Ok so what do I do when I have a super obnoxious professor, who thinks everything he says is golden, and right? He's asked me several questions, and put me on the spot, what should I do? Should I just kiss up to him? I really need an A in that class! Thanks!

Well I'd hope you answer the questions

The one thing I've learned from college is to get through just agree with the professor and figure out what is on the tests! A little schmoozing never hurt either.

This. Unless the professor is just extremely rude/inflammatory, just get through the class as best as you can. Good luck!

Lol okay! I'll be SUPER nice to him! He's making this VERY difficult >.< Lol Thanks so much!!

He kind of is, he puts people on the spot, and makes them feel terrible if they get the answer wrong. But thanks I think I'll just try to be super nice to him!! ^.^ thank youuuu!

What is he doing that's obnoxious?

Just a different opinion ... Some professors actually like it when their students express different opinions, as long as they can back those opinions up. I had a professor my freshman year of college who I definitely found arrogant and self-assured. Nobody in our class ever changed his opinion about anything, but it became apparent throughout the semester that he really liked it when we argued (at least somewhat intelligently) with him. Of course, it's kind of hard to give advice on your professor, since we're not in class with him! Can you find anyone in the class who has already had him in a previous semester? They might be able to clue you in on what he looks for in his students. Otherwise, I'd just recommend keeping your head down until you've figured out what he wants by watching him interact with other students. Whatever you do, don't kiss up, unless the guy's totally socially clueless. Most people can tell when others aren't being sincere and don't appreciate it.

Speaking. jk jk. Well kind of. His tone of voice is very condescending, and when he speaks he makes everyone else feel super inferior.

Oh wow. Yea I guess you're right I'll be the bigger person here, and try and get over it and try my best in the class! Thanks great advice! >.<

I had an obnoxious teacher in college ... well, I've had a few. If it was a course I didn't care about (not part of my core major) I'd banter with them. Some professors love a good debate. As do I!

But one teacher I had, all the classes I took with him were part of my major (Music) So I had him for not only YEARS of theory, but Piano as well. (Not my instrument!!)

And he completely thrived on the fact of putting you on the spot. It would be exactly 8AM and his idea of roll call was when he called your name- you had to answer a theory question. So something like this:

Prof: Heather?
Me: Here...
Prof: Can you name all the modal scales?.. in order?
Me: Uh... Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Locrian, Mixolodian, Aeolian, Lydian
Prof: You mixed up Locrian and Lydian... F for today!
Me:

My first semester with him- I had to repeat that class... I didn' fail fail.. but I had to have above a c+ to pass... and I didn't.

I got through 4 more years dealing with this arrogant SOB by really being on my game. I really studied hard and knew my stuff. After that, him putting me on the spot wasn't such a big deal. Because he never caught me of guard. It really reduced my anxiety in his classes as well.

Too bad when I was supposed to finish my degree's, I had gotten carpel tunnel and couldn't work through my last recital.. I just couldn't play for 5+ hours a day anymore. I had asked him if it were possible to graduate me anyway (because I looked it up.. it was, but it was also up to the teachers) and he told me "Both of your arms and legs could be cut off and I wouldn't graduate you!"

I never got my degree. He's lucky we have never run into each other again. He might be missing his arms and legs.

LR

Know your stuff. This is a good thing to do anyway, but as the semester rolls on you'll probably begin to identify what he likes to put people on the spot about and prepare for it.

Do your best on your assignments. If he offers to review drafts of students' work, take him up on it, and then follow his recommendations.

If he likes to have students debate his points, try to do so intelligently. If he just likes putting people down, protect yourself as best you can by coming to class prepared, and don't let his behavior phase you. Water off a duck's back.

He may be an expert in his field, but there are probably worlds of things that he knows less than the average person about because he's spent so much time specializing. I've found that professors who are condescending jerks to students often aren't good at the other social and technical aspects of teaching, and often aren't as knowledgeable about their fields of specialization as their personas might lead one to assume (and without appearing to know anything about the world outside of academia to compensate for it).

Good luck with your class!

What a jerk! I avoid teachers like that like the plague. I have such a hard time sucking up to them, because I think they're idiots and they're (usually) preying on young open minded college students that can't yet sift through the bull**** to spew their biased opinions like they're fact. Ugh! I had a sociology professor like that, and I thought she was a moron. So much so that the LAST line of my LAST paper in the class was "I started off this semester knowing nothing about sociology, and now I know a little more than nothing."

I guess that was a big middle finger to her... and I probably shouldn't have done that, because that class is ruining my almost 4.0! But whatever.

If you HAVE to stick with the class, 99 times out of a 100 you should totally emulate the prof. That's what teachers like that want is little drones of themselves, so just be a total kiss ***. Study your butt off, and on papers pretty much regurgitate what they say. I've found that works really well. On that last day after the final, shake their hand and thank them for an awesome semester and tell them you really enjoyed their class and you learned a lot (even if you hate them with a passion and would rather stick a fork in your eye than take another one of their classes). Then if you run into them in the future, you'll have made a REALLY good impression.

LightRaven: You see?! It seems like some teachers just don't care how they make their students feel! I mean 4 years with this guy, and you'd think he'd realize that he's just pressuring his students, and making them feel bad >.<! Are you going to go back after your degree?

theox: Good thinking! I'm actually going to put extra extra extra time in for preparing for his class, and I am going to bother the heck out of him when our research paper is due! Ha he'd never know what hit him =) Thanks

oodlesofnoodles: Totally! My plan is to be super nice, and to actually do work and become his little drone, because I really need this A!! I wish I knew he was like this, because I would have dropped the class ASAP! I'm going to talk to him in his office hours tomorrow! I hope things go well! Thanks =)))

Do your best in class and when it is time for teacher evaluations, be honest.

I had one of those once who seemed to think that because I was a girl I couldn't compete with the guys in science. Well, I competed, and I competed well! Prof chilled out after that.

I had another one in history. I remember once the AUTHOR of the book wrote me a letter praising my work and he told me he was still giving me a B because he didn't agree. But he chilled out after that too.

Looking back, both these guys were older. I suppose they still had the mentality that girls can't compete or something coloring their attitudes.

A.

When I was in college, I found that if an instructor expected people to come to class prepare and know their stuff, the general feeling was that he was asking too much. I think there are too many instructors who let students float along without getting involved and we as students get used to being able to disappear in class and not have to PROVE that we're following along and preparing. So when one instructor actually does his job - forces you to prepare for class and prove that you are paying attention - students think that's wrong because it's outside of the norm.

So what I'm saying is, prepare for class. Be aware he's probably going to ask you a question. Maybe he's not a jerk, maybe he's tired of people who think they can float quietly through a class AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL. You're paying for it! It's SUPPOSED to be challenging! You're SUPPOSED to be learning!

Well... physically I can't. I am a Double Bassist (6ft tall violin looking thing) and I was very good.. I was double majoring in both classical and jazz performance. And because of that I was in almost every ensemble available.. because they needed a bassist. So with all the ensemble playing, all the lessons and practicing (4-5 hours just practicing) It eventually caught up with me, and I have carpel tunnel in both hands.

Pins and needles- hands falling asleep- not good. I tried the braces, I tried the anti-inflammatories (which.. one I eventually became allergic to!) the only thing I didn't do was surgery. And it wasn't an option because at the time I didn't have health insurance.

I've got no classes to take.. just a recital to perform. But I can't practice 5 hours a day to get to solo performance level.

I tried to see if switching my major to just general music would get me atleast a degree---pfft.. they told me I needed to take 18 more credits then. For what?! I already had 200+ because I was a double major.

Even if I could somehow get my degree, it would be for what? I can't perform professionally. Because I can't play without my hands falling asleep.

I do want to go back and get a degree in something. I'm torn between education (not music, I don't need someone breathing down my neck always threatening to cut the music program), or psychology. But, I'm a single mom of a 4 year old, and it'll just have to wait until she is older. If at all.

What subject is this teacher teaching anyway?

LR

Well, I teach adults (ESL) although I am not a "professor" (I'm still working towards an MA program) and I don't think I am an arrogant instructor (I hope!!!), so I can't say for sure what an arrogant professor expects.

In life, some people are just jerks. Your future boss is probably a good example. He or she may be an arrogant jerk but they still hold the cards, so you just deal with it

Above all, remember that professors are experts in their field who happen to teach - not people who learned to teach and then specialized in a subject. There are some professors that are amazing teachers who go on to inspire future world leaders, and then there are some who are just trying to pay off their PhD loans and finance their dreams of writing a book. If you end up with category #2, just get through it as quickly and painlessly as you can