BSCI392 | PlanetTerp

Information	Review
John Merck BSCI392 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 07/29/2024	Dr. Merck teaches with contagious passion. His lectures are engaging, entertaining, and genuine change how you understand dinosaurs and other extinct fauna. He is a great guy who is always willing to help you. He regularly gives points back if you make a case for yourself. You are asked to complete several group projects. These weren't my favorite. They required very little effort, just cite some credible sources and your good. I didn't like them because I didn't learn anything from them and I had to deal with other group members contributing minimally. The exams are open note and online you should have plenty of time to complete them. They consist of multiple choice and free response. There is a lot of material to cover for the exam, but again, you have access to all notes during the tests. I strongly recommend this professor if you want to take a fascinating and easy class.
John Merck BSCI392 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/19/2024	This class has a incredibly interesting set of topics, and John Merck is all the more passionate about them. Throughout the whole semester, he was enthusiastic for every single topic and explained even the boring portions in a way that still manages to capture your attention. He's easy to reach and flexible about due dates, and he admits and apologizes for any mistakes he's made. I had this class for three days a week (MWF) for 50 minutes and attendance isn't mandatory, and he posts the lecture slides but doesn't record them. The work load itself wasn't terrible: 3 semester research projects (with individual and group parts, though he says for future semesters he might give two instead), two midterms and one final, all of which were open note, online, and asynchronous.
John Merck BSCI392 Anonymous 05/03/2024	Dr. Merck is a really chill guy, and definitely entertaining in lecture. However, the time crunch on his exam is definitely something to watch out for. You are gonna have to rush if you want to complete them on time, and most of the time, I had to leave the last few questions partially unanswered bc of the time limits. Good news is that they are open note, but if you are relying on searching Powerpoints during the exam, there is no way you are finishing on time.
Bretton Kent BSCI392 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 11/20/2018	One of my favorite professors! He is so interesting and smart and presents everything in a pretty standard, easy to grasp way. He is very accessible outside of class as well. Exams require a lot of studying but are not too difficult.
Bretton Kent BSCI392 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/15/2010	I really loved BSCI392. Dr. Kent is a great lecturer, and the class was fascinating. But be warned that this class is not an easy A -- it might not even be an easy B. He posts his lectures online and they are helpful outlines to study from, but you MUST go to class. There is a ton of information that is not in the PowerPoint and sometimes he'll even hint as to what will be on the final exam. His tests are pretty tough (16 multiple-multiple questions and 2 short answers) but there are two group reconstructions that will boost your grade. If you truly care about the subject, pay attention and study a moderate amount you should get an A. If you skip class a lot and don't study much you will be lucky to get a B. Kent is a very nice person who genuinely cares about us and how well we learn, but he holds us to a high standard. If you are interested in paleobiology (especially vertebrate paleobiology) he will be the perfect professor.

John Merck
BSCI392

Expecting an A+
Anonymous
07/29/2024

Dr. Merck teaches with contagious passion. His lectures are engaging, entertaining, and genuine change how you understand dinosaurs and other extinct fauna. He is a great guy who is always willing to help you. He regularly gives points back if you make a case for yourself. You are asked to complete several group projects. These weren't my favorite. They required very little effort, just cite some credible sources and your good. I didn't like them because I didn't learn anything from them and I had to deal with other group members contributing minimally. The exams are open note and online you should have plenty of time to complete them. They consist of multiple choice and free response. There is a lot of material to cover for the exam, but again, you have access to all notes during the tests. I strongly recommend this professor if you want to take a fascinating and easy class.

John Merck
BSCI392

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/19/2024

This class has a incredibly interesting set of topics, and John Merck is all the more passionate about them. Throughout the whole semester, he was enthusiastic for every single topic and explained even the boring portions in a way that still manages to capture your attention. He's easy to reach and flexible about due dates, and he admits and apologizes for any mistakes he's made. I had this class for three days a week (MWF) for 50 minutes and attendance isn't mandatory, and he posts the lecture slides but doesn't record them. The work load itself wasn't terrible: 3 semester research projects (with individual and group parts, though he says for future semesters he might give two instead), two midterms and one final, all of which were open note, online, and asynchronous.

John Merck
BSCI392

Anonymous
05/03/2024

Dr. Merck is a really chill guy, and definitely entertaining in lecture. However, the time crunch on his exam is definitely something to watch out for. You are gonna have to rush if you want to complete them on time, and most of the time, I had to leave the last few questions partially unanswered bc of the time limits. Good news is that they are open note, but if you are relying on searching Powerpoints during the exam, there is no way you are finishing on time.

Bretton Kent
BSCI392

Expecting an A+
Anonymous
11/20/2018

One of my favorite professors! He is so interesting and smart and presents everything in a pretty standard, easy to grasp way. He is very accessible outside of class as well. Exams require a lot of studying but are not too difficult.

Bretton Kent
BSCI392

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/15/2010

I really loved BSCI392. Dr. Kent is a great lecturer, and the class was fascinating. But be warned that this class is not an easy A -- it might not even be an easy B. He posts his lectures online and they are helpful outlines to study from, but you MUST go to class. There is a ton of information that is not in the PowerPoint and sometimes he'll even hint as to what will be on the final exam. His tests are pretty tough (16 multiple-multiple questions and 2 short answers) but there are two group reconstructions that will boost your grade. If you truly care about the subject, pay attention and study a moderate amount you should get an A. If you skip class a lot and don't study much you will be lucky to get a B. Kent is a very nice person who genuinely cares about us and how well we learn, but he holds us to a high standard. If you are interested in paleobiology (especially vertebrate paleobiology) he will be the perfect professor.

Reviews for BSCI392