BSCI105 | PlanetTerp

Information	Review
Kenneth Frauwirth BSCI105 Expecting a B+ ElishevaGlix 04/21/2016	Dr. Frauwirth is exceptionally knowledgeable. He goes very fast through lecture material and it may seem overwhelming but he ALWAYS answers questions. That's the secret to his class: don't be afraid to raise your hand mid-lecture and ask the dumb question everyone is thinking. Seriously, it will help a ton. Dr. Frauwirth also is reasonable about regrades and gives extra review sessions that are very helpful.
Michael Keller BSCI105 Anonymous 12/17/2015	Keller is definitely enthusiastic about the subject he teaches, but he's not the best lecturer. His lectures were probably only good before the 1st exam and then it went downhill. The Wednesday activities were sometimes just a waste of time, but sometimes they were good. It annoys me that he doesn't do + or - grading, which just sucks when you try to hard to get an A and if you are a point or two off, he will not curve or bump you up to get an A. Your grade really depends on the TA and whether or not they grade harshly in lab. Lab is basically a way to get most points unless your TA is just rude. I don't know, Keller was a nice person in general, but he has certain teaching practices that were just not considerate---like no plus or minus grading and Wednesday activities (which include clicker quizzes) that really contribute to getting a lower grade than you rightfully deserve. However, he does offer a couple of extra credit opportunities--usually only a point or two here and there, though.
Michael Keller BSCI105 Expecting an A Anonymous 06/08/2015	Did not like this professor much. Although Dr. Shields was probably the real villain behind all of this, I absolutely hated this class because of these professors. This is supposed to be an introductory course. They said in the beginning of this course that they did not want it to be a weed-out class, but they structured the class to be JUST THAT. This was not an accurate representation of what biology classes are usually like, and it made students reconsider their major. He used my section as the guinea pig section to do some experimentation that the department wanted. Totally not fair because we were not able to choose which one we were in, and as a result, our grades suffered. Yes, he did curve in the end to make up for it, but the added stress and extra assignments we were given probably impacted the time and effort we were able to put into our other classes. He was pretty nice about office hours and make up points and stuff, but other times he was pretty snarky and sassy. Wish I took this with a different professor. Definitely possible to get an A. It's jsut really annoyingly/unnecessarily difficult.
Michael Keller BSCI105 Expecting a B Anonymous 05/24/2015	Keller is one of those teachers that thinks the material is easy because he has been teaching it for so long and expects you to know the material well. He says that he only asks about general concepts and doesn't want you to get caught up on the little details, but come the exam you will have to answer very specific questions. its also not helpful that his notes are 10% words and 90% diagrams that you have to be in class learning intently to understand. Lab is not to bad, except my TA Randi is psycho and would kick kids out of class left and right. If you want to take BSCI105 avoid Keller
Michael Keller BSCI105 Expecting a B Anonymous 05/20/2015	Dr. Keller recently changed the structures of his exams. They are directed towards a more application-based testing rather than rote memorization. He does not know how to write these types of questions. You will encounter very vague questions that can have multiple correct answers but his answer will take precedence, even though he doesn't ask for a best answer. Pray your TA is forgiving, but they mostly do not know what the man is doing. The lab and quizzes will help you a lot, but unless you're getting his style of questioning you will find yourself frustrated. Test averages for the last four exams were D's, including the final exam. He does not do +/- grading, which is nice unless you're close to the border where he will not be forgiving (0.7% curve). I recommend another teacher.
Michael Keller BSCI105 Expecting an A jt29 03/06/2015	I have no idea what the person below is talking about... Dr. Keller is such a nice guys and prepares you SO well for the tests. He never tries to trick you and is super generous when it comes to giving points back and giving you materials to study from. He gives you study guides online for every single chapter, and you just make sure you know everything on those study guides. Take the class seriously, it can be very difficult at times with the amount of studying required for tests. Make sure you read the chapters and take notes so you can later study from those notes. His exams are straight from his powerpoints and the book, so you have to read.
Reid Compton BSCI105 Expecting a B- Anonymous 01/30/2015	Very difficult exams. He gives a little curve before the exams but none after even if everyone failed. I do not recommend him at all. His lectures don't help except for clicker questions. You have to teach yourself using the book, and reviewing the powerpoint slides.
Reid Compton BSCI105 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/28/2014	tl;dr - Compton's lectures are pointless, but useful for clicker points. Read the textbook and go through past exams to do well on his exams. Do not only memorize, but also understand - he asks a lot of "what if" questions. He does curve the class. The first week of class I loved Compton's class. I thought his lectures were interesting until I realized that his lectures were just the textbook information put straight on to a powerpoint. From that point on, I found lectures pretty pointless. I only went for the clicker points, which are super easy points because you don't even have to get the question right to get the points. Just attend most of the lectures. Compton does intentionally make his exams difficult, but they are not impossible. Contrary to what other reviews say, his exams do not require you to just memorize everything. He asks a lot of application questions as well so you really need to understand how things work as well. The best way to study in my opinion is the read the textbook chapters that will be covered on the exam and take notes (he expects you to know things in the chapter that he does not include in the powerpoint). In addition, go through his past exams and try to reason out answers and go through with a TA if you can (he doesn't put up the answer key for them). Good news is that most of his exams have a built in curve to them, and he established a curve in the being of the semester in the syllabus. I think he curved our class additionally by a few points after grading the finals. Tips: -If they give you the option to sign up for a one credit bio discussion, you should. That was very helpful. -GSS is very helpful especially right before an exams -Read the textbook chapters -Go through past exams -Don't forget the MasteringBio quizzes and get the easy clicker points
Reid Compton BSCI105 Anonymous 12/25/2014	He's honestly a nice guy, however he's terrible. IMO his lectures were really boring as he reads through his powerpoint. (He may add a few thing or two, and powerpoints are online). Clickers are a joke. If the 60-80% of the class gets the answer right, he would repoll and make everyone think their wrong, and then he reveals the right answer. Made no sense. (Clickers were for attendence) His tests, were hard as hell. Everything on his test requires you to know the little details of the things you have learned. You can spend hours/days studying and you'll probably get less than 60%. Even the TAs question the questions that he has on the test. (A good chunk of these questions were what ifs) I don't think he curved for our class, since I was 1% away from an B, yet my final was B-. Take only if you really love bio or if you're just good. Otherwise avoid him at all cost.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Anonymous 05/28/2014	Honestly Nelson is the cutest thing, that being said he's a horrible lecturer. He reads right off the slides and makes you not want to come to class. However for my semester he started doing random weekly quizzes, that either helped your grade or messed it up. He really wants everyone to succeed, so he had this deal if you have an A average in the class (including lab) then you don't have to take the final. Our semester and 86% was a A-. I got out of it, but I heard the final was easy, only 20 multiple choice questions. His tests aren't that bad. The second one was the hardest, but just look through his notes, the book is there for reference, but mainly stick to the lecture notes. Also his tests are multiple multiple choice, which means there was more than one answer. Sometimes it screwed you over, other times you received partial credit for the question. If you only care about the grade, take Nelson. If you actually want to learn something then take someone else. Other than that, Nelson was the man and he's funny and adorable and makes the material easy and straightforward.
Patricia Shields BSCI105 Expecting a B Anonymous 05/19/2014	I came into her class on the first day scared out of my mind. After reading the reviews on here, I was convinced she was the worst professor to have for BSCI105. But now I think quite the opposite. Patty is hilarious and she give you an entire book of notes to follow in lecture for the entire semester, along with clicker points that factor into your final grade for extra credit. She doesn't curve, but the extra credit makes up for it. I went from a 78 to a 85% with the extra credit. The exams are fair and not extremely hard. I recommend taking her!
Patricia Shields BSCI105 hello1234hi 05/13/2014	PATTY IS THE BEST! While at first she seems like a ***** during lecture, if you go to her office hours and get to know her she is the nicest most helpful professor i've ever had!! after failing multiple exams, I decided to make a change and met with her on a weekly basis to answer questions and review material. My score for the next test increased by a solid 30-40 points. Also GO TO LECTURE, it will make a HUGE difference in your grade come end of semester.
Reid Compton BSCI105 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 12/28/2013	Compton is definitely the most difficult BSCI105 professor. That being said, his class is not difficult if you put work into it. I got a 79% on the first exam after not studying that much; however, I started studying a little bit every day and ended up with a 94.5 on the second exam, 99 on the third exam, and a 98 on the final. Walked out of the class with an A+. You have to memorize the material, but his lectures were always very interesting. If you're a bio/biochem major take him, if you're looking for an easy A then go elsewhere.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting an A- milk 12/22/2013	Nelson is the epitome of boring lecturer, and it's not at all necessary to attend class as long as you keep up with his powerpoints. HOWEVER, the review by bamak93 is 100% accurate. I've essentially taken this class twice already too (regular bio and AP Bio in high school), and I scraped an A- by 1.2 points. For introductory bio, this class should not have been this hard. The material wasn't necessarily difficult to understand, but it was way too in-depth. A lot of the material should have been saved for later BSCI courses. It was just a weird experience - people I knew in 300-level BSCI courses would ask me, "Wow you learned about this already?" while my lab TA would constantly remind us that most students in the class were only taking 105 to get graduation reqs out of the way. The trick is probably to actively keep up with lectures each week and don't attempt to cram a few days before an exam. That being said, his multiple-multiple choice tests sucked. There were always a handful of questions that were focused on easily-missed minute details. Test averages weren't great, some lab mates legitimately failed one or two, and there's 0 curve because he grades by the amount of points you have in the class, not percentage (720/800 is an A-). The exams were the most annoying part about this class. Overall, probably wouldn't recommend.
Anne Simon BSCI105 bh92 02/08/2013	I am a junior now, and I took BSCI105 as a freshman. At the time, I thought that Prof Simon was tough, but now I am SO appreciative of her class. She is fabulous and if you work hard in her class, you will be set for all of your future bio classes. I have taken genetics, microbio, cell biology and physiology, biochemistry and mammalian physiology and there has been a point in every single one of these classes when I have referenced her book of notes. I am also using them to study for the MCAT. The class is hard, but what do you expect? It's biology. If you have to take any more bio classes at Maryland, take 105 with Simon and rise to her expectations. You might surprise yourself.
William Higgins BSCI105 Anonymous 01/07/2013	DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS WITH HIGGINS! I've heard this course is difficult no matter which professor you get because it's a "weed out" class. However, Higgins made it extremely difficult. This class was my only 100 level class but required the most work BY FAR. Unless you're really into biology, this course is going to be a struggle for you. I just needed it for my major so I thought it wouldn't be so hard since almost everyone has to take it and I used to like bio in high school... I thought wrong. I definitely thought I was going to receive an 'F' in the class because I fell so far behind and was too scared to ask for help because Higgins is so intimidating and my TA, Sara Rowland, was not very helpful. But thank God for the curve because I got a 'D' as my final grade. I needed a 'C' for my major but hey, I'm just glad I didn't fail! I got one 'D' and three 'F's on the other exams so I have NO idea how I passed. Unfortunately, since I didn't get the 'C' I needed in the class, I still need a bio course but there is no way in hell I'd be able to retake the class without going insane. So instead I'm taking BSCI106 this semester because I heard it's not as in depth as 105. I'm hoping what I heard is right because I cannot take another semester of hell.
Patricia Shields BSCI105 Expecting an A btc5105 12/15/2012	I liked Professor Shields a lot. She is very entertaining in lecture and presents material in a fun and simple way. She gives you a big book of notes at the beginning of the semester, so take your own notes in that book. She does not curve, but gives A LOT of extra credit, so do all of it and you should be fine. The extra credit took me from an 88 to a 92, so it does help a lot. Her exams are not difficult if you go to lecture and study a little the night before. The people who say otherwise are just angry that they did not do well enough in her class.
Anne Simon BSCI105 Anonymous 12/04/2012	The only way to get a good grade in this class is to re-take it. Don't believe me? Read on and see the other crappy reviews. I don't even have to say anything else because most people on here have it all down pat. This BSCI class is hard as is with the material, but Simon makes it rough. Try another teacher if you can. I am going to end up getting a C in this class because the tests were horrendously horrible. The only people I know who are doing well are people re-taking it and people who are just complete smarty-pants test-takers.
Anne Simon BSCI105 Expecting an A Anonymous 07/24/2012	Yes, her class is hard. Her class is also the best class I took at UMD. She is hands down the best bio teacher I ever had. She teaches you things that will help you down the line. You have to STUDY, and you're going to have to study almost every day. It's a shock at first, but its great preparation for how you will need to study as a bio major (and later as a med student). I had no idea how to study when I can to UMD because I always did well with minimal effort (as I'm sure a lot of people did in HS). Her class taught me study skills that helped my GPA and MCAT score. Now I'm going to Yale for med school. If you can, gut it out, because it's class is definitely worth it. I'm happy I took this class as a freshman.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Anonymous 07/15/2012	Anyone giving this man less than 5 stars is crazy. Nelson is the man. He gives a 40 point extra credit boost! Basically an A=86%. That includes the extra credit which is incredibly easy to get. The labs are easy but it still does depend on the TA. Mine was fantastic. The tests are multiple multiple choice. Basically if you go over the slides in and out, you're guaranteed to do well. Plus, if you have around an A average before the final (includes lab points and exam points), you don't have to take the final. If you have to take the final, i heard its still incredibly easy. Nelson wants you to succeed and is really nice. Sure he's not the best lecturer but who cares! Its just into bio folks, straight up memorization. Study the slides and you're golden. Nelson is the way to go for BSCI 105
Patricia Shields BSCI105 Expecting a B Anonymous 06/08/2012	Do not take bsci105 with shields. there are a lot of other professors that you can take it with instead. i think Nelson also teaches during spring instead of shields. she makes her exams extremely difficult unnecessarily. she even apologized the semester after i took her class about how hard she made the final for us. Also do not take her for bsci222. if you need to take that class take Kocher or Straney
Anne Simon BSCI105 Anonymous 05/29/2012	This teacher is one of the worst at the University. She wants you to do poorly. And on the last day of exams, she made it a point when kids were checking their answers to make snide remarks. For example, some smart kid did really well and so she said to this kid in front of some other students who had lots of markings on their answer sheet, "Oh at least you put in the time and effort to do well and it will make your future bright unlike some people who got C's because they won't get far." I'm sorry but as a student I do not think it is a professor's place to put someone down just because their learning ability is different and they cannot manage to pull an A in a difficult ENTRY LEVEL (key word, entry level) class. This class was more difficult than it should have been and sometimes I often wonder that they should just tell you ahead of time that if you want to take Simon, you should take AP Biology because she literally doesn't give two !@#$%s if you do poorly. She will single you out and make your self esteem drop. I complained to the advising office and they agree.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting a B+ bamak93 05/23/2012	Alright. I'm going to go ahead and preface this review with the fact that I spent 3 years of high school taking upper level bio classes, so in essence, I walked into this class more or less having taken it about twice previously. That being said, my experience with this class has been absurd. The TAs this semester were generally AWFUL (mine was one of the worst, I essentially got screwed out of an A because she nitpicked SO many points whenever possible in lab), and the tests were freakishly difficult, AND there was no curve. Even though the averages were pretty low. And his lectures are absolutely mundane. I went pretty religiously up until halfway through the semester until I realized my time was better spent reading the powerpoints and taking notes on them outside of class and getting back an hour on MWF. I understand that the professors tried to make 105 harder this semester since so many people took it as an easy lab elective, but between the work I put into the class and the fact that I knew all the content before coming into class, me getting a B was totally unwarranted.
Anne Simon BSCI105 Anonymous 05/17/2012	The only "enhanced future" you will get from this class is when you're finished with it and it is in the past. This class was equivalent to a nightmare. Too much work involved. Simon expects you to re-write 300 pages of lecture notes. Not a fun time if you ask me. As for lab, lab was interesting, fun, and easy to learn, but that's because Simon doesn't coordinate it. The woman is, like someone said earlier, self-absorbed and she does not care if you don't pass. The end.
Anne Simon BSCI105 Anonymous 05/17/2012	BSCI105 is so fun! NOT WITH SIMON, however. The woman makes this class impossible. She wants you to fail. Don't listen to anyone else praising her. It is not one of the best academic experiences of your college career. It is torture in a lecture note set book. Seriously, she makes this class too hard and it has nothing to do with not working hard to get a good grade. I am a straight A student and this class was hard to pass. I mean, she is not a nice person either. A 89.99999995 is a B!!! It's a B!!! Can you believe that nonsense? Do not take her if you don't want a terrible semester where you constantly have to be on your toes about everything. It is not worth it. Overrated BSCI105 class.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting a B Anonymous 05/16/2012	Like others have said, he's a sweet guy and he does try to make it all interesting, but his lecturing skills are lacking. That being said, if you take him, his lecturing skills shouldn't really matter to you all that much. The material isn't too hard to understand as long as you read and study the powerpoints (which he posts online), and the book is also a good resource if you don't understand something. You do end up having to teach yourself most of the material though. He does make it fairly easy for you to do well in the class, grading wise. I liked his test style, where you could basically get partial credit for everything, even the multiple choice. He also curves the class a decent amount at the end of the semester (around 5%), so as long as you keep a solid C or C+ in class, you would pretty much have to get less than a 50% on the final to not get a B. Overall, I've heard worse things about other Bsci105 professors. I would take him if you get the chance.
Reid Compton BSCI105 Anonymous 05/09/2012	Many questions on his exams are tricky and aren't specifically covered in his lectures, or study guides, so it's hard to prepare for his exams. There aren't many multiple choice questions either. Gives big curve at the end of class, so just stay relatively near the class average.
Anne Simon BSCI105 Anonymous 05/08/2012	Dr. Simon has so far been the best professor I have had at the University of Maryland. I was not interested in science before taking her class, and was merely doing it for my scholars program. A year later, I'm a Pre-Med student debating adding a Biology double major and one day hoping to be a doctor. Dr. Simon knows biology, and knows how to teach it better than anybody else. I have never been exposed to such a systematic and sure-fire teacher before. If you do what Dr. Simon tells you to do, you'll get an A and you'll have one of the best academic experiences of your college career. Dr. Simon challenges you, which people commonly see as a bad thing, but in my opinion, a few hours of extra work is a small price to pay in exchange for an enhanced future. TAKE THIS PROFESSOR, WORK HARD, BE HAPPY!
Anne Simon BSCI105 Anonymous 04/25/2012	Dr. Simon is very interesting. She is a nice woman outside of this class. If you do poorly in the class, however, she can be not so nice. I mean if you are a bio whiz and have 40+ hours to study for this class, and don't have extracurriculars and you are a bookworm, then please, take this class. I mean the woman is too hard of a teacher for an entry level class. She should be teaching upper levels. I mean like someone said before, her tests are multiple choice and FAR TOO SPECIFIC. like I mean way too specific. The GSS leader is a nice person for this class, but be careful of who your lab t.a. is...Mine was awful. I hated this class because the professor (Dr. Simon) acts like this is the only class everyone is taking. Hello!!! I mean the only people who are doing well were bookworms and people retaking it. So yeah. Do yourself a favor and take Nelson for this course. You will save yourself alot of stress and time.
Anne Simon BSCI105 Anonymous 04/16/2012	Run for your damn life if you don't want to do 40 hours of studying a week. This woman is very sweet in nature outside of the class but she is condascending toward students if you do poorly just from not following some tips in a notebook. The class is incredibly hard for no reason, and as said before, the exam multiple choice questions are ultra specific and hard. Also, she expects you to study 40 hours a week and if you don't it's not her problem that you're doing below average. Yeah. Don't take BSCI105 with her unless you are amazingly amazing (I mean you just ace everything) and don't have a 16 credit course load. If you do, take another teacher. Please.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting a B Anonymous 04/01/2012	Professor Nelson is extremely sweet and adorable, but he isn't a very good lecturer. He's very scatterbrained and hard to follow. He posts all of his powerpoints on ELMS, though, so if you read the textbook and look at the powerpoints, going to lecture isn't always necessary. It does help if you're confused about something, though. His tests are difficult to do well on because they're multiple multiple choice, which means each question can always have multiple answers. I found this hard because you can't use process of elimination. He's obviously passionate about Biology but just isn't very good at driving in the information. You have to teach yourself a lot.
Richard Stewart BSCI105 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 02/24/2012	He's the sweetest and nicest professor I've ever had. He gives thorough, albeit boring lectures, and overall I'd recommend him to future students. At the beginning of the year he said that there are 800 points for the class, no curve, and only 30 points worth of extra credit available. That's a LIE. There are a LOT more extra credit points available than he lets on! Exams are very detail oriented and very difficult with averages usually in the 60's. They're based solely on the power point lectures, which he posts online. If you memorize absolutely EVERYTHING on the power points, you should get over 100% on the exams quite easily. Lecture attendance isn't mandatory, as he doesn't use clickers, but definitely recommended. Lab gives you easy points with little work and effort. I guess it's there to boost your grade. Make sure to pay attention becasue the practical covers almost all the labs done in class.
Patricia Shields BSCI105 Expecting an A erika_14 12/23/2011	Shields is a great professor. She may be harder than the other teachers and her exams may be more difficult, but in the end, you feel good about how much you have learned. She goes really in depth in the material and this material overlaps with BSCI222 so you're more prepared for genetics. Shields is an awesome lecturer. You HAVE to understand every single little thing. DEFINATELY go to GSS sessions and review sessions - she holds them before exams and you can ask her anything you have trouble with and she will explain it to you. So all in all if you have to take Shields, you have to go into it knowing you're gonna spend a lot of time with the material. And remember - she NEVER curves. I honestly didn't think I'd get an A but somehow I aced the final and that bumped my grade. So just try hard and ask for help!
William Higgins BSCI105 Anonymous 12/22/2011	He's a decent lecturer, unfortunately he caters to one learning style. I personally have difficultly listening and writing notes as fast as he talks, eventually I had to give up on notes because I would miss half the class writing the notes. It would be best to put words on the slide, but for some reason that was not his style. I expected a C at best because I didn't do well on the tests (D, F, C, Final exam F) but apparently failing is passing? because I got a B in the class. He'll never tell the average (probably because it's so low) but just study and you'll pass. But to be completely honest by the time the final exam rolled by I had no clue what to study that I barely did. He gave out no practice exam and left you wondering what the 80 multiple choice final would be on. He's also very intimidating. And I liked him until he 'anonymously' made fun on me in class, no one else know who he was making fun of but I did.
Patricia Shields BSCI105 Expecting an A- Anonymous 08/04/2011	She was a tremendous professor. Biology is a hard class, and she warns you of that. But she makes so many resources available to you and really wants to help you learn. If you have to take BSCI105, take Shields. No question!
Reid Compton BSCI105 Expecting an A Anonymous 07/17/2011	Seriously, Compton is not as bad as people below say he is. His exams really aren't difficult at all...answering the questions does not require a deep understanding of the material. If you read the book and/or notes and can manage to remember and regurgitate the information, you will be fine. The only issue I have with his tests is that while selecting topics, he sometimes neglects the important information in favor of the less crucial, more obscure details that you might overlook. This can be a little frustrating, since you do lose a couple of points here and there on foolish things (this is offset by the curve). But overall, his expectations are fair, and his exams and grading reflect this. If you can manage a mere cursory level of understanding of all the concepts, you should earn at least a B in the class. Oh, and as others have mentioned, he did give a substantial curve (almost too generous). I don't know what the cutoffs were, but an 81% was an A.
Anne Simon BSCI105 Expecting an A Chad Drummond 06/27/2011	I took Dr. Simon's class as a post-bac student. Her class was the single most demanding class I have taken in my entire academic career. That said, she is an amazing, helpful professor who cares about her students. You will have to work hard in her class, but you will learn an incredible amount. If you aren't willing to work hard, maybe you should reconsider college.
Anne Simon BSCI105 Expecting a C Anonymous 05/23/2011	The people below me are crazy.. Dr. Simon is horrible. She goes so fast during the lectures and jumps around from page to page, so it is very difficult to follow along and understand what she is talking about. Also, every (or most) bsci105 professor has printed out lecture note sets (which you have to PAY FOR). She goes so quickly that you have no option but to spend AT LEAST 2 or 3 hours per day studying the notes. She EXPECTS this out of every student, as if we do not have other demanding classes, too. The worst part about her class is that her exams are EXTREMELY specific. She'll make questions about something so minuscule in the notes that you would never think to be important. I feel like I learned a great deal from this class--and not because of her, but because I spent countless hours studying the notes and teaching MYSELF--yet I still got a C in the class because no matter how hard I studied, she managed to make questions on material she never taught us, or something so specific you could not even prepare for it. Unless you took AP in hs or just know everything about bio, DO NOT take BSCI105 with Dr. Simon--your semester will be hell if you do.
Anne Simon BSCI105 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/17/2011	Dr. Simon is hands down the best professor I've had so far as an undergraduate student. Dr. Simon REALLY knows what she is talking about and is a great lecturer/teacher. She holds weekly review sessions that are extremely helpful for the exams. I have learned so much in this class. However, her class is not easy. In fact, her class is probably the hardest out of the BSCI105 professors (Nelson is definitely the easiest). You must put in the effort and work to get an A in this class. There is no curve, and a 89.8% is still a B. I highly recommend listening to her "steps to succeed" on the first day of class, and follow them because they really do help. With that said, I strongly recommend taking Dr. Simon, especially if you are a biology major. She will prepare you for the other biology courses and you will learn so much from her. I'm so glad I took BSCI105 with her instead of Nelson because I really enjoyed this class.
Patricia Shields BSCI105 Kris10 05/17/2011	While she is very entertaining in lecture, she is very pretentious and condescending and has expectations for the course that are far too high for a 100-level course. She said so herself that only 12% of the students in the class were biology majors, yet she expected us all to be fully invested in HER class (like every high school teacher who thinks only their class is important). She also almost considered herself Mother Theresa for the clicker requirements and the Mastering Biology quizzes, the ladder of which were not as easy as she though and weren't as helpful to our grades as she boasted. And if we didn't do them (like on the 2 times I forgot) she'd go off on a rant of "This many students are just throwing away their points, right into the trash." My roommate who was also in the course was having some clicker issues even though she went to most lectures. What was Dr. Shield's opinion of people who didn't have any clicker credit? "You're all skipping my class, saying 'Screw Dr. Shields'" like it was personal. While the extra credit opportunities she gave were extremely helpful, not all of us taking the course have a goal of curing cancer. As a psychology student in that class, it would have been nice of her to acknowledge that there are some topics (photosynthesis, for example) that not all of us need to know on an expert level.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Anonymous 05/16/2011	Nelson is the cutest prof ever. He is such a grandpa and is just adorable. The class can be boring since his slides are basically notes from the textbook, but sometimes he gives you hints as to what will be on the exams (esp day before the test). Exams are easy if you study for them, and there's a 40 point buffer so it's possible to get more than 100%. Lab boosts you up a lot too. Low stress class, definitely take it for BSCI105.
Reid Compton BSCI105 TheTruth 05/15/2011	As everyone has said, Compton is a decent guy but his exams are RIDICULOUSLY difficult! The first exam we had, the class average was like a 50%! He tests on application of knowledge alot(like "What if" kinds of questions).He does hold reviews before each exam but I, personally, never found them useful. What I do recommend is attending GSS (guided study session) provided by a TA or getting a tutor. Do this early in the semester because if not you'll just be lost throughout the rest of the course!
Anne Simon BSCI105 Expecting an A AlwaysMee 05/14/2011	I admit when I got my first email from her (3 weeks before the semester had even begun) telling us students about the classroom rules and about how hard the class could be if we did not follow her tips for success, I was very nervous and was going to drop the class if I had found another that fit my schedule. HOWEVER, Dr. Simon has been the BEST professor I have had yet in the University of Maryland, and I believe she is the best for BSCI 105. She sacrificed so much time and effort and really cared about the success of those who tried hard to learn in her class. She even took the time to write her own 250 page lecture note set for each student to have a copy of. But I must admit this class takes the same (or more) CONSIDERABLE amount of effort and time on behalf of the students. Had I not gone to EVERY weekly review session and weekly office hour session, and read the lecture material before and/or after class, and found study partners within the class, there is NO WAY I would been able to become a tutor and do well in this class. There were times that I did not feel like waking up to be at her office at 8am, but I knew that if I didn't I would not be successful. If you are a student who is TRULY willing to learn and sacrifice time, then there is SO MUCH for you TO GAIN out of this course. Dr Simon has taught me more than class material. She has taught me how to learn concepts and given me so many tips for the future, things that I would not have gotten from any other BSCI105 professor. I am truly thankful for Dr. Simon, and I would recommend this course by this professor to anyone who is NOT looking for an 'Easy A', and truly wants to learn.
Anne Simon BSCI105 Expecting a C SirSlacksALot 05/10/2011	Dr. Simon is probably one of the best teachers here on campus at the University. Her presence as a tough instructor is warranted because she only wants the best for her students. She dedicates her own free time to compiling review sessions and talking about field research with many of her students. Paying attention in her class is important. Fortunately, she prints a set of her lecture notes for you to follow along with during the lecture. She genuinely cares about the success of her students, and exhibits it from the dedication and extra time she puts in. Make it count.
Anne Simon BSCI105 Expecting a B tjice 05/09/2011	Dr. Simon is such a great teacher. She tells you right off the bat that you're going to have to work hard for this class, and she's right. However, if you do what she tells you to do from the beginning, you will do well in this class. The class is not easy, and it's even harder when combined with other difficult classes. But you will learn A LOT. Dr. Simon really truly cares about her students and wants you to learn. She held weekly review sessions, which were helpful for understanding material. TAKE Dr. Simon, you will be glad you did.
Anne Simon BSCI105 Expecting a B Anonymous 05/03/2011	Simon is perhaps one of the most intimidating teachers... on the first day. Every other day she's completely helpful and will always go around at the beginning of class answering questions. Her lecture note set is where the exam questions are based off, so don't even bother buying a book for her. The note set is so organized and helpful, however, it is necessary to go to every class to understand the concepts in the note set. The lecture note set also has practice exams and a study guide for each exam unit. If you can manage to go to every class, this also means you will never miss one of the 4 pop quizzes and 4 BONUS quizzes. This was my mistake, after missing 2 quizzes =/ otherwise i definitely would have gotten an A. She has a non-mandatory review session every thursday as opposed to a discussion which is very helpful if you're confused. She also has a tutor system set up whereas after the first test, those who gained an 85% or higher can set up to be a tutor for any student in the class who also signs up to be a "tutee." This is one of the most genius ideas and should be implemented in every class. If you're taking simon. Go to class, review notes, and genuinely pay attention. It's not that hard if you work at it a little every day. Also just a Bio tip, a lot of challenging concepts like replication/transcription/translation can be explained much better through random videos on youtube. They totally helped. The one negative is that her tests are all multiple choice questions with sometimes very confusingly similar answers. But relatively, the tests are not hard.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting a B Anonymous 05/02/2011	Professor Nelson really wants his students to succeed and is very understanding if you forget to do a masteringbio, or have email him with a question. It helps to go to the GSS, and to lecture, but all the slides are online and he doesn't deviate from them much.
Anne Simon BSCI105 Expecting an A Anonymous 04/28/2011	Excellent professor! Dr.Simon not only knows her stuff, but makes difficult material as easy as possible. Alot of people complain about the course, but only because they slack and do not put in the time neccessary. She provides you with all sorts of study aids and support. If you want to do well in the course, you can.
Patricia Shields BSCI105 Expecting a B Anonymous 04/25/2011	Shields' is an awesome professor. She is one of the most entertaining lecturers you'll ever have the pleasure of hearing. She makes the material easily digestible and puts a lot of effort into forcing everyone to understand what's going on (regular clicker questions, Guided Study Sessions, her own reviews, accessible office hours). That said, it's possible to come out of the class knowing nothing at all (but not doing very well on the exams). The class itself is somewhat difficult. Like all huge intro lectures, there's a lot of annoying work that you have to do, and it's hard to get A's on all of them. You've got 13 homework assignments, 3 tests and a final, in-class clicker questions (you just have to answer them, it doesn't matter if you got the answer correct) and a plethora of work you've got to do for lab. Whatever. You could do way worse than taking this class with Patty Shields.
Patricia Shields BSCI105 Expecting a B- Hosea 04/19/2011	Dr. Shields is a very engaging lecturer. However, she may go fast sometimes and will even cram material up until the day before the test. You MUST attend every lecture because you will feel lost if you skip one. Reading the book may help somewhat, but she will often mention things that are not found in the book. She is very willing to help you understand concepts at any time. Even though she may seem mean sometimes in lecture, she just wants respect like any other professor. Her office hours are helpful and she truly wants you to learn the material. But you must help yourself! She truly makes you work for it. There is a tonnnn of material that she covers. Her exams will cover almost everything she goes over in class. They are difficult, but fair. This is why you must go to every lecture. Lab was okay, but the lab report was a pain in the ass because I had never written one before. If you get Seth as your TA, you're in good shape; he is not a hard grader and is pretty chill and laid back. Dr. Shields truly makes you work for your grade. But you come out feeling like you actually learned something. I worked fairly hard in this class but I will probably end up with a low B.
Patricia Shields BSCI105 Expecting an A Anonymous 03/21/2011	I do not understand why people seem to like Patty Shields so much. Maybe they took her for genetics, because for 105 she isn't all that great. She's not a bad lecturer and she's a nice person, but she doesn't really seem like she knows what she's talking about beyond what she teaches. If you don't know chemistry very well, don't take Shields. She doesn't feel the need to explain any chem because she "already had to take orgo and now it's your turn." Her tests aren't hard - with a minimal amount of studying you can understand the material. But her exam questions are always poorly worded. The hardest part of the class is figuring out what she wants, even on her clicker questions. I'm not a big fan of Patty. She thinks she's really funny and all but if you actually want to learn I would take Simon.
William Higgins BSCI105 Expecting a B Anonymous 02/02/2011	I did not expect BSCI105 to be this hard. But with Higgins, it is. He puts up powerpoints before lecture so you can take notes on. He tends to skip a few slides each lecture and sometimes he moves really fast. But if you ask questions he will thoroughly answer them for you. He is always available during office hours...which I didnt go to. A lot of people had bad things to say about Higgins b/c his tests were so damn hard. No multiple choice (except for the final exam which was cumulative) and many graphs and charts needed to be interpreted. GSS review sessions helped a lot. Lab wasnt that bad, pretty easy. Just do what the TA tells you to do and you should be good to go. Overall, rigorous class which moves fast. I recommend going to lecture and then supplementing class notes with the textbook in order to clarify certain topics.
William Higgins BSCI105 Expecting an A pink_pink1991 01/05/2011	The only reason I will not give Dr. Higgins 5 stars is becuase we are both super stubborn and stubborn people buck heads like rams. Dr. Higgins is a phenominal lecuturer and does not make heavy use of the textbook. He puts his lectures online and if you go to class those lectures make perfect sense. A lot of my class did not do so hot simply because they did not attend lecture. NEVER miss lecture even if you are hung over from Thursday night. I have never learned so much in a biology course as I have his and I recommend him to anyone who is willing to put in the time to learn. If not take an someone who doesn't care. Here is my top five bits of advice. 1. Go to lecture 2. Be that annoying kid who asks questions during class 3. Go to GSS. It's a lot of material 4. DO NOT FALL BEHIND. Review notes everyday. Don't look at the picutres and say cool beans, but make sure you understand what is going on, on each slide. 5. Don't get on his bad side you will both cry.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting a B Anonymous 12/22/2010	Professor Nelson is the one of the nicest professors that i have ever had. He genuinely cares about his students, and that is hard to find. The class itself is not easy. I thought the exams were challenging because it covers so much material. The lectures are a bit boring, but its biology, so it will be boring with any professor. Grading is pretty generous. However, the lab fucking sucks. My TA was awful, but its easy. I got C's and D's on the midterms, a B on the final and still came out with a B. Professor Nelson is definitely the way to go for BSCI105.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 ax 12/21/2010	Nelson is the best teacher to pick for this course. His teaching style is reading from a powerpoint; which could get boring, but he is a good teacher. His exams are not hard. I never studied and I ended up with a B in the class, so if you study you should get an A. He was a nice man who enjoyed talking about his family. Out of all the professors for this course you should definitely go with Nelson. He made bio fun and easy.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting a B rose11 12/20/2010	I love Dr. Nelson. He is one of the nicest professors I have met. If you're going to take BSCI105, take him. There were four exams, MasteringBiology homework, plus the assignments in lab. I unfortunately had a hard TA. An A in BSCI105 is definately feasible, but because my TA was such a hard grader I received about an 89% in the course. You don't have to attend lecture since Dr. Nelson posts the powerpoints online. However, I recommend going since he gives good information about material that will be on the exam.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting a B thewit691 12/20/2010	Awesome guy. Actually kind of funny. Gives so much extra credit it basically curves you up a letter grade. In all seriousness though, BSCI105 is a tough class. The material is interesting but it is ALOT to cover. Nelson's exam format helps alot because you can get partial credit on everything, even the multiple choice. If you must take it, take it with Nelson.
Reid Compton BSCI105 Expecting a B Anonymous 12/19/2010	Dr. Compton is extremely hard. He covers a tremendous amount of material and really expects you to memorize it all and understand it well enough to apply it. His tests were very challenging as they were all application questions for which you really had to apply and often compare class material. He did give a decent curve, and lab does help your grade out, but his tests were just on a tremendous amount of material. If you need to take him, make sure to stay on top of your material and make sure you understand it, going through it throughout the semester. Don't wait till the day before or two his tests. Avoid him if you can, but if you can't then study hard!
William Higgins BSCI105 Expecting a B jcp5383 12/18/2010	I got a C,D,A, and a C on my exams respectively. Although I thought that I was getting a B-, I ended up with an A. You have to put in considerable effort in the class. I attended every review sessions. Make sure you have Amanda Murti as a TA. From what I have heard, Nelson and Benson, the other BSCI teachers are terrible. Make sure you have Higgins if you want to learn the material and a challenge. It's all about putting effort in. It's possible to get an A.
William Higgins BSCI105 Expecting a B Phillip Fiore 12/17/2010	Pompous? Yes. Critical? Yes. Cranky? Oh yeah. Knowledgeable? Yes. Challenging? Definitely. Only take this class if you are ready for a tough class you will have to devote a decent amount of time to (weekly GSS sessions). But if youre ready for that, grind it out, go to class, and you might get an A with the extra points he gives out.
Michael Keller BSCI105 Expecting a B Anonymous 12/17/2010	obviously bsci105 isn't an easy class, but i think Keller really made the class easy enough that if you really worked for that A, you could get it. As the class went on he made the tests easier than I think they were meant to be, which is really nice on his part, but kids will always complain. I'd definately recommend taking him
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting an A Davismcd333 12/15/2010	Just take him honestly. Not only will you learn alot but hes a very generous grader. I hear people sturggling with all the other professors and I was sooo hapy i took Nelson. Oh and did I mention the massive extra credit?
Patricia Shields BSCI105 Expecting a B Anonymous 12/14/2010	Exams are really hard. She is a good teacher but she has a weird attitude (somewhat condescending). Her exams are very unclear at times and she basically teaches this course as if everyone in her class is going to be a doctor. UMD BIO DEPARTMENT (REALITY CHECK) NOT EVERYONE IN BSCI105 is going to be a doctor. SOME OF US NEED IT JUST TO FULFILL A 100 LEVEL REQUIREMENT. It is an introductory bio course 100 level. Sheilds definitely does not treat it like one. She makes it extra difficult. I could have gotten an A but the workload and amount of information on the exams made it difficult for me so I ended up with a B. If you are a bio person who works really hard and enjoys studying take her. If not....stay away from shields
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting a B Anonymous 12/12/2010	Nelson makes this class ridiculously easy, he posts all of his slides online and bases them off of his exams. In all honesty, I only showed up to a few of his classes throughout the whole semester and studied for exams only the night before and got 70-80% grades. He also gives extra credit points and makes grading so easy to pass his class. If I actually put in more effort and went to class or studied a few days before exam I would have definitely received an A.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting an A Brenda Mason 12/05/2010	I LOVE PROFESSOR NELSON! he makes the class easy and you can understand. Also he post slides and his test come from the slides. TAKE NELSON!!
William Higgins BSCI105 Expecting a C Anonymous 12/03/2010	is extremely intelligent in the field of biology but is extremely difficult. I would not recommend taking this class especially as a intro bio course. He does not prepare you for the exams at all and everything it short answer and drawings. He does give you 60 extra credit points by taking online quizzes which is plus and is willing to give a curve even if he says he doesn't. this class is a FULL TIME job. i recommend going to every review offered if you do end up taking this class. but overall way to much work and exams are extremely unfair theres no point in studying he will trick you and put question on the exam he never mentioned in class. also for exam questions don't focus on the main points look for the small points. if he emphasizes that something will be on the exam and tells you to study it..dont study it..he puts the exact opposite..overall difficult professor but a nice guy
Reid Compton BSCI105 Anonymous 11/23/2010	He was nice and easy to talk to, but covered an insane amount of information. He went through his powerpoints too fast, and expected us to learn any information he didn't teach for the tests. I would suggest taking 105 with another teacher.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting an A Anonymous 10/25/2010	Dr Nelson was a great professor. His powerpoints were preetty organized and easy to understand. He would have extra credit quizzes in lecture that was really helpful and his exams were decent. As long as you studied off his powerpoint and understood the points he stressed in lecture youd do fine. I definetly recommend him for BSCI105
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Anonymous 08/04/2010	Anyone who doesn't give this man 5 stars is crazy. BSCI 105 is an extremely difficult class, and kids with other professors who saw my exam were shocked at how easy they were. HIS EXAMS ARE ALL MULTIPLE CHOICE. If you take BSCI 105 and don't take his class you're just stupid. He gives out 40 extra credit points. I got a 76, 69, and 60 on my midterms, and a 76 on my final. I got a B in the class.... enough said. He even uses a water-downed book that's easier to use than other professors do.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting an A Anonymous 07/14/2010	Prof Nelson is the best professor for this class, and its actually really easy if you attend every lecture. Its not necessary to pay attention but the extra credit quizzes boost your grade 40 points in the end. Depending on your TA lab can be tough or really easy. exams are fair, read the textbook through once but mainly study the slides and you will be fine. His lectures are really boring, but having had little bio experience and not being a bio related major, I felt that this class was somewhat useful and definitely fair
Reid Compton BSCI105 Expecting a B Anonymous 06/01/2010	Dr Compton's class is a lot of fun and he is a good lecturer. His tests are really hard, but he curves a lot at the end, and all of his clickers are extra credit. He is really nice and funny if you get to know him.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting an A samhallen 06/01/2010	Most of you are probably taking this course because you have to (majors, pre-med, etc.) Do yourselves a favor and take it with Nelson. BSCI105 is not an easy class, and Nelson makes it easy for you to score well. His tests are challenging and cover a lot of material, but he gives you 4-10 point extra credit quizzes which are added to your grade. As long as you had a low B average (which is very achievable if you try hard), his extra credit put you at an A. Comparatively to what I've heard about other BSCI105 teachers, Nelson is the way to go. Although his lectures are dry and peripatetic, you must go to take the quizzes, and who knows, maybe you do learn some stuff from lecture. But for the most part, I just studied the lecture slides and textbook chapters 4-5 days before each test, and didn't pay too much attention in lecture.
Patricia Shields BSCI105 Expecting a B cmstillings 05/29/2010	P. Shields is by far one of the best biology professors at UMD. Although she may be a bit tough, and her tests a bit hard with no curve, if you study for two or three days and do the things she tells you to in order to prepare, you will get a great grade. She warns you in the beginning of the class, if you are not a bio major get out now. So, she means business. But if there is ever something you have a question about take advantage of her office hours. She is always open to meeting with students, sooner rather than later. I went to her to review after every test to see how I would pan out in the class and she even gave me some points back! P. Shields also is a great lecturer. This class is phenomenal and she gives you every opportunity to pass, but still makes you earn it. The class has clicker questions and a lot of small tasks but they just boost your grade in the end. She prints out a notebook of $18 in the beginning of the year and if you attend lecture and use the notebook and text book to study along with the clicker questions you will pass. All in all, hilarious teacher, keeps you engaged and really wants her students to pass. If you have to take BSCI105 take it with her!
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/22/2010	Dr. Nelson's class is a very chill class. Studying the lecture ppt slides are generally good preparation for the exams. However, reading the book is recommended if you dont have a strong background in bio. Labs are very easy if you took bio AP or equivalent. The extra credits quizzes will make your life a lot easier. Simple class, nice prof.
Patricia Shields BSCI105 Anonymous 05/16/2010	She's a great lecturer and she's funny, but her tests are HARD! You have to really understand everything to do well. There's no curve, but she does give some extra credit opportunities and easy exercises that you should get 100% on. Lab is supposed to help your grade, but if your TA is hard, then lab would barely help your grade. Unless you're a pre-med student or a biology major, you probably won't get an A in the class.
Anne Simon BSCI105 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 05/08/2010	She intimidated the hell out of me on the first day of class, and I honestly considered dropping for another professor. But something told me to stick it out, and I'm glad I did! She comes across as a hard ass, but she is actually very sweet and genuinely cares about her students. I came into this class with barely any science background but still managed to earn an A+. The course material itself isn't that hard--it's just a lot of info to learn. That said, go to class, PAY ATTENTION (most people don't seem to do this), keep up with the material as you go along, and don't be afraid to ask questions. Paying attention is key. She'll often tell you flat out what will be on the exams. Trust me, studying for exams will be a LOT easier if you just pay attention in class. Couple notes of warning--don't be late to class, and don't get up while she's talking. She will call you out in front of everyone. Labs are stupid, but Dr. Simon has no control over this. Take the lab report seriously because it's graded very harshly. If you're pre-med, a bio major, or just sincerely interested in bio, I highly recommend Simon. Lazy people beware.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/04/2010	Professor Nelso is a really nice guy! He lectures from powerpoints which are pretty detailed, so you don't really even need the book. There are 3 exams and the final, the exams weren't too bad, but they covered a lot of material. The tests were multiple-multiple choice and short answer. he gave 4, 10 point each extra credit quzzes throughout the semester which really helpful to your grade!! Overall he was a good teacher and it was an okay class.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting a C Anonymous 04/30/2010	I'm extremely horrible in taking multiple multiple choice exams. I like one direct answer. I'm couting on my lab grade to really boost up my grade.
Anne Simon BSCI105 Expecting an A Anonymous 02/11/2010	This class is very difficult, especially considering it is a intro class, so i would not suggest it for non-bio majors. However, if you are a bio major, you will learn a lot in this class because Prof. Simon makes sure you learn the material. Her tests are not that bad, but you really need to be studying about 2 hours for every one lecture, so about 1 hour a day. If you are ambitious and want to be taught the correct way to learn you should take this course (even if you are not a bio major). If you follow Prof. Simon's studying directions you will come out of this class with more than just knowledge about biology, you will also have learned good study habits which will help you for the rest of your college career.
Richard Stewart BSCI105 Expecting an A- umd3890 01/07/2010	He's an awesome professor. I like him a lot. He takes his time to go over the power point slides very well as well as answering any questions you may have. Though the powerpoint slides were somewhat boring there were still parts that captured my interest. Study in advance for the exams by going over every powerpoint slide and masteringbio helps a lot as well. Don't be afraid to approach him for anything in an appropriate manner if you have any questions about exams, lecture quizzes etc.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting a C Anonymous 12/21/2009	He is one of the nicest professors you will ever meet. Tests weren't difficult but covered a lot of material. He gives 4 really easy extra credit quizzes which he gives 1-3 days after every exam. Make sure you go over the powerpoint lectures he posts online 4-5 days before the exam. The sheer volume of information can be daunting. Also, he doesn't mention it but there is a small curve in the end. In my section, an 88% was an A.
Anne Simon BSCI105 Expecting a B- Anonymous 12/20/2009	Professor Simon is by far one of the best teachers I have had at UMD. She is a hard ass and is pretty tough, but yu will learn SO MUCH and will be VERY prepared for your upper levels and further classes such as genetics and organismal. I succeeded in these classes because of her. You must know the lectures inside and out and you must go to class...but being a bio major you should get used to going to class so suck it up and it will be worth it!
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/17/2009	Very Easy! Read the textbook before class (he puts the pages that each lecture is based on in the syllabus), listen in class and then after class take notes on the text book and concentrate on the topics in the powerpoint. EASY LECTURE QUIZZES. EASY TESTS.
Anne Simon BSCI105 Expecting a B+ laurelapollo 12/01/2009	If you are really interested in Bio or if you are on a pre med track TAKE BSCI105 WITH SIMON. Her class is hard but she is an amazing teacher. You WILL learn in her class. She is also very good at teaching and knows what she teaches. BEST TEACHER EVER
Judd Nelson BSCI105 cninferno 06/05/2009	Dr. Nelson was a pretty good lecturer. He is a very nice guy who wants everyone to do well. He goes over every point he makes on his powerpoint slides clearly and succinctly. He does stutter when he lectures, and it seems like he's always out of breath. But they're not that distracting. His tests were very reasonable and can be very easy if you pay close attention in lecture, take very good notes, and corroborate your notes with the facts in the textbook. Overall, he's a good lecturer and person. He can improve his speaking and his ability to give straightforward answers when answering questions, but he's a very decent professor.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 06/05/2009	Really nice and personable. Lectures are straight from the textbook and all notes are online. But u got to go because he gives really easy extra credit quizzes during class that really helps your grade. Lab is easy. Exams are fine as long as you read the text book.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting a C Anonymous 05/30/2009	I am not a science person at all and only took this class to fulfill a major requirement. He is a little awkward when lecturing, which can be cute but the material is just really boring. I guess the lab wasn't too bad since my TA was pretty nice. He usually gives a generous curve on tests. I was happy to get a C because I just don't like science and I am not good at it.
Patricia Shields BSCI105 Anonymous 05/27/2009	Shields was the only good bio professor I had back when I was still a microbiology major. I took BSCI105 in spring 2008 and I loved the class with her. She explains things really well, her exams are hard but fair (I mean come on, don't expect cell bio to be an easy class!), and she has these cool videos that reinforce a lot of major topics learned in class (like DNA synthesis, transcription and translation). You HAVE to read the book to fully understand everything. This is NOT because Shields is a bad professor. It's because cell bio and its processes are really detailed, and there's just no way she can teach it all in the limited amount of class time that there is. I had to work really hard in Shields' class, but it's worth it. With Shields, you end up really learning a lot and feeling good about it. Definitely take Shields.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/24/2009	LOVED Nelson! He is just such a nice guy. Lectures can be a bit boring, but it's just because the material is extremely boring. He tries to make them interesting by telling a joke every now and then that I thought were really funny. I disagree that the multiple-multiple questions are harder than multiple choice. I actually thought it was way easier. I'm not even a science major, but I still got a solid A because he was very reasonable. Overall, take Nelson.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting an A+ khartma1 05/17/2009	He is so nice! And you can tell he is just such a happy person! He always walks into class with a huge smile on his face. Lectures aren't really necessary because the slides are from the book. He does do 4 extra credit quizzes that are helpful. Tests are easy. Just a really nice man.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/10/2009	BSCI 105 is generally considered to be a hard class and most people take it because they have no other choice. If you have to take it Nelson's class is pretty reasonable. Reading the text book made my grade, but all students are really different.
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting a B Anonymous 05/10/2009	Nelson wasn't too bad of a teacher. He teaches from slides that summarize the book pretty well. The only problems were the amount of information covered for each test--it was a lot-- and that his tests are multiple-multiple choice which are WAY harder than regular multiple choice. Going to class is important if you like extra credit! He gives out four super easy 10-point extra credit quizzes, usually after an exam. It may not seem like a lot, but 10 points can turn a C into a B on an exam! However, paying attention in class isn't really necessary as long as you study on your own.
Patricia Shields BSCI105 Anonymous 04/28/2008	Excellent professor, posts lecture notes online, and tests straight from the outlines. Doesn't offer much extra credit and DOES NOT curve. Lab isn't too bad if you have the right TA. A good grade is possible but you'll have to work for it. She wants all of her students to get A's, but won't just hand them out. She's very receptive if you have questions or need help. Reviews every week at various times
Richard Stewart BSCI105 Expecting a C Dom39 01/23/2008	He's a great teacher who gives his students several opportunities to do well through extra credit on each exam, practice exams, and online quizzes which students are allowed to retake up to three times. This makes it easy to do well. He also sets up weekly review sessions where students can go and ask any questions they may have. He really knows his stuff and provides all his lecture notes online. All the information he test his students on are from the lecture notes, which make the exams very fair.
Richard Stewart BSCI105 Expecting a B lrobusto 11/27/2007	Knows his stuff. Very good lectures (he uses powerpoints that he posts online before the lecture) Powerpoints are very straightforward. Bring your laptop to class if possible because he goes through material faster than most can write. Very helpful in Q&A sessions he has every week. Tests are very fair and he gives a practice exam along with an extra credit question for each test before each test. So you always know exactly what is on the test, and how to do the extra credit. Overal very pleasant professor
Judd Nelson BSCI105 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 11/18/2007	Very easy exam format. Example question: Select all that apply: Cats... A. Say Meow B. Can purr C. Bark D. Know calculus E. Like tuna If you said A B C you would get 3/5... If you selected them all you get 3/5... Basically you get partial credit on every exam question even if you have no idea. I disagree with the reviewer above saying you have to go to class to take these extra credit quizzes. There are 30 pts of extra credit avaliable and the class is out of 800... Its not really worth going to every class. the lectures are incredibly boring, and readin the book is actually more entertaining because the book is written well/
Patricia Shields BSCI105 emilyes 11/05/2007	One of the happiest professors that I have had at Maryland. Dr. Shields seems to love teaching students and it shows in her lectures. She was also always willing to help students if they needed it. I wish I could have taken more classes from her!

Kenneth Frauwirth
BSCI105

Expecting a B+
ElishevaGlix
04/21/2016

Dr. Frauwirth is exceptionally knowledgeable. He goes very fast through lecture material and it may seem overwhelming but he ALWAYS answers questions. That's the secret to his class: don't be afraid to raise your hand mid-lecture and ask the dumb question everyone is thinking. Seriously, it will help a ton. Dr. Frauwirth also is reasonable about regrades and gives extra review sessions that are very helpful.

Michael Keller
BSCI105

Anonymous
12/17/2015

Keller is definitely enthusiastic about the subject he teaches, but he's not the best lecturer. His lectures were probably only good before the 1st exam and then it went downhill. The Wednesday activities were sometimes just a waste of time, but sometimes they were good. It annoys me that he doesn't do + or - grading, which just sucks when you try to hard to get an A and if you are a point or two off, he will not curve or bump you up to get an A. Your grade really depends on the TA and whether or not they grade harshly in lab. Lab is basically a way to get most points unless your TA is just rude. I don't know, Keller was a nice person in general, but he has certain teaching practices that were just not considerate---like no plus or minus grading and Wednesday activities (which include clicker quizzes) that really contribute to getting a lower grade than you rightfully deserve. However, he does offer a couple of extra credit opportunities--usually only a point or two here and there, though.

Michael Keller
BSCI105

Expecting an A
Anonymous
06/08/2015

Did not like this professor much. Although Dr. Shields was probably the real villain behind all of this, I absolutely hated this class because of these professors. This is supposed to be an introductory course. They said in the beginning of this course that they did not want it to be a weed-out class, but they structured the class to be JUST THAT. This was not an accurate representation of what biology classes are usually like, and it made students reconsider their major. He used my section as the guinea pig section to do some experimentation that the department wanted. Totally not fair because we were not able to choose which one we were in, and as a result, our grades suffered. Yes, he did curve in the end to make up for it, but the added stress and extra assignments we were given probably impacted the time and effort we were able to put into our other classes. He was pretty nice about office hours and make up points and stuff, but other times he was pretty snarky and sassy. Wish I took this with a different professor. Definitely possible to get an A. It's jsut really annoyingly/unnecessarily difficult.

Michael Keller
BSCI105

Expecting a B
Anonymous
05/24/2015

Keller is one of those teachers that thinks the material is easy because he has been teaching it for so long and expects you to know the material well. He says that he only asks about general concepts and doesn't want you to get caught up on the little details, but come the exam you will have to answer very specific questions. its also not helpful that his notes are 10% words and 90% diagrams that you have to be in class learning intently to understand. Lab is not to bad, except my TA Randi is psycho and would kick kids out of class left and right. If you want to take BSCI105 avoid Keller

Michael Keller
BSCI105

Expecting a B
Anonymous
05/20/2015

Dr. Keller recently changed the structures of his exams. They are directed towards a more application-based testing rather than rote memorization. He does not know how to write these types of questions. You will encounter very vague questions that can have multiple correct answers but his answer will take precedence, even though he doesn't ask for a best answer. Pray your TA is forgiving, but they mostly do not know what the man is doing. The lab and quizzes will help you a lot, but unless you're getting his style of questioning you will find yourself frustrated. Test averages for the last four exams were D's, including the final exam. He does not do +/- grading, which is nice unless you're close to the border where he will not be forgiving (0.7% curve). I recommend another teacher.

Michael Keller
BSCI105

Expecting an A
jt29
03/06/2015

I have no idea what the person below is talking about... Dr. Keller is such a nice guys and prepares you SO well for the tests. He never tries to trick you and is super generous when it comes to giving points back and giving you materials to study from. He gives you study guides online for every single chapter, and you just make sure you know everything on those study guides. Take the class seriously, it can be very difficult at times with the amount of studying required for tests. Make sure you read the chapters and take notes so you can later study from those notes. His exams are straight from his powerpoints and the book, so you have to read.

Reid Compton
BSCI105

Expecting a B-
Anonymous
01/30/2015

Very difficult exams. He gives a little curve before the exams but none after even if everyone failed. I do not recommend him at all. His lectures don't help except for clicker questions. You have to teach yourself using the book, and reviewing the powerpoint slides.

Reid Compton
BSCI105

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/28/2014

tl;dr - Compton's lectures are pointless, but useful for clicker points. Read the textbook and go through past exams to do well on his exams. Do not only memorize, but also understand - he asks a lot of "what if" questions. He does curve the class. The first week of class I loved Compton's class. I thought his lectures were interesting until I realized that his lectures were just the textbook information put straight on to a powerpoint. From that point on, I found lectures pretty pointless. I only went for the clicker points, which are super easy points because you don't even have to get the question right to get the points. Just attend most of the lectures. Compton does intentionally make his exams difficult, but they are not impossible. Contrary to what other reviews say, his exams do not require you to just memorize everything. He asks a lot of application questions as well so you really need to understand how things work as well. The best way to study in my opinion is the read the textbook chapters that will be covered on the exam and take notes (he expects you to know things in the chapter that he does not include in the powerpoint). In addition, go through his past exams and try to reason out answers and go through with a TA if you can (he doesn't put up the answer key for them). Good news is that most of his exams have a built in curve to them, and he established a curve in the being of the semester in the syllabus. I think he curved our class additionally by a few points after grading the finals. Tips: -If they give you the option to sign up for a one credit bio discussion, you should. That was very helpful. -GSS is very helpful especially right before an exams -Read the textbook chapters -Go through past exams -Don't forget the MasteringBio quizzes and get the easy clicker points

Reid Compton
BSCI105

Anonymous
12/25/2014

He's honestly a nice guy, however he's terrible. IMO his lectures were really boring as he reads through his powerpoint. (He may add a few thing or two, and powerpoints are online). Clickers are a joke. If the 60-80% of the class gets the answer right, he would repoll and make everyone think their wrong, and then he reveals the right answer. Made no sense. (Clickers were for attendence) His tests, were hard as hell. Everything on his test requires you to know the little details of the things you have learned. You can spend hours/days studying and you'll probably get less than 60%. Even the TAs question the questions that he has on the test. (A good chunk of these questions were what ifs) I don't think he curved for our class, since I was 1% away from an B, yet my final was B-. Take only if you really love bio or if you're just good. Otherwise avoid him at all cost.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Anonymous
05/28/2014

Honestly Nelson is the cutest thing, that being said he's a horrible lecturer. He reads right off the slides and makes you not want to come to class. However for my semester he started doing random weekly quizzes, that either helped your grade or messed it up. He really wants everyone to succeed, so he had this deal if you have an A average in the class (including lab) then you don't have to take the final. Our semester and 86% was a A-. I got out of it, but I heard the final was easy, only 20 multiple choice questions. His tests aren't that bad. The second one was the hardest, but just look through his notes, the book is there for reference, but mainly stick to the lecture notes. Also his tests are multiple multiple choice, which means there was more than one answer. Sometimes it screwed you over, other times you received partial credit for the question. If you only care about the grade, take Nelson. If you actually want to learn something then take someone else. Other than that, Nelson was the man and he's funny and adorable and makes the material easy and straightforward.

Patricia Shields
BSCI105

Expecting a B
Anonymous
05/19/2014

I came into her class on the first day scared out of my mind. After reading the reviews on here, I was convinced she was the worst professor to have for BSCI105. But now I think quite the opposite. Patty is hilarious and she give you an entire book of notes to follow in lecture for the entire semester, along with clicker points that factor into your final grade for extra credit. She doesn't curve, but the extra credit makes up for it. I went from a 78 to a 85% with the extra credit. The exams are fair and not extremely hard. I recommend taking her!

Patricia Shields
BSCI105

hello1234hi
05/13/2014

PATTY IS THE BEST! While at first she seems like a ***** during lecture, if you go to her office hours and get to know her she is the nicest most helpful professor i've ever had!! after failing multiple exams, I decided to make a change and met with her on a weekly basis to answer questions and review material. My score for the next test increased by a solid 30-40 points. Also GO TO LECTURE, it will make a HUGE difference in your grade come end of semester.

Reid Compton
BSCI105

Expecting an A+
Anonymous
12/28/2013

Compton is definitely the most difficult BSCI105 professor. That being said, his class is not difficult if you put work into it. I got a 79% on the first exam after not studying that much; however, I started studying a little bit every day and ended up with a 94.5 on the second exam, 99 on the third exam, and a 98 on the final. Walked out of the class with an A+. You have to memorize the material, but his lectures were always very interesting. If you're a bio/biochem major take him, if you're looking for an easy A then go elsewhere.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting an A-
milk
12/22/2013

Nelson is the epitome of boring lecturer, and it's not at all necessary to attend class as long as you keep up with his powerpoints. HOWEVER, the review by bamak93 is 100% accurate. I've essentially taken this class twice already too (regular bio and AP Bio in high school), and I scraped an A- by 1.2 points. For introductory bio, this class should not have been this hard. The material wasn't necessarily difficult to understand, but it was way too in-depth. A lot of the material should have been saved for later BSCI courses. It was just a weird experience - people I knew in 300-level BSCI courses would ask me, "Wow you learned about this already?" while my lab TA would constantly remind us that most students in the class were only taking 105 to get graduation reqs out of the way. The trick is probably to actively keep up with lectures each week and don't attempt to cram a few days before an exam. That being said, his multiple-multiple choice tests sucked. There were always a handful of questions that were focused on easily-missed minute details. Test averages weren't great, some lab mates legitimately failed one or two, and there's 0 curve because he grades by the amount of points you have in the class, not percentage (720/800 is an A-). The exams were the most annoying part about this class. Overall, probably wouldn't recommend.

Anne Simon
BSCI105

bh92
02/08/2013

I am a junior now, and I took BSCI105 as a freshman. At the time, I thought that Prof Simon was tough, but now I am SO appreciative of her class. She is fabulous and if you work hard in her class, you will be set for all of your future bio classes. I have taken genetics, microbio, cell biology and physiology, biochemistry and mammalian physiology and there has been a point in every single one of these classes when I have referenced her book of notes. I am also using them to study for the MCAT. The class is hard, but what do you expect? It's biology. If you have to take any more bio classes at Maryland, take 105 with Simon and rise to her expectations. You might surprise yourself.

William Higgins
BSCI105

Anonymous
01/07/2013

DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS WITH HIGGINS! I've heard this course is difficult no matter which professor you get because it's a "weed out" class. However, Higgins made it extremely difficult. This class was my only 100 level class but required the most work BY FAR. Unless you're really into biology, this course is going to be a struggle for you. I just needed it for my major so I thought it wouldn't be so hard since almost everyone has to take it and I used to like bio in high school... I thought wrong. I definitely thought I was going to receive an 'F' in the class because I fell so far behind and was too scared to ask for help because Higgins is so intimidating and my TA, Sara Rowland, was not very helpful. But thank God for the curve because I got a 'D' as my final grade. I needed a 'C' for my major but hey, I'm just glad I didn't fail! I got one 'D' and three 'F's on the other exams so I have NO idea how I passed. Unfortunately, since I didn't get the 'C' I needed in the class, I still need a bio course but there is no way in hell I'd be able to retake the class without going insane. So instead I'm taking BSCI106 this semester because I heard it's not as in depth as 105. I'm hoping what I heard is right because I cannot take another semester of hell.

Patricia Shields
BSCI105

Expecting an A
btc5105
12/15/2012

I liked Professor Shields a lot. She is very entertaining in lecture and presents material in a fun and simple way. She gives you a big book of notes at the beginning of the semester, so take your own notes in that book. She does not curve, but gives A LOT of extra credit, so do all of it and you should be fine. The extra credit took me from an 88 to a 92, so it does help a lot. Her exams are not difficult if you go to lecture and study a little the night before. The people who say otherwise are just angry that they did not do well enough in her class.

Anne Simon
BSCI105

Anonymous
12/04/2012

The only way to get a good grade in this class is to re-take it. Don't believe me? Read on and see the other crappy reviews. I don't even have to say anything else because most people on here have it all down pat. This BSCI class is hard as is with the material, but Simon makes it rough. Try another teacher if you can. I am going to end up getting a C in this class because the tests were horrendously horrible. The only people I know who are doing well are people re-taking it and people who are just complete smarty-pants test-takers.

Anne Simon
BSCI105

Expecting an A
Anonymous
07/24/2012

Yes, her class is hard. Her class is also the best class I took at UMD. She is hands down the best bio teacher I ever had. She teaches you things that will help you down the line. You have to STUDY, and you're going to have to study almost every day. It's a shock at first, but its great preparation for how you will need to study as a bio major (and later as a med student). I had no idea how to study when I can to UMD because I always did well with minimal effort (as I'm sure a lot of people did in HS). Her class taught me study skills that helped my GPA and MCAT score. Now I'm going to Yale for med school. If you can, gut it out, because it's class is definitely worth it. I'm happy I took this class as a freshman.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Anonymous
07/15/2012

Anyone giving this man less than 5 stars is crazy. Nelson is the man. He gives a 40 point extra credit boost! Basically an A=86%. That includes the extra credit which is incredibly easy to get. The labs are easy but it still does depend on the TA. Mine was fantastic. The tests are multiple multiple choice. Basically if you go over the slides in and out, you're guaranteed to do well. Plus, if you have around an A average before the final (includes lab points and exam points), you don't have to take the final. If you have to take the final, i heard its still incredibly easy. Nelson wants you to succeed and is really nice. Sure he's not the best lecturer but who cares! Its just into bio folks, straight up memorization. Study the slides and you're golden. Nelson is the way to go for BSCI 105

Patricia Shields
BSCI105

Expecting a B
Anonymous
06/08/2012

Do not take bsci105 with shields. there are a lot of other professors that you can take it with instead. i think Nelson also teaches during spring instead of shields. she makes her exams extremely difficult unnecessarily. she even apologized the semester after i took her class about how hard she made the final for us. Also do not take her for bsci222. if you need to take that class take Kocher or Straney

Anne Simon
BSCI105

Anonymous
05/29/2012

This teacher is one of the worst at the University. She wants you to do poorly. And on the last day of exams, she made it a point when kids were checking their answers to make snide remarks. For example, some smart kid did really well and so she said to this kid in front of some other students who had lots of markings on their answer sheet, "Oh at least you put in the time and effort to do well and it will make your future bright unlike some people who got C's because they won't get far." I'm sorry but as a student I do not think it is a professor's place to put someone down just because their learning ability is different and they cannot manage to pull an A in a difficult ENTRY LEVEL (key word, entry level) class. This class was more difficult than it should have been and sometimes I often wonder that they should just tell you ahead of time that if you want to take Simon, you should take AP Biology because she literally doesn't give two !@#$%s if you do poorly. She will single you out and make your self esteem drop. I complained to the advising office and they agree.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting a B+
bamak93
05/23/2012

Alright. I'm going to go ahead and preface this review with the fact that I spent 3 years of high school taking upper level bio classes, so in essence, I walked into this class more or less having taken it about twice previously. That being said, my experience with this class has been absurd. The TAs this semester were generally AWFUL (mine was one of the worst, I essentially got screwed out of an A because she nitpicked SO many points whenever possible in lab), and the tests were freakishly difficult, AND there was no curve. Even though the averages were pretty low. And his lectures are absolutely mundane. I went pretty religiously up until halfway through the semester until I realized my time was better spent reading the powerpoints and taking notes on them outside of class and getting back an hour on MWF. I understand that the professors tried to make 105 harder this semester since so many people took it as an easy lab elective, but between the work I put into the class and the fact that I knew all the content before coming into class, me getting a B was totally unwarranted.

Anne Simon
BSCI105

Anonymous
05/17/2012

The only "enhanced future" you will get from this class is when you're finished with it and it is in the past. This class was equivalent to a nightmare. Too much work involved. Simon expects you to re-write 300 pages of lecture notes. Not a fun time if you ask me. As for lab, lab was interesting, fun, and easy to learn, but that's because Simon doesn't coordinate it. The woman is, like someone said earlier, self-absorbed and she does not care if you don't pass. The end.

Anne Simon
BSCI105

Anonymous
05/17/2012

BSCI105 is so fun! NOT WITH SIMON, however. The woman makes this class impossible. She wants you to fail. Don't listen to anyone else praising her. It is not one of the best academic experiences of your college career. It is torture in a lecture note set book. Seriously, she makes this class too hard and it has nothing to do with not working hard to get a good grade. I am a straight A student and this class was hard to pass. I mean, she is not a nice person either. A 89.99999995 is a B!!! It's a B!!! Can you believe that nonsense? Do not take her if you don't want a terrible semester where you constantly have to be on your toes about everything. It is not worth it. Overrated BSCI105 class.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting a B
Anonymous
05/16/2012

Like others have said, he's a sweet guy and he does try to make it all interesting, but his lecturing skills are lacking. That being said, if you take him, his lecturing skills shouldn't really matter to you all that much. The material isn't too hard to understand as long as you read and study the powerpoints (which he posts online), and the book is also a good resource if you don't understand something. You do end up having to teach yourself most of the material though. He does make it fairly easy for you to do well in the class, grading wise. I liked his test style, where you could basically get partial credit for everything, even the multiple choice. He also curves the class a decent amount at the end of the semester (around 5%), so as long as you keep a solid C or C+ in class, you would pretty much have to get less than a 50% on the final to not get a B. Overall, I've heard worse things about other Bsci105 professors. I would take him if you get the chance.

Reid Compton
BSCI105

Anonymous
05/09/2012

Many questions on his exams are tricky and aren't specifically covered in his lectures, or study guides, so it's hard to prepare for his exams. There aren't many multiple choice questions either. Gives big curve at the end of class, so just stay relatively near the class average.

Anne Simon
BSCI105

Anonymous
05/08/2012

Dr. Simon has so far been the best professor I have had at the University of Maryland. I was not interested in science before taking her class, and was merely doing it for my scholars program. A year later, I'm a Pre-Med student debating adding a Biology double major and one day hoping to be a doctor. Dr. Simon knows biology, and knows how to teach it better than anybody else. I have never been exposed to such a systematic and sure-fire teacher before. If you do what Dr. Simon tells you to do, you'll get an A and you'll have one of the best academic experiences of your college career. Dr. Simon challenges you, which people commonly see as a bad thing, but in my opinion, a few hours of extra work is a small price to pay in exchange for an enhanced future. TAKE THIS PROFESSOR, WORK HARD, BE HAPPY!

Anne Simon
BSCI105

Anonymous
04/25/2012

Dr. Simon is very interesting. She is a nice woman outside of this class. If you do poorly in the class, however, she can be not so nice. I mean if you are a bio whiz and have 40+ hours to study for this class, and don't have extracurriculars and you are a bookworm, then please, take this class. I mean the woman is too hard of a teacher for an entry level class. She should be teaching upper levels. I mean like someone said before, her tests are multiple choice and FAR TOO SPECIFIC. like I mean way too specific. The GSS leader is a nice person for this class, but be careful of who your lab t.a. is...Mine was awful. I hated this class because the professor (Dr. Simon) acts like this is the only class everyone is taking. Hello!!! I mean the only people who are doing well were bookworms and people retaking it. So yeah. Do yourself a favor and take Nelson for this course. You will save yourself alot of stress and time.

Anne Simon
BSCI105

Anonymous
04/16/2012

Run for your damn life if you don't want to do 40 hours of studying a week. This woman is very sweet in nature outside of the class but she is condascending toward students if you do poorly just from not following some tips in a notebook. The class is incredibly hard for no reason, and as said before, the exam multiple choice questions are ultra specific and hard. Also, she expects you to study 40 hours a week and if you don't it's not her problem that you're doing below average. Yeah. Don't take BSCI105 with her unless you are amazingly amazing (I mean you just ace everything) and don't have a 16 credit course load. If you do, take another teacher. Please.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting a B
Anonymous
04/01/2012

Professor Nelson is extremely sweet and adorable, but he isn't a very good lecturer. He's very scatterbrained and hard to follow. He posts all of his powerpoints on ELMS, though, so if you read the textbook and look at the powerpoints, going to lecture isn't always necessary. It does help if you're confused about something, though. His tests are difficult to do well on because they're multiple multiple choice, which means each question can always have multiple answers. I found this hard because you can't use process of elimination. He's obviously passionate about Biology but just isn't very good at driving in the information. You have to teach yourself a lot.

Richard Stewart
BSCI105

Expecting an A+
Anonymous
02/24/2012

He's the sweetest and nicest professor I've ever had. He gives thorough, albeit boring lectures, and overall I'd recommend him to future students. At the beginning of the year he said that there are 800 points for the class, no curve, and only 30 points worth of extra credit available. That's a *LIE*. There are a LOT more extra credit points available than he lets on! Exams are very detail oriented and very difficult with averages usually in the 60's. They're based solely on the power point lectures, which he posts online. If you memorize absolutely EVERYTHING on the power points, you should get over 100% on the exams quite easily. Lecture attendance isn't mandatory, as he doesn't use clickers, but definitely recommended. Lab gives you easy points with little work and effort. I guess it's there to boost your grade. Make sure to pay attention becasue the practical covers almost all the labs done in class.

Patricia Shields
BSCI105

Expecting an A
erika_14
12/23/2011

Shields is a great professor. She may be harder than the other teachers and her exams may be more difficult, but in the end, you feel good about how much you have learned. She goes really in depth in the material and this material overlaps with BSCI222 so you're more prepared for genetics. Shields is an awesome lecturer. You HAVE to understand every single little thing. DEFINATELY go to GSS sessions and review sessions - she holds them before exams and you can ask her anything you have trouble with and she will explain it to you. So all in all if you have to take Shields, you have to go into it knowing you're gonna spend a lot of time with the material. And remember - she NEVER curves. I honestly didn't think I'd get an A but somehow I aced the final and that bumped my grade. So just try hard and ask for help!

William Higgins
BSCI105

Anonymous
12/22/2011

He's a decent lecturer, unfortunately he caters to one learning style. I personally have difficultly listening and writing notes as fast as he talks, eventually I had to give up on notes because I would miss half the class writing the notes. It would be best to put words on the slide, but for some reason that was not his style. I expected a C at best because I didn't do well on the tests (D, F, C, Final exam F) but apparently failing is passing? because I got a B in the class. He'll never tell the average (probably because it's so low) but just study and you'll pass. But to be completely honest by the time the final exam rolled by I had no clue what to study that I barely did. He gave out no practice exam and left you wondering what the 80 multiple choice final would be on. He's also very intimidating. And I liked him until he 'anonymously' made fun on me in class, no one else know who he was making fun of but I did.

Patricia Shields
BSCI105

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
08/04/2011

She was a tremendous professor. Biology is a hard class, and she warns you of that. But she makes so many resources available to you and really wants to help you learn. If you have to take BSCI105, take Shields. No question!

Reid Compton
BSCI105

Expecting an A
Anonymous
07/17/2011

Seriously, Compton is not as bad as people below say he is. His exams really aren't difficult at all...answering the questions does not require a deep understanding of the material. If you read the book and/or notes and can manage to remember and regurgitate the information, you will be fine. The only issue I have with his tests is that while selecting topics, he sometimes neglects the important information in favor of the less crucial, more obscure details that you might overlook. This can be a little frustrating, since you do lose a couple of points here and there on foolish things (this is offset by the curve). But overall, his expectations are fair, and his exams and grading reflect this. If you can manage a mere cursory level of understanding of all the concepts, you should earn at least a B in the class. Oh, and as others have mentioned, he did give a substantial curve (almost too generous). I don't know what the cutoffs were, but an 81% was an A.

Anne Simon
BSCI105

Expecting an A
Chad Drummond
06/27/2011

I took Dr. Simon's class as a post-bac student. Her class was the single most demanding class I have taken in my entire academic career. That said, she is an amazing, helpful professor who cares about her students. You will have to work hard in her class, but you will learn an incredible amount. If you aren't willing to work hard, maybe you should reconsider college.

Anne Simon
BSCI105

Expecting a C
Anonymous
05/23/2011

The people below me are crazy.. Dr. Simon is horrible. She goes so fast during the lectures and jumps around from page to page, so it is very difficult to follow along and understand what she is talking about. Also, every (or most) bsci105 professor has printed out lecture note sets (which you have to PAY FOR). She goes so quickly that you have no option but to spend AT LEAST 2 or 3 hours per day studying the notes. She EXPECTS this out of every student, as if we do not have other demanding classes, too. The worst part about her class is that her exams are EXTREMELY specific. She'll make questions about something so minuscule in the notes that you would never think to be important. I feel like I learned a great deal from this class--and not because of her, but because I spent countless hours studying the notes and teaching MYSELF--yet I still got a C in the class because no matter how hard I studied, she managed to make questions on material she never taught us, or something so specific you could not even prepare for it. Unless you took AP in hs or just know everything about bio, DO NOT take BSCI105 with Dr. Simon--your semester will be hell if you do.

Anne Simon
BSCI105

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/17/2011

Dr. Simon is hands down the best professor I've had so far as an undergraduate student. Dr. Simon REALLY knows what she is talking about and is a great lecturer/teacher. She holds weekly review sessions that are extremely helpful for the exams. I have learned so much in this class. However, her class is not easy. In fact, her class is probably the hardest out of the BSCI105 professors (Nelson is definitely the easiest). You must put in the effort and work to get an A in this class. There is no curve, and a 89.8% is still a B. I highly recommend listening to her "steps to succeed" on the first day of class, and follow them because they really do help. With that said, I strongly recommend taking Dr. Simon, especially if you are a biology major. She will prepare you for the other biology courses and you will learn so much from her. I'm so glad I took BSCI105 with her instead of Nelson because I really enjoyed this class.

Patricia Shields
BSCI105

Kris10
05/17/2011

While she is very entertaining in lecture, she is very pretentious and condescending and has expectations for the course that are far too high for a 100-level course. She said so herself that only 12% of the students in the class were biology majors, yet she expected us all to be fully invested in HER class (like every high school teacher who thinks only their class is important). She also almost considered herself Mother Theresa for the clicker requirements and the Mastering Biology quizzes, the ladder of which were not as easy as she though and weren't as helpful to our grades as she boasted. And if we didn't do them (like on the 2 times I forgot) she'd go off on a rant of "This many students are just throwing away their points, right into the trash." My roommate who was also in the course was having some clicker issues even though she went to most lectures. What was Dr. Shield's opinion of people who didn't have any clicker credit? "You're all skipping my class, saying 'Screw Dr. Shields'" like it was personal. While the extra credit opportunities she gave were extremely helpful, not all of us taking the course have a goal of curing cancer. As a psychology student in that class, it would have been nice of her to acknowledge that there are some topics (photosynthesis, for example) that not all of us need to know on an expert level.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Anonymous
05/16/2011

Nelson is the cutest prof ever. He is such a grandpa and is just adorable. The class can be boring since his slides are basically notes from the textbook, but sometimes he gives you hints as to what will be on the exams (esp day before the test). Exams are easy if you study for them, and there's a 40 point buffer so it's possible to get more than 100%. Lab boosts you up a lot too. Low stress class, definitely take it for BSCI105.

Reid Compton
BSCI105

TheTruth
05/15/2011

As everyone has said, Compton is a decent guy but his exams are RIDICULOUSLY difficult! The first exam we had, the class average was like a 50%! He tests on application of knowledge alot(like "What if" kinds of questions).He does hold reviews before each exam but I, personally, never found them useful. What I do recommend is attending GSS (guided study session) provided by a TA or getting a tutor. Do this early in the semester because if not you'll just be lost throughout the rest of the course!

Anne Simon
BSCI105

Expecting an A
AlwaysMee
05/14/2011

I admit when I got my first email from her (3 weeks before the semester had even begun) telling us students about the classroom rules and about how hard the class could be if we did not follow her tips for success, I was very nervous and was going to drop the class if I had found another that fit my schedule. HOWEVER, Dr. Simon has been the BEST professor I have had yet in the University of Maryland, and I believe she is the best for BSCI 105. She sacrificed so much time and effort and really cared about the success of those who tried hard to learn in her class. She even took the time to write her own 250 page lecture note set for each student to have a copy of. But I must admit this class takes the same (or more) CONSIDERABLE amount of effort and time on behalf of the students. Had I not gone to EVERY weekly review session and weekly office hour session, and read the lecture material before and/or after class, and found study partners within the class, there is NO WAY I would been able to become a tutor and do well in this class. There were times that I did not feel like waking up to be at her office at 8am, but I knew that if I didn't I would not be successful. If you are a student who is TRULY willing to learn and sacrifice time, then there is SO MUCH for you TO GAIN out of this course. Dr Simon has taught me more than class material. She has taught me how to learn concepts and given me so many tips for the future, things that I would not have gotten from any other BSCI105 professor. I am truly thankful for Dr. Simon, and I would recommend this course by this professor to anyone who is NOT looking for an 'Easy A', and truly wants to learn.

Anne Simon
BSCI105

Expecting a C
SirSlacksALot
05/10/2011

Dr. Simon is probably one of the best teachers here on campus at the University. Her presence as a tough instructor is warranted because she only wants the best for her students. She dedicates her own free time to compiling review sessions and talking about field research with many of her students. Paying attention in her class is important. Fortunately, she prints a set of her lecture notes for you to follow along with during the lecture. She genuinely cares about the success of her students, and exhibits it from the dedication and extra time she puts in. Make it count.

Anne Simon
BSCI105

Expecting a B
tjice
05/09/2011

Dr. Simon is such a great teacher. She tells you right off the bat that you're going to have to work hard for this class, and she's right. However, if you do what she tells you to do from the beginning, you will do well in this class. The class is not easy, and it's even harder when combined with other difficult classes. But you will learn A LOT. Dr. Simon really truly cares about her students and wants you to learn. She held weekly review sessions, which were helpful for understanding material. TAKE Dr. Simon, you will be glad you did.

Anne Simon
BSCI105

Expecting a B
Anonymous
05/03/2011

Simon is perhaps one of the most intimidating teachers... on the first day. Every other day she's completely helpful and will always go around at the beginning of class answering questions. Her lecture note set is where the exam questions are based off, so don't even bother buying a book for her. The note set is so organized and helpful, however, it is necessary to go to every class to understand the concepts in the note set. The lecture note set also has practice exams and a study guide for each exam unit. If you can manage to go to every class, this also means you will never miss one of the 4 pop quizzes and 4 BONUS quizzes. This was my mistake, after missing 2 quizzes =/ otherwise i definitely would have gotten an A. She has a non-mandatory review session every thursday as opposed to a discussion which is very helpful if you're confused. She also has a tutor system set up whereas after the first test, those who gained an 85% or higher can set up to be a tutor for any student in the class who also signs up to be a "tutee." This is one of the most genius ideas and should be implemented in every class. If you're taking simon. Go to class, review notes, and genuinely pay attention. It's not that hard if you work at it a little every day. Also just a Bio tip, a lot of challenging concepts like replication/transcription/translation can be explained much better through random videos on youtube. They totally helped. The one negative is that her tests are all multiple choice questions with sometimes very confusingly similar answers. But relatively, the tests are not hard.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting a B
Anonymous
05/02/2011

Professor Nelson really wants his students to succeed and is very understanding if you forget to do a masteringbio, or have email him with a question. It helps to go to the GSS, and to lecture, but all the slides are online and he doesn't deviate from them much.

Anne Simon
BSCI105

Expecting an A
Anonymous
04/28/2011

Excellent professor! Dr.Simon not only knows her stuff, but makes difficult material as easy as possible. Alot of people complain about the course, but only because they slack and do not put in the time neccessary. She provides you with all sorts of study aids and support. If you want to do well in the course, you can.

Patricia Shields
BSCI105

Expecting a B
Anonymous
04/25/2011

Shields' is an awesome professor. She is one of the most entertaining lecturers you'll ever have the pleasure of hearing. She makes the material easily digestible and puts a lot of effort into forcing everyone to understand what's going on (regular clicker questions, Guided Study Sessions, her own reviews, accessible office hours). That said, it's possible to come out of the class knowing nothing at all (but not doing very well on the exams). The class itself is somewhat difficult. Like all huge intro lectures, there's a lot of annoying work that you have to do, and it's hard to get A's on all of them. You've got 13 homework assignments, 3 tests and a final, in-class clicker questions (you just have to answer them, it doesn't matter if you got the answer correct) and a plethora of work you've got to do for lab. Whatever. You could do way worse than taking this class with Patty Shields.

Patricia Shields
BSCI105

Expecting a B-
Hosea
04/19/2011

Dr. Shields is a very engaging lecturer. However, she may go fast sometimes and will even cram material up until the day before the test. You MUST attend every lecture because you will feel lost if you skip one. Reading the book may help somewhat, but she will often mention things that are not found in the book. She is very willing to help you understand concepts at any time. Even though she may seem mean sometimes in lecture, she just wants respect like any other professor. Her office hours are helpful and she truly wants you to learn the material. But you must help yourself! She truly makes you work for it. There is a tonnnn of material that she covers. Her exams will cover almost everything she goes over in class. They are difficult, but fair. This is why you must go to every lecture. Lab was okay, but the lab report was a pain in the ass because I had never written one before. If you get Seth as your TA, you're in good shape; he is not a hard grader and is pretty chill and laid back. Dr. Shields truly makes you work for your grade. But you come out feeling like you actually learned something. I worked fairly hard in this class but I will probably end up with a low B.

Patricia Shields
BSCI105

Expecting an A
Anonymous
03/21/2011

I do not understand why people seem to like Patty Shields so much. Maybe they took her for genetics, because for 105 she isn't all that great. She's not a bad lecturer and she's a nice person, but she doesn't really seem like she knows what she's talking about beyond what she teaches. If you don't know chemistry very well, don't take Shields. She doesn't feel the need to explain any chem because she "already had to take orgo and now it's your turn." Her tests aren't hard - with a minimal amount of studying you can understand the material. But her exam questions are always poorly worded. The hardest part of the class is figuring out what she wants, even on her clicker questions. I'm not a big fan of Patty. She thinks she's really funny and all but if you actually want to learn I would take Simon.

William Higgins
BSCI105

Expecting a B
Anonymous
02/02/2011

I did not expect BSCI105 to be this hard. But with Higgins, it is. He puts up powerpoints before lecture so you can take notes on. He tends to skip a few slides each lecture and sometimes he moves really fast. But if you ask questions he will thoroughly answer them for you. He is always available during office hours...which I didnt go to. A lot of people had bad things to say about Higgins b/c his tests were so damn hard. No multiple choice (except for the final exam which was cumulative) and many graphs and charts needed to be interpreted. GSS review sessions helped a lot. Lab wasnt that bad, pretty easy. Just do what the TA tells you to do and you should be good to go. Overall, rigorous class which moves fast. I recommend going to lecture and then supplementing class notes with the textbook in order to clarify certain topics.

William Higgins
BSCI105

Expecting an A
pink_pink1991
01/05/2011

The only reason I will not give Dr. Higgins 5 stars is becuase we are both super stubborn and stubborn people buck heads like rams. Dr. Higgins is a phenominal lecuturer and does not make heavy use of the textbook. He puts his lectures online and if you go to class those lectures make perfect sense. A lot of my class did not do so hot simply because they did not attend lecture. NEVER miss lecture even if you are hung over from Thursday night. I have never learned so much in a biology course as I have his and I recommend him to anyone who is willing to put in the time to learn. If not take an someone who doesn't care. Here is my top five bits of advice. 1. Go to lecture 2. Be that annoying kid who asks questions during class 3. Go to GSS. It's a lot of material 4. DO NOT FALL BEHIND. Review notes everyday. Don't look at the picutres and say cool beans, but make sure you understand what is going on, on each slide. 5. Don't get on his bad side you will both cry.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting a B
Anonymous
12/22/2010

Professor Nelson is the one of the nicest professors that i have ever had. He genuinely cares about his students, and that is hard to find. The class itself is not easy. I thought the exams were challenging because it covers so much material. The lectures are a bit boring, but its biology, so it will be boring with any professor. Grading is pretty generous. However, the lab fucking sucks. My TA was awful, but its easy. I got C's and D's on the midterms, a B on the final and still came out with a B. Professor Nelson is definitely the way to go for BSCI105.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

ax
12/21/2010

Nelson is the best teacher to pick for this course. His teaching style is reading from a powerpoint; which could get boring, but he is a good teacher. His exams are not hard. I never studied and I ended up with a B in the class, so if you study you should get an A. He was a nice man who enjoyed talking about his family. Out of all the professors for this course you should definitely go with Nelson. He made bio fun and easy.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting a B
rose11
12/20/2010

I love Dr. Nelson. He is one of the nicest professors I have met. If you're going to take BSCI105, take him. There were four exams, MasteringBiology homework, plus the assignments in lab. I unfortunately had a hard TA. An A in BSCI105 is definately feasible, but because my TA was such a hard grader I received about an 89% in the course. You don't have to attend lecture since Dr. Nelson posts the powerpoints online. However, I recommend going since he gives good information about material that will be on the exam.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting a B
thewit691
12/20/2010

Awesome guy. Actually kind of funny. Gives so much extra credit it basically curves you up a letter grade. In all seriousness though, BSCI105 is a tough class. The material is interesting but it is ALOT to cover. Nelson's exam format helps alot because you can get partial credit on everything, even the multiple choice. If you must take it, take it with Nelson.

Reid Compton
BSCI105

Expecting a B
Anonymous
12/19/2010

Dr. Compton is extremely hard. He covers a tremendous amount of material and really expects you to memorize it all and understand it well enough to apply it. His tests were very challenging as they were all application questions for which you really had to apply and often compare class material. He did give a decent curve, and lab does help your grade out, but his tests were just on a tremendous amount of material. If you need to take him, make sure to stay on top of your material and make sure you understand it, going through it throughout the semester. Don't wait till the day before or two his tests. Avoid him if you can, but if you can't then study hard!

William Higgins
BSCI105

Expecting a B
jcp5383
12/18/2010

I got a C,D,A, and a C on my exams respectively. Although I thought that I was getting a B-, I ended up with an A. You have to put in considerable effort in the class. I attended every review sessions. Make sure you have Amanda Murti as a TA. From what I have heard, Nelson and Benson, the other BSCI teachers are terrible. Make sure you have Higgins if you want to learn the material and a challenge. It's all about putting effort in. It's possible to get an A.

William Higgins
BSCI105

Expecting a B
Phillip Fiore
12/17/2010

Pompous? Yes. Critical? Yes. Cranky? Oh yeah. Knowledgeable? Yes. Challenging? Definitely. Only take this class if you are ready for a tough class you will have to devote a decent amount of time to (weekly GSS sessions). But if youre ready for that, grind it out, go to class, and you might get an A with the extra points he gives out.

Michael Keller
BSCI105

Expecting a B
Anonymous
12/17/2010

obviously bsci105 isn't an easy class, but i think Keller really made the class easy enough that if you really worked for that A, you could get it. As the class went on he made the tests easier than I think they were meant to be, which is really nice on his part, but kids will always complain. I'd definately recommend taking him

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting an A
Davismcd333
12/15/2010

Just take him honestly. Not only will you learn alot but hes a very generous grader. I hear people sturggling with all the other professors and I was sooo hapy i took Nelson. Oh and did I mention the massive extra credit?

Patricia Shields
BSCI105

Expecting a B
Anonymous
12/14/2010

Exams are really hard. She is a good teacher but she has a weird attitude (somewhat condescending). Her exams are very unclear at times and she basically teaches this course as if everyone in her class is going to be a doctor. UMD BIO DEPARTMENT (REALITY CHECK) NOT EVERYONE IN BSCI105 is going to be a doctor. SOME OF US NEED IT JUST TO FULFILL A 100 LEVEL REQUIREMENT. It is an introductory bio course 100 level. Sheilds definitely does not treat it like one. She makes it extra difficult. I could have gotten an A but the workload and amount of information on the exams made it difficult for me so I ended up with a B. If you are a bio person who works really hard and enjoys studying take her. If not....stay away from shields

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting a B
Anonymous
12/12/2010

Nelson makes this class ridiculously easy, he posts all of his slides online and bases them off of his exams. In all honesty, I only showed up to a few of his classes throughout the whole semester and studied for exams only the night before and got 70-80% grades. He also gives extra credit points and makes grading so easy to pass his class. If I actually put in more effort and went to class or studied a few days before exam I would have definitely received an A.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting an A
Brenda Mason
12/05/2010

I LOVE PROFESSOR NELSON! he makes the class easy and you can understand. Also he post slides and his test come from the slides. TAKE NELSON!!

William Higgins
BSCI105

Expecting a C
Anonymous
12/03/2010

is extremely intelligent in the field of biology but is extremely difficult. I would not recommend taking this class especially as a intro bio course. He does not prepare you for the exams at all and everything it short answer and drawings. He does give you 60 extra credit points by taking online quizzes which is plus and is willing to give a curve even if he says he doesn't. this class is a FULL TIME job. i recommend going to every review offered if you do end up taking this class. but overall way to much work and exams are extremely unfair theres no point in studying he will trick you and put question on the exam he never mentioned in class. also for exam questions don't focus on the main points look for the small points. if he emphasizes that something will be on the exam and tells you to study it..dont study it..he puts the exact opposite..overall difficult professor but a nice guy

Reid Compton
BSCI105

Anonymous
11/23/2010

He was nice and easy to talk to, but covered an insane amount of information. He went through his powerpoints too fast, and expected us to learn any information he didn't teach for the tests. I would suggest taking 105 with another teacher.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting an A
Anonymous
10/25/2010

Dr Nelson was a great professor. His powerpoints were preetty organized and easy to understand. He would have extra credit quizzes in lecture that was really helpful and his exams were decent. As long as you studied off his powerpoint and understood the points he stressed in lecture youd do fine. I definetly recommend him for BSCI105

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Anonymous
08/04/2010

Anyone who doesn't give this man 5 stars is crazy. BSCI 105 is an extremely difficult class, and kids with other professors who saw my exam were shocked at how easy they were. HIS EXAMS ARE ALL MULTIPLE CHOICE. If you take BSCI 105 and don't take his class you're just stupid. He gives out 40 extra credit points. I got a 76, 69, and 60 on my midterms, and a 76 on my final. I got a B in the class.... enough said. He even uses a water-downed book that's easier to use than other professors do.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting an A
Anonymous
07/14/2010

Prof Nelson is the best professor for this class, and its actually really easy if you attend every lecture. Its not necessary to pay attention but the extra credit quizzes boost your grade 40 points in the end. Depending on your TA lab can be tough or really easy. exams are fair, read the textbook through once but mainly study the slides and you will be fine. His lectures are really boring, but having had little bio experience and not being a bio related major, I felt that this class was somewhat useful and definitely fair

Reid Compton
BSCI105

Expecting a B
Anonymous
06/01/2010

Dr Compton's class is a lot of fun and he is a good lecturer. His tests are really hard, but he curves a lot at the end, and all of his clickers are extra credit. He is really nice and funny if you get to know him.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting an A
samhallen
06/01/2010

Most of you are probably taking this course because you have to (majors, pre-med, etc.) Do yourselves a favor and take it with Nelson. BSCI105 is not an easy class, and Nelson makes it easy for you to score well. His tests are challenging and cover a lot of material, but he gives you 4-10 point extra credit quizzes which are added to your grade. As long as you had a low B average (which is very achievable if you try hard), his extra credit put you at an A. Comparatively to what I've heard about other BSCI105 teachers, Nelson is the way to go. Although his lectures are dry and peripatetic, you must go to take the quizzes, and who knows, maybe you do learn some stuff from lecture. But for the most part, I just studied the lecture slides and textbook chapters 4-5 days before each test, and didn't pay too much attention in lecture.

Patricia Shields
BSCI105

Expecting a B
cmstillings
05/29/2010

P. Shields is by far one of the best biology professors at UMD. Although she may be a bit tough, and her tests a bit hard with no curve, if you study for two or three days and do the things she tells you to in order to prepare, you will get a great grade. She warns you in the beginning of the class, if you are not a bio major get out now. So, she means business. But if there is ever something you have a question about take advantage of her office hours. She is always open to meeting with students, sooner rather than later. I went to her to review after every test to see how I would pan out in the class and she even gave me some points back! P. Shields also is a great lecturer. This class is phenomenal and she gives you every opportunity to pass, but still makes you earn it. The class has clicker questions and a lot of small tasks but they just boost your grade in the end. She prints out a notebook of $18 in the beginning of the year and if you attend lecture and use the notebook and text book to study along with the clicker questions you will pass. All in all, hilarious teacher, keeps you engaged and really wants her students to pass. If you have to take BSCI105 take it with her!

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/22/2010

Dr. Nelson's class is a very chill class. Studying the lecture ppt slides are generally good preparation for the exams. However, reading the book is recommended if you dont have a strong background in bio. Labs are very easy if you took bio AP or equivalent. The extra credits quizzes will make your life a lot easier. Simple class, nice prof.

Patricia Shields
BSCI105

Anonymous
05/16/2010

She's a great lecturer and she's funny, but her tests are HARD! You have to really understand everything to do well. There's no curve, but she does give some extra credit opportunities and easy exercises that you should get 100% on. Lab is supposed to help your grade, but if your TA is hard, then lab would barely help your grade. Unless you're a pre-med student or a biology major, you probably won't get an A in the class.

Anne Simon
BSCI105

Expecting an A+
Anonymous
05/08/2010

She intimidated the hell out of me on the first day of class, and I honestly considered dropping for another professor. But something told me to stick it out, and I'm glad I did! She comes across as a hard ass, but she is actually very sweet and genuinely cares about her students. I came into this class with barely any science background but still managed to earn an A+. The course material itself isn't that hard--it's just a lot of info to learn. That said, go to class, PAY ATTENTION (most people don't seem to do this), keep up with the material as you go along, and don't be afraid to ask questions. Paying attention is key. She'll often tell you flat out what will be on the exams. Trust me, studying for exams will be a LOT easier if you just pay attention in class. Couple notes of warning--don't be late to class, and don't get up while she's talking. She will call you out in front of everyone. Labs are stupid, but Dr. Simon has no control over this. Take the lab report seriously because it's graded very harshly. If you're pre-med, a bio major, or just sincerely interested in bio, I highly recommend Simon. Lazy people beware.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/04/2010

Professor Nelso is a really nice guy! He lectures from powerpoints which are pretty detailed, so you don't really even need the book. There are 3 exams and the final, the exams weren't too bad, but they covered a lot of material. The tests were multiple-multiple choice and short answer. he gave 4, 10 point each extra credit quzzes throughout the semester which really helpful to your grade!! Overall he was a good teacher and it was an okay class.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting a C
Anonymous
04/30/2010

I'm extremely horrible in taking multiple multiple choice exams. I like one direct answer. I'm couting on my lab grade to really boost up my grade.

Anne Simon
BSCI105

Expecting an A
Anonymous
02/11/2010

This class is very difficult, especially considering it is a intro class, so i would not suggest it for non-bio majors. However, if you are a bio major, you will learn a lot in this class because Prof. Simon makes sure you learn the material. Her tests are not that bad, but you really need to be studying about 2 hours for every one lecture, so about 1 hour a day. If you are ambitious and want to be taught the correct way to learn you should take this course (even if you are not a bio major). If you follow Prof. Simon's studying directions you will come out of this class with more than just knowledge about biology, you will also have learned good study habits which will help you for the rest of your college career.

Richard Stewart
BSCI105

Expecting an A-
umd3890
01/07/2010

He's an awesome professor. I like him a lot. He takes his time to go over the power point slides very well as well as answering any questions you may have. Though the powerpoint slides were somewhat boring there were still parts that captured my interest. Study in advance for the exams by going over every powerpoint slide and masteringbio helps a lot as well. Don't be afraid to approach him for anything in an appropriate manner if you have any questions about exams, lecture quizzes etc.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting a C
Anonymous
12/21/2009

He is one of the nicest professors you will ever meet. Tests weren't difficult but covered a lot of material. He gives 4 really easy extra credit quizzes which he gives 1-3 days after every exam. Make sure you go over the powerpoint lectures he posts online 4-5 days before the exam. The sheer volume of information can be daunting. Also, he doesn't mention it but there is a small curve in the end. In my section, an 88% was an A.

Anne Simon
BSCI105

Expecting a B-
Anonymous
12/20/2009

Professor Simon is by far one of the best teachers I have had at UMD. She is a hard ass and is pretty tough, but yu will learn SO MUCH and will be VERY prepared for your upper levels and further classes such as genetics and organismal. I succeeded in these classes because of her. You must know the lectures inside and out and you must go to class...but being a bio major you should get used to going to class so suck it up and it will be worth it!

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/17/2009

Very Easy! Read the textbook before class (he puts the pages that each lecture is based on in the syllabus), listen in class and then after class take notes on the text book and concentrate on the topics in the powerpoint. EASY LECTURE QUIZZES. EASY TESTS.

Anne Simon
BSCI105

Expecting a B+
laurelapollo
12/01/2009

If you are really interested in Bio or if you are on a pre med track TAKE BSCI105 WITH SIMON. Her class is hard but she is an amazing teacher. You WILL learn in her class. She is also very good at teaching and knows what she teaches. BEST TEACHER EVER

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

cninferno
06/05/2009

Dr. Nelson was a pretty good lecturer. He is a very nice guy who wants everyone to do well. He goes over every point he makes on his powerpoint slides clearly and succinctly. He does stutter when he lectures, and it seems like he's always out of breath. But they're not that distracting. His tests were very reasonable and can be very easy if you pay close attention in lecture, take very good notes, and corroborate your notes with the facts in the textbook. Overall, he's a good lecturer and person. He can improve his speaking and his ability to give straightforward answers when answering questions, but he's a very decent professor.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting an A+
Anonymous
06/05/2009

Really nice and personable. Lectures are straight from the textbook and all notes are online. But u got to go because he gives really easy extra credit quizzes during class that really helps your grade. Lab is easy. Exams are fine as long as you read the text book.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting a C
Anonymous
05/30/2009

I am not a science person at all and only took this class to fulfill a major requirement. He is a little awkward when lecturing, which can be cute but the material is just really boring. I guess the lab wasn't too bad since my TA was pretty nice. He usually gives a generous curve on tests. I was happy to get a C because I just don't like science and I am not good at it.

Patricia Shields
BSCI105

Anonymous
05/27/2009

Shields was the only good bio professor I had back when I was still a microbiology major. I took BSCI105 in spring 2008 and I loved the class with her. She explains things really well, her exams are hard but fair (I mean come on, don't expect cell bio to be an easy class!), and she has these cool videos that reinforce a lot of major topics learned in class (like DNA synthesis, transcription and translation). You HAVE to read the book to fully understand everything. This is NOT because Shields is a bad professor. It's because cell bio and its processes are really detailed, and there's just no way she can teach it all in the limited amount of class time that there is. I had to work really hard in Shields' class, but it's worth it. With Shields, you end up really learning a lot and feeling good about it. Definitely take Shields.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/24/2009

LOVED Nelson! He is just such a nice guy. Lectures can be a bit boring, but it's just because the material is extremely boring. He tries to make them interesting by telling a joke every now and then that I thought were really funny. I disagree that the multiple-multiple questions are harder than multiple choice. I actually thought it was way easier. I'm not even a science major, but I still got a solid A because he was very reasonable. Overall, take Nelson.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting an A+
khartma1
05/17/2009

He is so nice! And you can tell he is just such a happy person! He always walks into class with a huge smile on his face. Lectures aren't really necessary because the slides are from the book. He does do 4 extra credit quizzes that are helpful. Tests are easy. Just a really nice man.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/10/2009

BSCI 105 is generally considered to be a hard class and most people take it because they have no other choice. If you have to take it Nelson's class is pretty reasonable. Reading the text book made my grade, but all students are really different.

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting a B
Anonymous
05/10/2009

Nelson wasn't too bad of a teacher. He teaches from slides that summarize the book pretty well. The only problems were the amount of information covered for each test--it was a lot-- and that his tests are multiple-multiple choice which are WAY harder than regular multiple choice. Going to class is important if you like extra credit! He gives out four super easy 10-point extra credit quizzes, usually after an exam. It may not seem like a lot, but 10 points can turn a C into a B on an exam! However, paying attention in class isn't really necessary as long as you study on your own.

Patricia Shields
BSCI105

Anonymous
04/28/2008

Excellent professor, posts lecture notes online, and tests straight from the outlines. Doesn't offer much extra credit and DOES NOT curve. Lab isn't too bad if you have the right TA. A good grade is possible but you'll have to work for it. She wants all of her students to get A's, but won't just hand them out. She's very receptive if you have questions or need help. Reviews every week at various times

Richard Stewart
BSCI105

Expecting a C
Dom39
01/23/2008

He's a great teacher who gives his students several opportunities to do well through extra credit on each exam, practice exams, and online quizzes which students are allowed to retake up to three times. This makes it easy to do well. He also sets up weekly review sessions where students can go and ask any questions they may have. He really knows his stuff and provides all his lecture notes online. All the information he test his students on are from the lecture notes, which make the exams very fair.

Richard Stewart
BSCI105

Expecting a B
lrobusto
11/27/2007

Knows his stuff. Very good lectures (he uses powerpoints that he posts online before the lecture) Powerpoints are very straightforward. Bring your laptop to class if possible because he goes through material faster than most can write. Very helpful in Q&A sessions he has every week. Tests are very fair and he gives a practice exam along with an extra credit question for each test before each test. So you always know exactly what is on the test, and how to do the extra credit. Overal very pleasant professor

Judd Nelson
BSCI105

Expecting an A+
Anonymous
11/18/2007

Very easy exam format. Example question: Select all that apply: Cats... A. Say Meow B. Can purr C. Bark D. Know calculus E. Like tuna If you said A B C you would get 3/5... If you selected them all you get 3/5... Basically you get partial credit on every exam question even if you have no idea. I disagree with the reviewer above saying you have to go to class to take these extra credit quizzes. There are 30 pts of extra credit avaliable and the class is out of 800... Its not really worth going to every class. the lectures are incredibly boring, and readin the book is actually more entertaining because the book is written well/

Patricia Shields
BSCI105

emilyes
11/05/2007

One of the happiest professors that I have had at Maryland. Dr. Shields seems to love teaching students and it shows in her lectures. She was also always willing to help students if they needed it. I wish I could have taken more classes from her!

Reviews for BSCI105