By Emily Smurthwaite
smurthwaite@newsroom.byu.edu
The information superhighway has ample off-ramps to help students make their way through their BYU experience.
There are so many Web sites aimed specifically at college students that it may take longer for someone to research them than it would to get a bachelor's degree.
However, there are some that may specifically help BYU students with their college commute.
Teacher Evaluations
For those students who are tired of taking classes from unknown instructors, unofficial evaluations of BYU instructors are available on-line.
Last October, two BYU students launched a Web site where students can rate and comment instructors.
The Web site, found at www.studentreviews.com, is not sponsored by the school.
BYU does not release the official student evaluations, which are filled out each semester.
Kevin Voisin is one of the two BYU students who started the Web site. Last October, he said he did not want the Web site to become a popularity or a bashing contest.
'I think the students at BYU are mature enough to make fair and unbiased reviews,' he said.
In a follow-up interview a couple of months after the site started, Voisin said the site averaged 1,000 hits a day.
'We had no idea of how big of a response we would get,' he said.
Collegeclub.comalso boasts of teacher evaluations, but there is only one evaluation for a BYU instructor.
The Hub
Last March, a Web site sponsored by BYUSA was launched. It is an information center for BYU entertainment, services and information. There are also calendars of campus activities.
Some more specific features are dating ideas, local band information, a virtual Wilkboard and textbook exchange.
Brian McNamara, program director last semester, said in an interview with The Daily Universe, 'The purpose is to bring all the BYU student related Web sites into one place. It's a one stop shop for BYU students.'
The site is now under-going a facelift and should be up and running during the first week of school, said Craig Vandyke, the executive director of design.
BYU class notes
There are more than 9,000 class notes posted by instructors linked to the main BYU Web site (www.byu.edu), but there are other ways to get class notes.
Web sites including StudentU.com, allstudents.com and study24-7.com are sites that post class notes.
College students are paid to take notes and then have them posted on the Internet.
Versity.com also offers online notes, but at this time they are not posted.
Lisa Wayne, manager of public relations for collegeclub.com, a site that has combined with versity.com, said the class notes portion of the Web site is under evaluation.
At this time, there are no class notes specifically taken from BYU classes on any of the Web sites.
Textbooks online
Students who are trying to find a better deal on textbooks can visit a number of Web sites that offer discounted texts.
Efollett.com, varsitybooks.com, ecampus.com, textbooks.com and bigwords.com are a few sites that try to court college students' wallets.
Last September, U.S News reported that $3 billion is spent annually on texbooks.
While some Web sites offer discounts on the books, U.S. News reported that the real savings happens when students become a loyal shopper to one certain Web site, or when a student recommends the site to his or her friends.
To avoid standing in long lines at the BYU Bookstore, students can look on the Internet.
A live camera of the textbook line can be found at www.bookstore.byu.edu.