ADVERTISEMENT

When most of us grew up with films, shows, and stories that all indicated that college professors were these intellectual dynamos, unparalleled wits who had mastered the ins and outs of their field, the reality of actually going to school has shown that is quite often not the case at all. 

College students shared stories and screenshots of the unhinged experiences they have had with college professors. From bizarre emails and strange rules to just chaotic vibes and hilarity, get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorite examples, and share your own thoughts and experiences in the comments section below. 

#1

For All The People That Think They Are Bad At Responding To Emails

For All The People That Think They Are Bad At Responding To Emails

academijung Report

#2

My Previous Math 1060 Professor Has Nearly A 50% Drop Rate, 30% Fail Rate, And A Mere 20% Pass Rate. Didn't Take Me Long To Find Out Why. (Actual Snapshot From Hw) [oc]

My Previous Math 1060 Professor Has Nearly A 50% Drop Rate, 30% Fail Rate, And A Mere 20% Pass Rate. Didn't Take Me Long To Find Out Why. (Actual Snapshot From Hw) [oc]

Zanthom19 Report

Add photo comments
POST
lyone_fein avatar
Lyone Fein
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is lousy multiple choice test writing. And it seems to me that students who are marked wrong for choosing answers that are identical to them correct answers would be justified in making a complaint about this professor to the academic council, the dean's office, etc.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

Knew I Had To Switch Econ Classes When I Got This Trifling "Syllabus"

Knew I Had To Switch Econ Classes When I Got This Trifling "Syllabus"

shantimaya13 Report

Add photo comments
POST
tucker_cahooter avatar
Tucker Cahooter
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe this idiot thinks that all illnesses and deaths can be scheduled in advance

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

The term college professor gets thrown around quite a bit, often leading to some degree of confusion. University and college, in North America, generally mean the same thing, while in many places in the rest of the world, these are two, distinctly different institutions, with Universities being more prestigious, while colleges focus on more “practical” skills. 

The term professor doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing everywhere. In most of the English-speaking world, it represents the highest “rank” one can get while teaching at a university. But it often gets thrown around to represent anyone who teaches a class at a higher educational institution. 

#4

My Professor Is A Terrible Human Being

My Professor Is A Terrible Human Being

anadelrey__ Report

Add photo comments
POST
lotta1_ avatar
pineapple87
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had an English professor who 100% would have done this. Every now and then when I write work emails (12 years after graduation), I still wonder what she would think of them.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#5

High School Teachers: College Professors Are Serious. College Professors:

High School Teachers: College Professors Are Serious. College Professors:

akwlanm Report

#6

A Teacher In Texas Is Giving As To Students That Buy His Book And Leave A 5 Star Review On Amazon

A Teacher In Texas Is Giving As To Students That Buy His Book And Leave A 5 Star Review On Amazon

Yosho2k Report

ADVERTISEMENT

It doesn’t help that in the wildly popular Harry Potter films and books, the characters, who basically go through primary school to high school in the same location, all call their teachers “professors.” This is really never explained, however, the Wizarding world doesn’t appear to have an equivalent of higher education, so perhaps that’s why teachers and professors are all rolled into one. 

#7

My Professor Doesn’t Believe That Covid Is Real Or That I Got It Twice

My Professor Doesn’t Believe That Covid Is Real Or That I Got It Twice

A_complicated_thing Report

#8

Does Anyone Else Feel Like This Is Crazy? I’m Only Taking It For An Elective So I’ve Already Decided To Drop The Course, But I’ve Never Seen Anything Like This In A Syllabus Before

Does Anyone Else Feel Like This Is Crazy? I’m Only Taking It For An Elective So I’ve Already Decided To Drop The Course, But I’ve Never Seen Anything Like This In A Syllabus Before

throwingawaycolleges Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Smell Test

Smell Test

ATHENASEYE Report

Add photo comments
POST
sylvia-wachs avatar
FaceTime Audio
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is fair, I have had a few bad experiences of being stuck next to someone who smelled really bad during a test. Made it a lot harder to concentrate.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Indeed, some professors don’t even teach, although these are generally referred to as “research professors,” since their main task (if it isn’t obvious) is to conduct research. This is not to take away from their abilities, contributions, or intelligence, but it can be slightly confusing to understand what a person’s role is. 

#10

One Of The English Professors At My University Keeps A Wall Of Rejection Letters For The Plays He’s Submitted

One Of The English Professors At My University Keeps A Wall Of Rejection Letters For The Plays He’s Submitted

zoesgoes Report

Add photo comments
POST
jeremybyrneonabuffalo avatar
Pandamonium
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It actually sounds kind of cool. The professor is setting an example by not being discouraged and is showing that it's common for authors to receive rejection letters. This actually seems like a great lesson.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

Not Only Is My Calculus Professor Not Going To Let Us Use Calculators On Our Upcoming Exam, He Also Said That If We Take Over 30 Minutes To Complete The 30 Question Test, He Will Start Deducting Points. I Legitimately Am Considering Reporting Him To The Department Chair

Not Only Is My Calculus Professor Not Going To Let Us Use Calculators On Our Upcoming Exam, He Also Said That If We Take Over 30 Minutes To Complete The 30 Question Test, He Will Start Deducting Points. I Legitimately Am Considering Reporting Him To The Department Chair

reddit.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
jenjoyner avatar
Xenon
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Calculous at one minute per?! Delusional, period.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

Even worse, the term professor, in a more pejorative sense, is often used to designate someone who is more intelligent than the rest of the group. In the US, stereotypically, a pianist or musician in a rough-and-tumble saloon might be called a professor by the regulars. This could be a term of endearment, or an insult, depending on the situation. 

#13

Professor Made Each Of Us Print Out 30 Pages Worth Of Tables To Bring To The Exam, Rather Than Provide Them For The Students. We Don't Have Free Printing At My University

Professor Made Each Of Us Print Out 30 Pages Worth Of Tables To Bring To The Exam, Rather Than Provide Them For The Students. We Don't Have Free Printing At My University

DragonZaid Report

Add photo comments
POST
laurenstern avatar
Lauren S
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m guessing the professor also doesn’t have free printing but the burden shouldn’t fall to the students. I blame the university.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

Class Did “Too” Well On The Midterm So The Professor Is Capping Everyone’s Grades For The Final As A Result

Class Did “Too” Well On The Midterm So The Professor Is Capping Everyone’s Grades For The Final As A Result

UoftCompSciThrowAway Report

#15

Question About Changing Marks After May 9

Question About Changing Marks After May 9

Ikexm Report

#16

The Desktop Of The Professor Who Teaches The Class Before Mine

The Desktop Of The Professor Who Teaches The Class Before Mine

revlark Report

#17

My Professor Just Sent Out An Email Announcing That They Won’t Be Providing Desks For The Final

My Professor Just Sent Out An Email Announcing That They Won’t Be Providing Desks For The Final

DrumSpace Report

Add photo comments
POST
lyone_fein avatar
Lyone Fein
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tbf, professors do not choose the rooms for exams. Usually these are assigned by the registrar's office. It is very probably the case that the professor had never been in this room/auditorium before, and just walked over to check it out the afternoon before the test. He was likely surprised to find out that there were no flip out desk tops attached to the seats. Hopefully he had his TA's scrambling to round up clipboards to hand out.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

Prof Realizes The Ta May Have Graded A Problem Wrong And Gave Some Students Points For An Incorrect Answer. Now She Wants Those Students To Email Her So She Can Deduct The Points From Their Grade

Prof Realizes The Ta May Have Graded A Problem Wrong And Gave Some Students Points For An Incorrect Answer. Now She Wants Those Students To Email Her So She Can Deduct The Points From Their Grade

kitties_and_biscuits Report

#19

As A Commute Student Whose Professors Don't Believe In Email

As A Commute Student Whose Professors Don't Believe In Email

TenthSpeedWriter Report

Add photo comments
POST
mica0987654321 avatar
OneHappyPuppy
Community Member
3 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had this happen consistently for about 2 months for an English class which was mandatory by curriculum, and it was a double 8am class... The next class was at 10. So I did what any sane person would do and called the office every single day-before to check if they've finally found a substitute for the class the next morning. I also updated my group about it regularly because fk coming in for an 8am class that isn't even held. Edit to add - that office had saved me more times than I can count, I bought them all cake for the day I graduated

View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

Ethics Professor Requiring Students To Purchase A Textbook That He Wrote

Ethics Professor Requiring Students To Purchase A Textbook That He Wrote

maestro_monkey Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#21

Everything This Instructor Does, Just Pisses Me Off From The Start…

Everything This Instructor Does, Just Pisses Me Off From The Start…

Nickelz34 Report

#22

Email From My Newest English Professor

Email From My Newest English Professor

ticklemejesus420 Report

Add photo comments
POST
catherrera15 avatar
Cecilia Herrera
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Was English a second language to your Professor of English? This looks like a poor translation into the English language from some other language.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

Professor Asked Us How Our Mental Health Was Then Added This

Professor Asked Us How Our Mental Health Was Then Added This

cher_lovely Report

#24

My University Canceled Class Today Due To The Weather (Freezing Rainstorm Causing Thick Layers Of Ice All Over Campus) But My Professor Still Wants Us To Go To Our Lab

My University Canceled Class Today Due To The Weather (Freezing Rainstorm Causing Thick Layers Of Ice All Over Campus) But My Professor Still Wants Us To Go To Our Lab

Lada730 Report

Add photo comments
POST
mica0987654321 avatar
OneHappyPuppy
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ooh we had this happen too one freezing winter back in 2012, all classes were cancelled except for one - and it was the vice-deans class. Only when the government made it official that no one was to travel unless it was an emergency did he drop the class for the week...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

When Professors Don't Realize The Difference Between A Smartboard And A Whiteboard

When Professors Don't Realize The Difference Between A Smartboard And A Whiteboard

malbrecht92 Report

Add photo comments
POST
kidsconway3011 avatar
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Yeah I just came into school today and this was here. I don't know how it got here!"

View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Is This Allowed For Professors To Send To Their Former Students? From What I Know This Was Sent To Others. We’re Required To Fill Out A Review Of Our Professors At The End Of The Semester So I Don’t Know What Others Would Have Said

Is This Allowed For Professors To Send To Their Former Students? From What I Know This Was Sent To Others. We’re Required To Fill Out A Review Of Our Professors At The End Of The Semester So I Don’t Know What Others Would Have Said

ricket026 Report

Add photo comments
POST
lyone_fein avatar
Lyone Fein
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think this is a "please love me" thing. I do, however, believe that there are serious problems with the current student evaluation system in higher education: 1. Firstly, the people doing the evaluating are not experts in the field of education. Nor are they experts in the specialized field of study that the course is in. Yet somehow the system places them in the role of evaluating their professor's expertise in both of these areas. 2. Secondly, the majority of the student evaluators will be generally aware, at the time of performing the evaluation, that they are likely receiving a grade that is less than a "B". Unfortunately there is a tendency for resentment to be expressed as criticism of the teacher. 3. Students are not aware that these evaluations are weighed quite heavily by other faculty when making hiring/firing decisions.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

My Professor Wouldn't Move The Mouse, So We Had To Watch Two Versions Of The Video

My Professor Wouldn't Move The Mouse, So We Had To Watch Two Versions Of The Video

captpiggard Report

#28

My Professor Really Hates Giving Full Points

My Professor Really Hates Giving Full Points

knagy17 Report

Add photo comments
POST
emmawalmsley avatar
still tired
Community Member
3 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a teacher like this. Apparently if you got full marks then "you wouldn't try anymore because you already succeeded once" so the most you could get in that class was 90%. Anyway, everyone decided that since you couldn't get full marks no matter how hard you worked, no one put in any effort (the average grade became 60%). The teacher was replaced soon after.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

My Professor Left Me On Read, So I Hobbled To School With A Pinched Nerve In My Spine. Still In Pain Days Later

My Professor Left Me On Read, So I Hobbled To School With A Pinched Nerve In My Spine. Still In Pain Days Later

reddit.com Report

#30

Professor Gave Extension On An Assignment Then Docked Me 22 Points For Taking Advantage Of The Extension

Professor Gave Extension On An Assignment Then Docked Me 22 Points For Taking Advantage Of The Extension

Lonelyicycles Report

Note: this post originally had 65 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda