Scheduling for next semester has finally begun. Between frantically refreshing scheduling sessions and trying to decipher our degree audits, it’s almost a necessity to check ratemyprofessors.com before making any decisions. 
Over the course of a semester, students spend a lot of time with their teachers in and out of the classroom. 
In those few months, professors have the opportunity to influence their students. Some professors will leave a lasting impression that can be either positive or negative, while others won’t be remembered at all. 
Nobody wants to get stuck with a bad professor. It’s always important for students to be responsible in order to perform well in school, but there’s only so much a student can do on their own. An effective course can’t exist without an effective teacher.
That’s why we all use ratemyprofessors.com — the teachers we choose make all the difference in the quality of our educations. 
I’ve had a few teachers who were extraordinary. They changed my life and inspired me in ways I can hardly put into words. The dedication these professors showed for their students went above and beyond my expectations, and the knowledge they shared shaped me into the person I am today. 
But unfortunately, we’ve all had teachers who, even though we try to remain optimistic, were awful. We attend their classes at the mercy of their grading and teaching style, wondering how on earth they slipped through the cracks of LSU’s hiring process. 
These teachers come in all sorts:
1. Boring ones: Some teachers are so boring that sitting in their class is less enjoyable than it would be to eat plain oatmeal at 2 a.m. while you watch infomercials. They’re about as inspiring as that bowl of plain, undercooked oatmeal. The lack of passion they evoke while teaching makes you want to bang your forehead against the desk. 
None of the material sticks with you, and by the end of the semester, you’ve gained a couple of credit hours on your transcript and nothing more. 
2. Unfriendly teachers: These are ones who never encourage you to come to office hours, teachers who act like every question you ask is taking away valuable class time. 
It’s important for students to feel comfortable approaching their teachers. Asking questions is a necessary part of learning, but nobody will ask questions if all they receive in return is a blank stare, a half-hearted explanation or even a rebuke. 
3. Condescending teachers: They can shatter a student’s confidence with just a few harsh words. Confidence is key to a student’s success, and one encounter with a condescending teacher could turn someone away from education as a whole. 
There’s nothing more harmful to a student’s self-esteem than a teacher who belittles them. Motivation doesn’t come from being made to feel like you’re inadequate.  
4. Irresponsible teachers: They cancel class often and without notice; they lose assignments and never stick to the syllabus. You know for a fact that you could do their jobs better than they can. 
To get a good education, it takes a lot of effort and motivation from students to make the most of it. A student who is lazy, uninterested and irresponsible easily can waste a good opportunity to learn.
But students can’t do everything on their own. If we’re paying a large sum of money to go to college, then teachers need to reciprocate the
dedication and responsibility it takes to make an education successful.  
As it is with students, it’s a teacher’s responsibility to do more than just “be there.” An effective education doesn’t happen without effort from both students and teachers.  
Shirin Chowdhury is a 20-year-old English junior from Manhattan, Kansas. You can reach her on Twitter @TDR_schowd.