Reviews for BSCI201

Information Review
Nelson Bennett
BSCI201

Expecting a B-
Anonymous
03/13/2024
Had professor Bennet last semester, and he was a pretty good professor. His lectures were very content-heavy, and there was a lot of memorization for the exams. However, I think this is an issue with the course itself rather than the professor. He made some jokes in class that some people found uncomfortable, but he made the class entertaining.
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
12/26/2023
Lecture: This class is very passable if you memorize the slides and review material. Most of the test content is directly from the posted slides and reviews sent out a week or so before exams. It's a lot of material, but the exams are fair. On the exams, there will be multiple choice, T/F, and matching. The matching will spell out a phrase. She'll usually give a bonus couple of points on the exams without mentioning it. The final this semester was not cumulative, had a review sheet to study from, and we got 20 bonus points. That being said, there was no curve in the class overall, just on the final. Class was posted videos Mon/Wed and in person on Fri, but all material was on Canvas for reference. Lab: Weekly readings and pre-lab quizzes and maybe 3 or so in-class assignments. The practicals were decently easy as long as you start studying in advance. I'd recommend the posted review quizzes and anki (google it) to study. Overall a manageable class.
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
12/21/2023
TAKE HER IF U ARE GOOD AT MEMORIZING. Her exams are taken straight out of her lecture so when studying remember every SINGLE word on the slide and you should be fine. A&P is not hard and her exams are deff very fair. She has uploaded lecture slides which can be very long and takes hella time to go through. But the class is very do-able.
Maira Goytia
BSCI201

Expecting a B
Anonymous
12/20/2023
Amazing professor that really knows what she is talking about! She is very passionate about the material. You can tell that she really cares about her students and their success in her class. Always available to answer questions and makes exams fair given the large amount of information covered. Would 100% take her again.
Maira Goytia
BSCI201

Expecting a B+
Anonymous
12/19/2023
She is fantastic! Good lecturer and always answers questions well. Provides a study guide for exams and lets you bring a one page of notes for the exams and final. Provided extra credit after exams so that the exam grade average would be around 85%.
Caitlin Fox
BSCI201

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/05/2023
I never met Professor Fox but she was the lab coordinator. The TA's that run the lab sessions are fine the problem is the layout of the labs. You are there for an average time of 40 minutes and just get spit information from slides and basically are told "ok go learn all of it in your free time now". The other very annoying thing was for the practicals the information was not clear at all. You need to severely overstudy to do well in the 201 lab which makes you not feel relieved at all when you finish. For instance, they make you memorize maybe 90 bone markings for there only to be 4 on the exam you have to locate. Overall, just study study study and you can get through this lab. If you are a good memorizer this class is for you!
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting a B
Anonymous
12/01/2023
Lecture exams are multiple-choice, true/false, and matching which is nice. The matching section always spells out a message, so watch out for that. Lab practical exams are not too difficult if you study but a ton of memorization for each one. Be prepared to study.
Maira Goytia
BSCI201

Expecting a B+
Anonymous
11/08/2023
Take her over any professor teaching this class, if you don't you'll regret it. She's extremely understanding and gives multiple opportunities to bring your grade up outside of exams. Provides extra credit and also allows you to bring notes to exams!! If you show up to class and use the resources you'll be fine!
Nelson Bennett
BSCI201

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
05/31/2023
Bennett is the lecturer for anatomy 1 and I thought he did a good job. He made some uncomfortable jokes sometimes but they definitely helped me to remember the material. His exams were difficult but if we didn't get time to cover something in class, he would take it off of the exams. Each exam had a bonus worth 4-6 points. Exams were a mix of multiple choice, fill in the blank, and free response and there were 3 of them in addition to the final. The final was not cumulative in nature. The bonus questions were the only cumulative part of it. Lab for this class was practically nothing. There were only pre-lab assignments and the 3 lab practicals. The practicals were hard and you had to memorize lots of diagrams.
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting a B
Anonymous
05/09/2023
This class is so hard. Get ready to study for like a billion hours for each exam, not to mention there is typically a lab practical (which are all written response) and a lecture exam in the same week, so there is quite a bit of studying to do. Professor Opoku was chill, all of our classes were online and she didn't require us to go to any of them because she posted recordings and resources for us to use for each unit. All lecture exams were online for me but we had to take them in person, all multiple choice/select all that apply/true or false. The lecture exams were significantly harder than the lab practicals, surprisingly, but they weren't impossible, you just have to really know the content in order to be successful. Ultimately, you have to pretty much self teach yourself 90% of the info in this class, but luckily you are provided great resources to do so. Also, with the amount of information you have to know it would be impossible to just simply understand it by watching a lecture. It's mainly vocabulary and memorization which is then applied to understanding physiology. I love this class, and I personally prefer this class structure, but many don't and I can understand why. Don't be scared tho, it's not as bad as literally any chem class.
Sara Lombardi
BSCI201

Expecting an A+
Anonymous
04/05/2023
Dr. Lombardi is an incredible lecturer. Rather than dumping information on to students, she teaches in a way that effectively helps students grasp the material. She is also fair and very clear on her expectations. She is super sweet and always available to provide help and feedback when needed. I highly recommend taking her!
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting a B
Anonymous
04/01/2023
I was skeptical coming into her class because of all the mixed reviews but it's honestly MID rating. She gives SOLID 3-star vibes. I think she is very knowledgable, she knows what she's talking about but it is impossible to listen to her. I'm in her hybrid class so it is videos MW and then the lecture on Friday, and she literally spits out the same things that she goes over in the lecture videos. EXACTLY the same. Honestly it's impressive how she can do it, it's honestly robotic like the person below me has said about the hybrid class but it is so boring. Her lecture exams are literally you study every single detail on the slides and also be able to understand concepts, basically know everything to do good. Our first exam average was so bad that she had to add extra points... If you do well memorizing and you have no other stem classes or a social life you will do well. I agree with others on the lab portion of this class. You need a good TA and just study and memorize and you're good to go. Lab is easier than lecture if you are better at memorizing diagrams and facts vs the concepts of lecture.
Nelson Bennett
BSCI201

Expecting an A
Anonymous
03/07/2023
I personally really liked Bennett's teaching style. He is very entertaining and engaging. He draws things out for the class and explains things thoroughly. His exams are fair, but thorough as well. One of the best STEM professors by far.
Caitlin Fox
BSCI201

Expecting an A
Anonymous
02/24/2023
These reviews are not it. I have had Dr. Fox as a lab coordinator for multiple classes. If you pay attention, read the material, and study the powerpoints you will succeed. She runs the lab so well and teaches her TAs what needs to be emphasized in class (I have been her TA for multiple semesters.)
Nelson Bennett
BSCI201

Expecting a B
Anonymous
02/14/2023
I prefer him over Lombardi. He goes at a steady pace and will tell you what will be on the exam. I know a lot of people really like Lombardi's way of teaching but she can definitely rush whereas Bennet does not have that problem.
Nelson Bennett
BSCI201

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
01/07/2023
he made the content very easy to understand. go to class, take notes, and study a lot. his exams are fairly easy if you study 1-2 weeks in advance.
Nelson Bennett
BSCI201

Anonymous
12/23/2022
Bennett is a good professor. Yes, he sometimes tells wildly inappropriate stories, but he explains concepts really well and his exams are borderline easy. Many people including myself were frustrated because he is not the professor we signed up for, but he really is not a bad professor or an unfair guy. Some reviews here are also just mad that he did not tell us exactly what question he was going to ask us on the free response which is unfair to even expect from him. He is really straightforward and you will have access to all of the knowledge you need for anatomy 1.
Nelson Bennett
BSCI201

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/23/2022
I really enjoyed this class. He does tell inappropriate jokes throughout his lecture, but it kinda helps you remember lecture content better. The objectives are pretty pointless. The exams are very doable if you attend every lecture and are constantly studying the new material. I also recommend making a practice exam for yourself for the final.
Nelson Bennett
BSCI201

Expecting a B
Anonymous
12/22/2022
Dr. Bennett is an interesting professor who can sometimes make individuals uncomfortable. He is one of those professors you like or absolutely despise, depending on your personality. Dr. Bennett can be pretty difficult to contact, so if you need extra help, I would recommend building a relationship with your TA. This class is very straightforward with just exams. He does not curve, which is normal for these classes and can make classes boring. As a lecturer, he is very boring and can crack some uncomfortable jokes. During lectures, he draws a lot of diagrams which is helpful, but when he just goes over slides, it can be unorganized. His topics do not always align with lab, so it can be pretty repetitive or annoying trying to study 2 different topics. Honestly, I don't show up to lectures often, as I found myself dozing off or losing concentration in class. I would recommend just going over the slides and the objective page he provides on your own time, which is very helpful. His exams are straightforward, so as long as you understand his objective sheet, you'll be ok. Cramming for this class before exams can make this class extremely difficult, so I would recommend putting a moderate amount of effort into studying this class. Overall Dr. Bennett is not a spectacular professor, but not the worst. As long as you find the topics interesting and have good time management and studying strategies, you'll be fine. This class has ALOT of memorization, so make sure to take notes, make flashcards, and practice. Be prepared to work your ass off if you want an A.
Nelson Bennett
BSCI201

Anonymous
12/17/2022
If you have the opportunity to take anatomy with another professor, do it. Bennett makes this class A LOT harder than it needs to be. He bounces around with his slides in lecture which can be very confusing, and he tries to make jokes throughout the class, but they are very uncomfortable. The objective lists that he provides for each unit does not cover all of the material that will be on the exams. And the most frustrating thing that Bennett does is that he will tell us specific things that will be on the exams and that we should spend a lot of time studying, but then when we are actually taking the exam, the things that he told us that are important aren't even on there. I highly recommend that you put in 110% into this class by consistently reading the lab manual and going to GSS each week if you want to get a decent grade in this class.
Nelson Bennett
BSCI201

Expecting an A
Anonymous
11/16/2022
Bennett is definitely an interesting guy... but I've actually really enjoyed his class - he is constantly making real life connections to lecture content and I feel like he moves at a good pace. He does skip around the slides a lot but if you go through after, all the information is there that you need to know. The exams are a lot of information but that's expected of anatomy - if you put in the effort that you know this class is going to take, his exams are actually quite manageable and pretty easy. He's decently good at simplifying concepts, and his drawings during class help to visualize structures and their processes. I recommend him as an anatomy prof, just be prepared for some really cringy, out-of-pocket jokes.
Nelson Bennett
BSCI201

Anonymous
11/09/2022
Huge agreement with the review from 11/03. To be honest, I think he's one of the better STEM professors I've taken. I have really enjoyed in his lectures and his exams are pretty fair based on the content that he expects you to know. Some of his jokes are a little uncomfortable, but they're also sometimes funny. I have friends taking the other professor, and I am definitely really glad I had Bennet for Anatomy 1. Some of his lecture slides I feel overcomplicate certain processes, but overall, I think his lectures are decent. He also tried his best to match his lectures with the anatomy labs so that when we started something in lab, we had a little background from lecture. I've been going to lectures consistently up until recently, and honestly, going to lectures does make things easier because he goes over the content in greater summary, but I think you'll also be fine if you just sit and grind the slides. I will say that I wish we had some sort of practice exam before, just to get a better idea of what we'll be tested on. This class is mostly memorization and it's not as bad as everyone in these reviews is making it seem.
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Anonymous
11/03/2022
honestly i really like this class. i feel like im able to teach myself the content in decent time, and i really appreciate that the topics between lab and lecture so heavily overlap. since theyre considered one class, you have quite a few exams. but, i really have no major issues w the course or dr. opoku. the slides are always easy to understand. and opoku does give you everything you need to succeed for the lecture exams.
Nelson Bennett
BSCI201

Expecting an A
Anonymous
11/03/2022
Don't listen to any dramatized views. He does not curve most of all which is probably the reason for those low ratings. However this is an anatomy class, and the course has never been curved. He is a really good professor. Explain things in a simple context. It is not a hard class if you put the work in. His tests are actually not difficult, it's literally everything in his slides or objectives. Most people complaining are those who are not doing well :) His jokes can be a little uncomfy but you'll get through them
Nelson Bennett
BSCI201

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
11/02/2022
Please dont listen to any dramatized reviews. His exams are straightforward. They are what comes out of his mouth, what is on his slides and most importantly the objectives. The effort you put into the class will determine how you do. He does not curve which no anatomy class has ever been curved which is not a surprise. His exams are not difficult if you put in the work. His jokes can be a little uncomfy during lectures but overall he explains things in a very simple context.
Nelson Bennett
BSCI201

Expecting a W
Anonymous
11/01/2022
Good lecturer? Yes. Looking to slide by without studying every day? Good luck. But honestly, I love the lectures, and he makes them interesting. This class taught me hard work, yet I still had to withdraw... Overall, he's a good option for a professor, but this class will be a wake-up call if you're not used to studying a ton. This class is entirely memorization. He was correct when he said 3 hours a day at minimum for an A.
Nelson Bennett
BSCI201

Anonymous
11/01/2022
I really like his teaching style, he likes to draw pictures to help understand the content which is something that works for me. His exams are very fair, if you pay attention and put in the work he is a great teacher. The only negative thing is that he often jumps around the lecture slides and may ramble on specific topics. But overall I would definitely recommend him as a teacher.
Nelson Bennett
BSCI201

Anonymous
10/31/2022
Inaccurately preps students for exams, makes multiple choice questions confusing purposefully. Anatomy is a pretty straightforward subject but the way he teaches and his lecture exams make it pretty difficult. Would recommend taking someone else if you can!!
Nelson Bennett
BSCI201

Expecting an A
Anonymous
10/31/2022
I love Dr. Bennett's teaching style. He doesn't go slide by slide but bounces around to set up foundational knowledge that is super helpful for understanding concepts in the long run. Anatomy is definitely a difficult class but he gives you realistic expectations and an objectives list that is super useful for studying. Exams are long and specific but mostly fair. He makes a lot of innuendo-laced jokes that can be hit or miss, but definitely are memorable (which he says is his goal, so students remember content). My only complaint is that he doesn't record lectures or have a zoom option. I would definitely take him again.
Nelson Bennett
BSCI201

Anonymous
09/22/2022
I like the way he teaches. He explains things very well but he does go off on tangents sometimes. He tells you everything you need to know in lecture but does not record his lectures, so if you don't go to lecture you're kinda screwed. He makes funny jokes to keep the class entertained and awake. He also connects the information to things in the world.
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Anonymous
03/30/2022
Bro... one of the worst professors I've had. The way the class is structured, she reads straight from the PowerPoints (which are very disorganized) and then writes down "relevant" information (which is really just reiterating what was on the PowerPoint) on paper. The amount of paper she uses has probably killed an entire forest. The information she writes down is also very disorganized. There are no supplemental assignments, so your entire grade rests on the lecture exams, lab practicals, and pre-lab quizzes. Her exams are based on memory but you really need to memorize EVERYTHING because they are so specific. There is a huge amount of material as well so this is not that easy. She may be very knowledgeable but she is not a good lecturer at all.
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/02/2021
Okay heres the deal. For anyone on the fence between Opoku or Lombardi, either is a good choice but it depends on your learning style. Opoku does not do lecture well at all BUT all the stuff you need to know on the exam is in her powerpoints/from notes you take during class. So if you don't have a problem with self-study, this is a super easy class. TBH all the bad reviews are probably bc their teaching style is more of a lecture type (nothing wrong with that) but with Opoku you need to take time to study and quiz yourself on the material and you will do fine. On my exams I got 89 to 95s and all I did was cram 4-3 days before (I don't recommend doing this) but all i would do is take notes from the powerpoint and use quizlet and thats it lol. Although I didn't have Lombardi I went to her lectures before I had to switch out and she does lecture really well BUT her exams are less memorization and more application (so I've heard) so if that's more of your style then you should probably take Lombardi. For my Opoku gang, I was forced to take her bc of schedule conflicts and i was so upset abt it but I ended up really liking it just bc I find straight memorization easier than application. Literally everything on the exam will be straight from the powerpoints and its straight memorization. STRAIGHT MEMORIZAION. I promise. there's multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and matching (the letters form a sentence). As long as you get the gist of how some things relate to each other and how she words it on the powerpoints you will do fine. The class in general learned how her exams are formatted and the average went from a 60 to an 80. So if you start studying the first time and you will do fine on the first exam and get ahead of the class. Lab wise it depends on the TA, mine would take half the lab time and she was really lenient with answers so unfortunately you cant really control that but overall the lab practicals are also straight memorization but you NEED to study. Just reviewing wont be enough. Its hard. I got 90s on all of mine but I also studied on quizlet throughout the week and tried to connect information together. If you can push yourself to study as much as you can and have some self-control to set aside time to study, you can probably get 80-90s on each practical. Its definitely not impossible. Overall, its an okay class but if you are not willing to put in the work, you're gonna end up regretting taking the class. Its doable I promise. I wish I could answer any questions you guys might have bc it was a rollercoaster for me and I wish I could help you guys more. But for now, you got this. GOOD LUCK!!!
Caitlin Fox
BSCI201

Anonymous
10/31/2021
Unorganized, and does not specifically outline what needs to be learnt for lab practicals.
Hao Yiu
BSCI201

Anonymous
02/22/2021
Hao is excellent, moves quickly but structures lab in a way that is very helpful for repetition and recollection of material.
Sara Lombardi
BSCI201

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/22/2020
She is very helpful with understanding concepts although she does talk fast. She also tests on stuff she SAYS in class and not just what's written on the board. She also gives some lecture assignments. Very energetic and makes the class go by fast.
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting a B-
Anonymous
04/16/2020
Opoku is an okay professor. The class itself isn't that bad, but her exams can be really tricky. The multiple-choice, which is 1/3 of the exams, is tricky as you have to pay attention to the wording. However, if you take notes on what she writes, you should do okay on the exam. Also, there are bonus points embedded within her exam. On a different note, her handwriting is terrible, so it is hard to read. Also, she talks extremely fast and has an accent, so it's difficult to understand what she is saying.
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting a B
Anonymous
11/13/2019
If you have to take this class for your major and need a good grade, Opoku is very much fine as her exams are fair and have plenty of easy extra credit questions. HOWEVER, her lecture style is drier than the Sahara Desert and if you cannot endure the idea of looking at her absolutely terrible hand written notes on a projector that goes faster than you can type for EVERY SINGLE LECTURE, do not take this class. To give you an idea of how horrible the lecture experience is, my TA recommended me to record every lecture while writing down notes, then listen back to the lecture again and fill out the unavoidable blanks you will have on your notes because she writes in supersonic speeds. A&P is already a dry subject, but my god Opoku's lectures suck even the smallest molecule of water out of the content and what you have left is literally just copying words from the projector to your notes. ALSO, everything she hand writes will be on the exam, but when she lectures and writes at the same time her sentences are fragmented to hell, with long pauses between each word as she speaks while she writes. Imagine, instead of "mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell", you get "mitochondria -- is -- the -- powerhouse -- of -- the -- cell". This makes the lecture very disorienting as the most important parts of the contents are spoken in a way that is hard to comprehend as one whole sentence, especially when she's talking about cause and effect stuff like functions of mechanisms.
Sara Lombardi
BSCI201

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
12/21/2017
Professor Lombardi is honestly one of the best biology professors I've had at this school. She tries really hard to make everything as clear as possible and you can definitely get at least a B during the class exams by just looking through the powerpoints. Professor Lombardi also gives tips for the lab section of the class, and offers a max of 10 points of extra credit. The class is out of 1000, so it's 1% of extra credit, but it's better than nothing. She's really strict about her cut offs though so a 895/1000 won't be rounded up to a 900/1000.
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting an A-
WhimsicalTerp
07/06/2015
*Dr. Opoku is a solid OK* This is a review for her summer course Temperament: 1.Dr. Opoku is pretty nice unless you have a question regarding her lecture. Like a reviewer below me said -- she will shut you down REAL quick. She can get kind of mean if you question her in the slightest. 2.She has some serious issues regarding body image. She makes some pretty awful jokes regarding skinny girls such as "oh, well you'll get osteoporosis meanwhile us big boned girls wont." It really made me and the rest of the class uncomfortable-- considering most of the class was girls. 3. Unless you're willing to sit through her ranting for 30 min, do NOT ask her about basic research. You've been warned. Grading/Lecture: 1.She does not curve. Her class is out of 1000 points. With two exams and a final. (final is not cumulative.) She also has these "summary sheets" that are 30+ easy points. DO THESE. Half of the class points come from lab, which has a MASSIVE amount of information. Learn the diagrams by heart and use the power points given by the TA's during lab. 3. She writes her notes on an overhead projector like in middle school. Her handwriting is AWFUL and she writes unbelievably fast. I would suggest either bringing a laptop or prepare to get wrist cramps. 4. Her exams are fairly ok, if you went to class. They come straight from her notes. so no book necessary here. 5. Her exams consist of multiple choice, T/F, short answer, and a matching that creates a phrase. 5. She has tons of extra credit points! (hence no curve) Study Tips: This class has a lot of material and she will ask you on everything she talked about in class. She hates the book(even though she uses it) and usually has slides that are from the book just to say "NOPE this is not the right thing. " So, I would suggest going to class. This class is totally doable and not really that hard if you take the time necessary to look at her notes. She's nothing special, a 3/5.
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting an A
Anonymous
06/06/2015
OPOKU IS BAE. Literally this woman is a queen, and her outfits slay the game. On point every single class. Lecture exams aren't bad, just be on top of your stuff. I got A's on all of them. I think my lowest test grade was a 91 on the final. Yeah, so they're not hard, just study and you'll be fine hahah I don't understand how people were getting D's an F's on them when they're really not difficult as long as you prepared yourself. Overall, lecture is pretty good and it's a fun environment. Opoku likes to make jokes and talk about her kids and her life in general, so you always left lecture with a smile even if you were learning about atherosclerotic plaques or synchondroses or some other seemingly boring topic. Lab, however, is a different story. I've gotten the general gist that with Opoku, Lecture is okay, and lab is awful, and with Lombardi it's the opposite. This is very true for Opoku, but not as bad as it seems. With lab, you just have to know a LOT more information for the practicals than you do for lecture exams. There are 4 practicals: tissues and cells, skin and bones, muscles, and the nervous system/senses + endocrine system. I got a 94, 83, 86, and 100, respectively. Know. Your. Shit. There is no way else that you'll be able to make it through. Your lab experience will also be defined by your TA. My TA was very sweet and lenient when appropriate. Instead of asking us to identify more challenging muscle origins/insertions like the brachioradialis or tensor fasciae latae, she'd give "easier" ones like....deltoid or gluteus maximus, that everyone knows haha. The first practical is a piece of cake. Once it gets to the skeletal/muscular practicals, the volume of information to know SKYROCKETS, but you can do it. Honestly, above all, this is a bio course, and ALL of biology is just memorization. So if you're good at that, this class isn't a problem. Also, don't forget to do the 7 online prelab quizzes. They're online and open note, and probably the easiest 70 points to earn in this 1000-point class. I think I ended up with a 56/70 cus I got 8/10 on a few and I forgot to do one before the deadline. But honestly, don't lose petty points on easy things like prelab quizzes. ALSO, she doesn't curve at the ended since literally 1/5 of every exam/assignment is extra credit. So if you're at a 89.999999% in the end, and your TA isn't nice, expect to get a B+. I had a 92.95% (which is an A-) and thank GOD my TA gave me a straight A, but some aren't so nice. Overall, you can get an A in this class if you put in the work. It's not that big of a commitment for a 4-credit course. And Opoku is the queen of everything, so that makes it 10x more enjoyable. I highly recommend taking this!
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting an A
jt29
05/10/2015
At first I freaked out about this class because there were a lot of reviews saying it was really hard BUT, the class isn't hard, you just need to put in the effort. The first exam is a wake up call because you realize just how much information you are expected to know for the exam. After that, alter your studying style appropriately and put in enough time and you'll do well! She gives SO much extra credit on tests and in lab, I ended up having over 100% in the class which i never thought was possible. Make sure you study a lot, about a week before the exam at the very least. My studying style was to go through class notes and the lecture slides and make index cards for every topic/term and then go through them a bunch until i knew everything. Making the index cards takes up half of the studying time but trust me its worth it in the end and makes studying so much more effective and easier. Make sure to go to class or you will miss important notes! And study just as much for the lab practical! they have alot of info on them. The third practical nearly killed my brain.
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting a B
catscatscats
12/05/2014
Dr. Opoku is a really cool teacher and always made me smile in class. She knows a lot about the material and says everything at least twice in lecture, which helps you remember it. She handwrites notes rather than putting it all on a powerpoint, which is good and bad. It's good because you can see the thought process that goes into something rather than just a solid block of text to look at. It's also good for any diagrams that she needs to show us. However, sometimes it's hard to read her handwriting or if you miss something you can't go look on the slides later. It also sucks when you can't make it to lecture, because she puts most of the important information into the parts that she handwrites. She will tell you questions that she always asks on the exams and she does not try to trick you on them. They have a matching section that spells out a phrase which is awesome. Also, the final is not cumulative which is very helpful in a course that has as much information as this. The lab was the hardest part of this course. The info wasn't lined up with the lecture info, so you were basically teaching yourself names and processes and then two weeks later Opoku goes over it in lecture and you finally understand it, after you've already taken the practical. I think the amount of information you need to know for the last couple practicals is entirely too much, I got B+ on the first two and a D+ on the third, and I don't feel very confident for the 4th. Overall, this is a tough course but I think Dr. Opoku does a really great job with it.
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting a B
Anonymous
04/15/2014
she's a very definite OK. The class itself is very time consuming, and her lecture style is weird. Her handwriting is terrible, i repeat, TERRIBLE. Shes a fair tester, HOWEVER if you every disagree with anything she'll immediately shut you down, and even laugh in your face. Like i said prior, a very firm mediocre.
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Crystal Choi
07/08/2012
I love Dr. Opoku! I had her for Summer Term I and am expecting B+ (hopefully an A-). Opoku is a very fair professor, and although she doesn't curve, she gives a lot of extra credit on her exams and take home assignments. I definitely put a little more effort into this class than I did in some of my other science courses - just because getting an A in this class is very possible. Attend all her lectures and keep up with your notes. Personally, I typed up, re-organized, and printed my notes toward the end of each week and reviewed the info days before each exam/practical. Study everything before you look at the review sheets and do the practice exams - the study sheets were helpful in highlighting key areas of focus, but I felt more comfortable studying everything. Like I said, Opoku doesn't curve, but she does help you out. She adds like 10-20 extra credit points onto each exam and the matching section spells out a phrase, making it almost impossible to eff up. And her handwriting sucks at first, but you get used to it. The practicals were a little harder to study for. They were mostly straight up memorization (ID'ing structures and functions) so pneumonic devices will definitely help. Considering there aren't review sheets for these - study everything. Also, I didn't buy the textbook, and I don't recommend that you do. Just write good notes and save yourself like $100! :)
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting a B+
Anonymous
06/08/2012
Opoku is a great for bsci201 and i wish she still taught bsci202 because obrien is horrible for 202. opoku's exams are straight from the powerpoints so just memorize those and you are good to go. she has matching on her exams for 20 points which also spells out a word so if you are stuck on 2 and have some blanks you can figure it out based on the word which makes for an easy 20 points.
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

erika_14
12/26/2011
Get ready to write... a LOT. Dr Opoku basically has the powerpoint up in lecture and writes down allll her notes by marker directly onto the screen. By the end of lecture you'll have like 3 pages of handwritten notes. You have to be paying attention, or you'll miss important info.. or you can just be like 1 of those people who mass email the whole class lol. Opoku's exams are okay if you really know the exam outline she posts. Beware of lab. Lab is incredibly overwhelming at times and will absolutely suck if you have a bad TA. Be ready to memorize a lot of terms and locations on the body (muscles and bones practicals were hardest) and don't wait til the last minute to study. Goodluck!
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/24/2011
absolutely nicest professor, hands down. she gives so many chances for extra credit. review her slides/notes and you'll be fine on her exams. like everyone said, lab is a big part so make sure you study ALOT for lab practicals.
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting an A
ycha
12/12/2011
Dr. Opoku is a great professor. You must come to class, however, to take the notes (or ask a classmate for the notes you missed). By studying from the notes, you can easily get a high A on her lecture exams. That doesn't mean that the material is easy! Worry more the lab practicals because you have to memorize, for instance, 80 muscles and their respective origins, insertions, and functions for one practical. You will likely be getting A's on the lecture exams, B's/C's on the lab practicals. Her accent is confusing at first, but easier to understand as the year goes on. In all honesty, you don't even have to listen to what she says--just write down what she writes on the slides and you're good to go!
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Anonymous
05/04/2011
I love Dr. Opoku! She doesn't overwhelm students with too much material but instead focuses on student's knowing the topics well. She's friendly and really easy-going. She gives you all the resources you need (without a textbook) to do well on the exams. She is very reasonable; you get the grade you deserve based on how much you study and how much you come to class. Coming to class is a must though! One flaw is that class can get boring and sometimes she writes her notes too fast so it can get annoying to keep up but you can always record the lectures to get any notes you missed.
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting an A
Anonymous
01/07/2011
I love Dr. Opoku! She is much easier than professor O'brien, maybe not in terms of content, but Opoku's exams are easier. She gives a review sheet and practice exam before every exam which really helps! Not the mention she has a good sense of humor and charm. She recently started using powerpoints in class, along with the notes she writes down on the overhead. Even though she says you must get the notes she writes down and come to class everyday, its not THAT important. Majority of the info comes from powerpoints...so study the powerpoints word for word too! Any anatomy class is a lot of work, so just give yourself time to study...because this stuff isn't difficult, its pure memorization!
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting a B
cmstillings
12/25/2010
Opoku is a great teacher. She wants all of her students to succeed. If you utilize her office hours and get to know her she will definitely push you up and help you if you are on the borderline. Start this early though because she really does make a difference and lets you know what you need to study. Yes, at first her accent is tough to understand, but if you have any background knowledge about anatomy you will understand. If you are confused ask her about it in office hours or ask a TA. TA's dont really help in this class because none of them usually are human anatomy grad students. Mine was a flower evolutionist...but she did help anyone to her best ability. The textbook is not necessary but the lab manual is. I also suggest you take pictures of the models in lab for the lab practicals. For both the test and the lab, do not leave studying until the last minute, especially if this is not your only lab class. I took micro with this class (7 hours of lab a week total) and the tests often fell within the same week. If you start studying and memorizing early you should do fine. All in all, the class can be tough but very interesting. And just like all classes utilize the teacher and you will do great, especially with Opoku
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/24/2010
Yeah, yeah, everyone knows how amazing Dr. Opoku is - she's nice, warm, funny, intelligent, and all-in-all, a great teacher. You should take her over anyone else for any class you might take with her. ONE IMPORTANT THING I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR is about the LAB PORTION of the class. The class is 4 credits, but really, at least 2 of them should be lab. Spend time in lab going over lab models and memorizing EVERYTHING. Do a little bit each week to prepare for the 3 lab practicals. I got like a 75 on the first one and was devastated, but I ended up getting a 98 on the last one. WORK HARD ON LAB and be prepared for its' difficulty. Its a lot harder than lecture.
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/19/2010
Dr. Opoku is the best. Take BSCI201 with her! I have never had a teacher who actually wanted his/her students to succeed as much as Dr. Opoku did. I often went to her during office hours and she was extremely helpful. Although there is not real curve in the class, her tests are pretty much just spit-back, so memorize the notes she puts up on the board and you'll succeed. She is an amazingly warm teacher who really wants her students to do well. I would take her in a heartbeat if she taught other classes which I need.
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting a B
Anonymous
12/17/2010
Opoku was a better choice overall (other choice was O'Brien, and that wasn't going to be any better). She basically writes on the projector the ENTIRE class, but I suggest you buy the whole semester of notes from Terpnotes or something. Your hand will be sooooo tired by the end class that I see people constantly having to stop to take a break! Also, her handwriting is illegible, so you're bound to have gaps in your notes (make sure to sit next to a friend to decipher what she is writing). Anyways, her accent is super annoying and takes some getting used to (I never did). Yes, she may be nice, but I really don't see what the other reviewers are talking about. She's just OK. The course material is very interesting, but there is A LOT of information so don't cram! The labs are easy, and same goes for the practicals during labs, do NOT cram. Don't waste your money on the textbook either, but the Lab manual is a must.
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Anonymous
04/13/2010
Opoku is one of the most intelligent professors in Maryland. She lectures based on knowledge instead of using pre-made powerpoint slides. Most professors come to class prepared with powerpoint slides, and spend most of their time reading directly off the slides. Opoku does not need to do this because she knows the material. There are a few cons to her class though. First off, she writes very quickly, and sometimes, her handwriting is illegible. You would obviously have to attend class because she does not post her notes online. Take her class with a friend in case you miss class and need to obtain notes. Her exam questions come directly from her notes, so it is unnecessary to purchase the textbook. Unfortunately, some of her exam questions are quite detailed so understanding the "big picture" is not sufficient enough to do well on her exams. You need to know the little details too. Overall, Opoku is very willing to help. Her accent takes some time to get used to, but eventually, you'll adjust to it. Do not cram for this class.
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Anonymous
01/04/2010
I really enjoyed the class, just make sure you review her notes and you will be fine for the exam and the final...one got me was the lab, it was very hard but I even prepared a week before the lab practical, I suggest you start way earlier then that. I really enjoyed the nervous system lab(my favorite) and the bone practical and muscle practical were very hard but please study really hard for it Good Luck! :) she is a great professor
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting an A
terpof2011
12/01/2009
Opoku is one of the best professors I've had so far in college. She is incredibly nice and the most willing person I've ever come across to help with her students' concerns. She will stay way after lecture to discuss exam questions and corrections. She has an accent, so it takes a few days to get used to the way she pronounces words. However, she basically nullifies this fact by writing out every word that comes out of her mouth...you can't possibly miss a piece of information if you pay attention. A piece of advice: DON'T TAKE YOUR NOTES ON A COMPUTER!!! Yes, the class is INTENSE amounts of hand-written notes and your hand will hurt for the first couple of lectures, but you will thank yourself later in the course if you take notes by hand. Opoku is extremely organized, and knows practically everything about human anatomy and physiology. The best thing about her teaching style is that she makes her own comments about everything, explaining why and how things happen beyond what she expects you to know. It is true you really don't NEED the textbook, but it is a fabulous text and explains things extremely well--it's more of a reference book for studying--I highly recommend it. Her exams are all multiple choice and short answer, so you need to own the information to do well. If you DO NOT PROCRASTINATE on studying and pay a lot of attention to her in class, you will do very well. Lastly, DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT MAKE FLASHCARDS TO HELP YOU STUDY. Your stack of cards will be miles high in 2 seconds. Instead, re-write your notes and draw pictures to help remember things.
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting an A
sandali1
05/25/2009
So here's how you get an A in 201 and 202 without working very hard... First off, don't waste your money buying the textbook because the course is based on lecture notes. Next, go to bookholders and pay for the entire semesters notes (going to class is pretty pointless and if you've read any of the reviews we are not lying about taking notes the entire lecture). About 3 or 4 days before the exam start memorizing. The exams are very simple in that there are no trick questions and almost no thinking outside the box. Dr. Opoku basically wants to see how much information you can retain and then regurgitate in 50 minutes. The science is very basic for a 200 level course but the volume of information is what can make this class difficult. With that being said, DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT procrastinate. If you give yourself 3 days of memorizing you will ace the exams. Dr. Opoku is incredibly nice and easy to talk to so I definitely recommend going to her office hours to get to know her. She is incredibly intelligent and loves to discuss physiology and medicine so if you have a question, chances are she can answer it.
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Anonymous
12/15/2008
This professor is really great. She is intense and it is alot of work, but I really enjoyed the class. She literally writes on the overhead for the whole class and you copy it down. It makes your hand tired, but she is intersting. The lab is alot of work too... tonnnnns of memorizing, but if you put in the time, it is doable. The book is unnecessary. The lab manual is necessary.
Justicia Opoku-Edusei
BSCI201

Expecting an A
Anonymous
02/05/2008
She is a great teacher. I would take any course she taught. She is funny and really makes the subject interesting.