The Negatives Of A Large University
A large university has its good share of benefits. However, there are also disadvantages which you might want to know in your search for a reputable college for you.
A large school means a large student body numbering at least six thousand. This also means that a class will have a student-to-teacher ratio of about 100 students at a minimum to one teacher. With a large number of students in a class, a teacher will no longer have enough time to oversee the needs of each student. This will eventually lead students to feel less noticed by their faculty. Often, the teacher’s assistants are the ones who accommodate questions of students.
The size of the student body alone can result in ineffective communication between teachers and students. The setting then becomes less challenging such that efforts toward teaching and learning suffer. A student may also be discouraged in this setting as he becomes a number only in class unlike in a college with a small student-to-teacher ratio where teachers know their students by name and supervise them one by one.
Many teachers in universities are adjunct or those who work on a part-time basis only. These part-timers normally receive low salary with little or no benefits and do not security of tenure in their work. This factor may lead them to be less dedicated to their teaching profession in one university compared to the other school where they get better pay. Fulltime professors, on the other hand, may be more focused on their research and have less interest in teaching which is detrimental to students. Fulltime professors sometimes take in teacher assistants to do the teaching in class as their research, which earns them more money, is more important to them.
Many large universities are located in urban areas. This may also pose a problem notably concerning public transportation (buses are always full) and in availing of the city’s services where long lines are a daily occurrence.
Also, the Greek system (fraternities and sororities) exists in large universities. This can also cause a problem on the part of students who are not comfortable with the Greek life. If fraternities and sororities dominate a university’s social life, chances are the pressure to join such groups is high and other options outside of the institution may be very limited. Although these groups do get involved in worthwhile activities, they have a negative connotation for some students.
The huge size of the campus can discourage students who will have to walk far distances in going to and from their classes. This is especially true for students who do not own a car. Having to walk far every day may affect the student’s ability to concentrate in class as his energy is depleted.