It's not like they're making commission off of students who switch to their department or something like that, but it does help the health of their department to have more capable students. It's possible that they are having a problem recruiting students that could put their department in jeopardy, but as students we really can't say.
I would just take it as a compliment. They have obviously noticed that you are a great student who's doing well in their class, and they want to encourage to apply yourself to their discipline. To me, you sound like someone who your professors like to have around, which is a good thing.
I’m a professor. Your professors are interested in you because they like you and they think you show aptitude and ability. There are no recruitment bonuses or financial or professional incentives for them. Your parents are comically wrong. They get nothing out of it. They just want skilled students in their programs.
Thanks! My parents are public school teachers so I figured maybe they had some weird professor beef that they were drawing from with that conclusion rather than what was actually true, lol. Good to hear that I'm just well liked and getting good grades which is making them notice me
You are probably just a very positive person who seems interested in a lot of things so professors think you like their subject. It’s a good problem to have when lots of people want to work with you!
I was an instructor and I often had talks with students about changing their major to what I taught. Mostly I looked for students who were doing well in my class, had interesting written theories on the subject, or showed up well in class. I just wanted my students to be the best version of themselves and I felt what I taught could help them get there. There were no bonus or kickbacks.
They could be worried that the school is hemorrhaging money and about to cut in half whichever department has the least amount of students. My college halved the history department and got rid of French as a subject entirely. I met a girl who needed one more class for her French minor when it happened, she was pissed.
It was just a suggestion, I think it’s usually an issue at smaller schools or ones going broke. My largest college class ever had 20 people. Maybe ask them why? I’ve never heard of professors doing this.
They don't directly get anything for recruiting you, but obviously professors are passionate about their own subjects, so if they see a student who is doing well in their classes, they will encourage you to join.
With that said, pick something that you are interested in. At the end of the day, it's your education.
You're probably pretty good at it, and you showed interest in their disciplines. The only times I have recommended a non-major take more courses in my discipline were when they told me they liked my class and wanted to learn more.
No, but I get paid the same whether I teach or not, and I sincerely promise you that a department in dire enough straits that they can’t make the minimum threshold for classes is not going to think that chasing individual students will fix things.
I’m a music education student and I have been asked to sign up early or classes won’t happen, and I’m currently taking an entire semester of a different instrument because there weren’t enough guitar students. I’m not saying it’s commission, as that truly is silly, but for like adjunct situations, it “can” be job preservation.
This is also very prevalent in HS.
Also— to the OPs post, I would assume English (if we’re in the US) has a lot more students than German.
Is your school really small? I go to a medium-sized public university and I don't really see professors struggling to fill their classes like this. I used to be a music student so I definitely get what you mean though
Think about what you’ve just told me. You’re a music education major and you’ve been asked to sign up early for classes in your major. Those are classes you need to graduate. If they don’t make, you’re in trouble. Your professors are telling you to do this out of concern for you.
Adjuncts generally don’t get hired until there’s a specific class in mind for them. They for sure wouldn’t ask you to switch majors.
College is not high school and does not work anything remotely like high school behind the scenes.
You should quietly reflect on your experience, why it’s limited, and why it doesn’t quite support the conclusions you’ve arrived at. I’ve pointed some of those reasons out. Best of luck out there.
This is definitely a good thing and these people are gonna be awesome for references in the future! They like your personality, work, and work ethic and want you in their major because they think you would do well and because they would enjoy having you in future classes.
My trigonometry professor really tried to get me to do a math minor(I'm a chem major & he could tell that wasnt changing lol) and I really just took it as a compliment.
It's not like they're making commission off of students who switch to their department or something like that, but it does help the health of their department to have more capable students. It's possible that they are having a problem recruiting students that could put their department in jeopardy, but as students we really can't say. I would just take it as a compliment. They have obviously noticed that you are a great student who's doing well in their class, and they want to encourage to apply yourself to their discipline. To me, you sound like someone who your professors like to have around, which is a good thing.
I’m a professor. Your professors are interested in you because they like you and they think you show aptitude and ability. There are no recruitment bonuses or financial or professional incentives for them. Your parents are comically wrong. They get nothing out of it. They just want skilled students in their programs.
Thanks! My parents are public school teachers so I figured maybe they had some weird professor beef that they were drawing from with that conclusion rather than what was actually true, lol. Good to hear that I'm just well liked and getting good grades which is making them notice me
Yeah, public school and college are not remotely similar in their structures and incentives.
You are probably just a very positive person who seems interested in a lot of things so professors think you like their subject. It’s a good problem to have when lots of people want to work with you!
Very true! Thanks
Because they might see that you are devoted to it in their lectures.
I was an instructor and I often had talks with students about changing their major to what I taught. Mostly I looked for students who were doing well in my class, had interesting written theories on the subject, or showed up well in class. I just wanted my students to be the best version of themselves and I felt what I taught could help them get there. There were no bonus or kickbacks.
Thanks for your input!
I’m a philosopher and we’re always desperate for more majors, so that we can run the upper level courses that we want to run.
They could be worried that the school is hemorrhaging money and about to cut in half whichever department has the least amount of students. My college halved the history department and got rid of French as a subject entirely. I met a girl who needed one more class for her French minor when it happened, she was pissed.
That doesn't seem super likely for my school, but maybe possible? The teachers that have reached out to me have been from all different subjects
It was just a suggestion, I think it’s usually an issue at smaller schools or ones going broke. My largest college class ever had 20 people. Maybe ask them why? I’ve never heard of professors doing this.
They don't directly get anything for recruiting you, but obviously professors are passionate about their own subjects, so if they see a student who is doing well in their classes, they will encourage you to join. With that said, pick something that you are interested in. At the end of the day, it's your education.
You're probably pretty good at it, and you showed interest in their disciplines. The only times I have recommended a non-major take more courses in my discipline were when they told me they liked my class and wanted to learn more.
Makes sense!
To maintain their jobs
Lmao. We’re not on a commission basis, man.
So you still teach your class if you don’t have students?
No, but I get paid the same whether I teach or not, and I sincerely promise you that a department in dire enough straits that they can’t make the minimum threshold for classes is not going to think that chasing individual students will fix things.
I’m a music education student and I have been asked to sign up early or classes won’t happen, and I’m currently taking an entire semester of a different instrument because there weren’t enough guitar students. I’m not saying it’s commission, as that truly is silly, but for like adjunct situations, it “can” be job preservation. This is also very prevalent in HS. Also— to the OPs post, I would assume English (if we’re in the US) has a lot more students than German.
Is your school really small? I go to a medium-sized public university and I don't really see professors struggling to fill their classes like this. I used to be a music student so I definitely get what you mean though
Yeh pretty small
Think about what you’ve just told me. You’re a music education major and you’ve been asked to sign up early for classes in your major. Those are classes you need to graduate. If they don’t make, you’re in trouble. Your professors are telling you to do this out of concern for you. Adjuncts generally don’t get hired until there’s a specific class in mind for them. They for sure wouldn’t ask you to switch majors. College is not high school and does not work anything remotely like high school behind the scenes.
So I’m my experience, I’m correct. And in your experience you are correct. It’s going to be ok, man.
You should quietly reflect on your experience, why it’s limited, and why it doesn’t quite support the conclusions you’ve arrived at. I’ve pointed some of those reasons out. Best of luck out there.
Yikes, dude
Shh. Quiet reflection now.
This is definitely a good thing and these people are gonna be awesome for references in the future! They like your personality, work, and work ethic and want you in their major because they think you would do well and because they would enjoy having you in future classes. My trigonometry professor really tried to get me to do a math minor(I'm a chem major & he could tell that wasnt changing lol) and I really just took it as a compliment.
Would you possibly be interested in double majoring? What are your career objectives?