Is RateMyProfessors Useful or Harmful?
It is no secret that RateMyProfessors is a commonly used tool by college students. It is a chance to pick the best professors with a system that has categories such as overall easiness and helpfulness. This website is an opportunity to create a favorable schedule, however, it is also an opportunity to bash and discredit certain professors.
Students that post on the website are usually motivated by specific interactions that are totally unique to them, and do not portray the professor accurately. This introduces a form of bias, which is why mindfulness is important in order to avoid being mislead. Since its conception in 2002, this website is running strong. It’s 2019 now and more and more updates are being made.
Personally, I use this every semester when it’s time to register for classes. I don't necessarily scout for easiness. I find credible reviews to be the most valuable. For example, if a review says a professor is a really tough grader and feels superior to his students and talks down on them - this will give clues as to what to expect from the class. Furthermore, if two or three other views confirm this in some way, then it might be wise to pick a new teacher.
Rather than search for easiness, search for fairness and clues that help avoid mean or incompetent instructors. This isn't taking a short cut, rather it's avoiding potential disasters. However there is one thing to absolutely pay attention to, and that is the class being taught by the instructor for each review. A 5 out of 5 star rating isn't totally meaningful unless it's for the exact class of interest.
Chaffey College professor Janice Sewell commented on using the website as a tool in general, and she said she recommends taking the reviews with a grain of salt. People write reviews with different motivations. However, she does recognize its usefulness and said she too would use this tool too if she were still in college registering for classes.
RateMyProfessors offered their viewpoint as well to get their take. They said they recommend their product to all students because it helps them connect and figure out who is a great professor, and who is one they might want to avoid and how to prepare.
Overall, the tool is only as good as one's judgement allows it to be. No single person can offer the ultimate end-all-be-all rating for a given professor. The main point is to get a glimpse of what other students are saying, take any statement with a grain of salt, and ultimately decide for one's self.