAs at different schools we really cared about our students too but I was concerned that might have changed over 30-40 years.

The undergraduate upperclassmen also run so many of the programs like the ARC, transportation, events, concerts, orientation and a ton of stuff which I think makes it more fun and approachable for the incoming students. It’s a really friendly supportive place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The worst TAs are those who have difficulty speaking the English language. Usually just found in STEM courses.

THIS! I still remember being a freshman at UC Berkeley and not understanding anything much at all of what my foreign TA was saying in a Statistics class. I remember going to office hours for the professor who brushed me off and said I needed to go to the TA's office hours.

[Anonymous]

I was a TA at a large research university. The students acted like a cute group of puppies. They asked to sit with their girlfriend/boyfriend. They set minor fires with the bunsen burners. I literally had to put out fires Some burned or stabbed themselves, but nothing serious. They were messy and jolly, and they all seemed to appreciate me, which made it pleasant.

Practically all the TAs when I taught there were foreigners, including me. No student ever complained about not understanding me, and they didn't complain about other TAs' accents either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He’s at UC Davis. I don’t know if this is unique to Davis or if the other UCs are like this too but the graduate student TAs are really great. I know when DH and I were TAs at different schools we really cared about our students too but I was concerned that might have changed over 30-40 years.

The undergraduate upperclassmen also run so many of the programs like the ARC, transportation, events, concerts, orientation and a ton of stuff which I think makes it more fun and approachable for the incoming students. It’s a really friendly supportive place.

Great to hear - UC Davis is high on my son's list among the UCs!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many underestimate the value of TAs (graduate students acting as teaching assistants for small break-out groups from large lecture classes) and adjunct professors (adjuncts typically are working professionals with current industry knowledge and connections).

TAs often relate better to students and adjuncts are great resources for current industry knowledge,internships, and full-time job openings in their field.

Adjuncts are not typically that anymore. Adjuncts have became a way of hiring people who fail to get TT or visiting professorships for cheap cost. They often run between more than 1 institution.
-an academic who has seen the struggle these adjuncts go through

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He’s at UC Davis. I don’t know if this is unique to Davis or if the other UCs are like this too but the graduate student TAs are really great. I know when DH and I were TAs at different schools we really cared about our students too but I was concerned that might have changed over 30-40 years.

The undergraduate upperclassmen also run so many of the programs like the ARC, transportation, events, concerts, orientation and a ton of stuff which I think makes it more fun and approachable for the incoming students. It’s a really friendly supportive place.

TAs tend to be nice, because they have no reason to not be. But, you aren’t exactly a priority on there laundry list of courses, research, and other personal aspects that come with being a graduate student.

Most people aren’t very rude when being paid to teach you.

[Anonymous]

I’d rather be taught by a tenured faculty member with lab space than an individual who was in undergrad a few months ago. Your kid would have a better education with discussion sections or even crazier- Office hours- with professors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d rather be taught by a tenured faculty member with lab space than an individual who was in undergrad a few months ago. Your kid would have a better education with discussion sections or even crazier- Office hours- with professors.

You seem to be misunderstanding that in the Prof/TA model, the Prof is teaching the course. S/he has a team of TAs that teach the smaller discussion sessions. TAs are usually PhD students or at least 2nd year graduate students unless they are superstars. Not every graduate student is offered a TA spot, they are usually in high demand.