The counseling department gives me mixed feelings because some counselors barely helped, and others…read morewere definitely more knowledgeable. While it's great that they let you setup online appointments, I had difficulties over Zoom. And they should let you see which departments the counselors are for, so they can guide you better. One of them went over the petitioning for a degree/transfer process. I didn't know I was that close to finishing another one, but I guess most of my credits from a different community college are accepted here. However, the process is tedious and should be automated. The last counselor I spoke to seemed lazy and told me I should just do all the research myself, so it was a complete waste of time...like what was the point of the appointment, if she didn't want to help look into a program I was interested in?
The financial aid office was super unhelpful with one experience I had, and I spent 20-ish minutes going back and forth with a male employee who did not tell me anything I did not already know. He was talking in circles, and I actually found the answers I wanted online myself.
Teacher-wise, I feel like you need to read ratemyprofessor. But also, you won't know until you read their syllabus. If you plan to take LOG 110, avoid VT. She never contributed once to any discussion, never gave insightful advice. Everything was copy and pasted, for the homework and responses to grading. She doesn't check Turnitin percentages, so you might get dinged for using the textbook. It took her a month to grade assignments, and actually, the class started 2 days late. She claimed she was locked out of Canvas for 10 days, but we never received an extension for that or when the system was hacked and offline. Also, over 2 months later, and she had still not graded my final scores. Honestly, I feel the dean should look into this low-effort teacher because I can't refer to that person as a professor.
Plus, I didn't like how another teacher (MY) is forcing students to record videos, as if it were a speech class. A lot of them seem uptight and only really there for a paycheck. She also didn't respond to e-mails initially, and was rude about a submission question I asked. Canvas sucks. If you plan to take online classes, beware of the ones that use Honorlock and require you to pay for software, that connect to Canvas. I believe the library has most textbooks, but reserve them in advance because you can only check them out for so long.
So far, I haven't like most classes because of how poor the content is. All of the PowerPoints I have read were bare bones, bare minimum, and didn't offer anything the textbook didn't. A lot of teachers also just add videos, which is fine, but it's a cop-out. But, I feel like they should include their own lecture material and share what they learned over the years.
The one class that I am somewhat okay with is English C1001, but a lot of classes tend to have things due on Mondays, Wednesdays, and a weekend day. The quizzes don't count as points for each question, like most other classes. But, for every essay, of which we have four, Curington requires an outline, prewrites, research/lab assignments, and a first draft. The peer outlines are okay, if the other classmate cares enough to try. He leaves feedback for most assignments, which I appreciate.
I have yet to visit the campus, but I look forward to visiting the observatory on a Friday evening. (Parking is free in LOT C.) I thought I would like RHC, but I might switch schools, if I don't end up liking the logistics management program.
