BSCI400 | PlanetTerp

Information	Review
Alexandra Bely BSCI400 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/13/2025	This is the first time I've left a review for a teacher, and I want to say that she is probably one of the best professors I've had at UMD. I was surprised to see some negative reviews for her. I found that she was very accommodating as long as you explained why you needed extra time for an assignment. The assignments didn't take that long either, most were reading the textbook and writing about what you read. The course wasn't difficult as long as you reviewed and I found the tests to be very reasonable. It did feel at times more memorization based, which if that is something you struggle with I wouldn't recommend this class. However as someone who was not confident about learning all the animal phyla in the first day of class and felt a little overwhelmed, I can confidently say that I know pretty much all of them and their key characteristics. If you need an ecology credit, I would definitely recommend this class. If you don't care about animals and have a hard time memorizing things, I would probably say this class isn't for you.
Alexandra Bely BSCI400 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 07/30/2024	Dr. Bely is one of the best professors I have taken at UMD. BSCI400 was fascinating and truly changed how I understand animals! I am shocked to read some of these reviews about her because they simply are not true. She is incredibly nice and understanding and always willing to work with her students. She genuinely cares about everyone's experience. She teaches the concepts well and gives memorable examples. She provides all of the powerpoints and gives practice exams. Many of the questions on the practice exam are on the actual exams. It is mandatory that you read the textbook because there are summary assignments you need to complete. The textbook is easy to read and she often gives you options about which sections you read. She drops the lowest exam grade. I had such a great experience in her class, I signed up to take her the next semester. It genuinely didn't matter what she was teaching, I just wanted to spend more time in her class. I strongly recommend taking her classes!
Alexandra Bely BSCI400 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/27/2024	She’s such an awful professor I think the recent reviews sum it up. The exams are super hard and she’s terrible at explaining (bad lecturer)
Alexandra Bely BSCI400 Expecting an A Anonymous 09/11/2023	DON'T TAKE HER CLASS- SHE'S REALLY BORING AND THERE'S A LOT OF MATERIAL. I thought this was supposed to be an easy BSCI4XX class but I was dismayed to find out how hard the exams were and she doesn't explain things well in class.
Alexandra Bely BSCI400 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/14/2022	TAKE HER CLASS!! She’s so nice and accommodating, seriously one of the best professors I’ve had. She helps you so much throughout the entire class and never once looks down at you if you’re struggling. There’s a lot of material, but if you make flash cards and study beforehand you should be able to get an A easily. Also go to her office hours if you can, she’s super helpful!

Alexandra Bely
BSCI400

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/13/2025

This is the first time I've left a review for a teacher, and I want to say that she is probably one of the best professors I've had at UMD. I was surprised to see some negative reviews for her. I found that she was very accommodating as long as you explained why you needed extra time for an assignment. The assignments didn't take that long either, most were reading the textbook and writing about what you read. The course wasn't difficult as long as you reviewed and I found the tests to be very reasonable. It did feel at times more memorization based, which if that is something you struggle with I wouldn't recommend this class. However as someone who was not confident about learning all the animal phyla in the first day of class and felt a little overwhelmed, I can confidently say that I know pretty much all of them and their key characteristics. If you need an ecology credit, I would definitely recommend this class. If you don't care about animals and have a hard time memorizing things, I would probably say this class isn't for you.

Alexandra Bely
BSCI400

Expecting an A+
Anonymous
07/30/2024

Dr. Bely is one of the best professors I have taken at UMD. BSCI400 was fascinating and truly changed how I understand animals! I am shocked to read some of these reviews about her because they simply are not true. She is incredibly nice and understanding and always willing to work with her students. She genuinely cares about everyone's experience. She teaches the concepts well and gives memorable examples. She provides all of the powerpoints and gives practice exams. Many of the questions on the practice exam are on the actual exams. It is mandatory that you read the textbook because there are summary assignments you need to complete. The textbook is easy to read and she often gives you options about which sections you read. She drops the lowest exam grade. I had such a great experience in her class, I signed up to take her the next semester. It genuinely didn't matter what she was teaching, I just wanted to spend more time in her class. I strongly recommend taking her classes!

Alexandra Bely
BSCI400

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/27/2024

She’s such an awful professor I think the recent reviews sum it up. The exams are super hard and she’s terrible at explaining (bad lecturer)

Alexandra Bely
BSCI400

Expecting an A
Anonymous
09/11/2023

DON'T TAKE HER CLASS- SHE'S REALLY BORING AND THERE'S A LOT OF MATERIAL. I thought this was supposed to be an easy BSCI4XX class but I was dismayed to find out how hard the exams were and she doesn't explain things well in class.

Alexandra Bely
BSCI400

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/14/2022

TAKE HER CLASS!! She’s so nice and accommodating, seriously one of the best professors I’ve had. She helps you so much throughout the entire class and never once looks down at you if you’re struggling. There’s a lot of material, but if you make flash cards and study beforehand you should be able to get an A easily. Also go to her office hours if you can, she’s super helpful!

Reviews for BSCI400