Margaret Scull

This professor has taught: BISI899, BSCI330, BSCI437, CBMG688K, CBMG688X

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Margaret Scull BSCI437 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 01/10/2026	Scull is awesome. She is a super nice professor who actually listens and cares about her students. The content is not overwhelming, but you really need to know it inside and out to do well. As mentioned in other reviews, your grade is essentially just exams so review review review! Lecture can be dry, but I think she is aware of that and does her best to make the content palatable. Also, the last quarter of the semester is filled with guest lecturers which was a nice change up. Overall, this is an extremely manageable bio course that rewards you for the work that you put in.
Margaret Scull BSCI437 Expecting an A Anonymous 01/02/2026	This class was great and Dr. Scull is amazing, super passionate about viruses, and obviously invested in people doing well in the course. I don't think I found the course as easy as other posters, the short answer format of the tests can be daunting and I was a few years out from a cell bio class, but I still managed to get an A. The lack of homework gives you a lot of time to study the slides and understand the concepts. The assignments that you do have to do are pretty simple, and you have a free reign with some of them so you can do something that interests you. Easily one of the best courses I've taken at UMD.
Margaret Scull BSCI437 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/24/2025	Dr. Scull is literally the best! It's very clear that she wants all her students to succeed, and she is always super approachable if you have questions. She's extremely knowledgeable and is always open to questions. We had 3 midterms and 1 final, and for some reason, everyone tanked the first midterm, so she gave extra credit on the second midterm, and the median was literally 100%. The averages for every other exam was high B's or low A's, so it's a really chill class, but you learn so much. She also seems so passionate about everything she teaches, which also made me really invested too. Overall, it's an interesting class, and the professor is great.
Margaret Scull BSCI437 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 01/22/2025	Scull is the best!! I hope everyone out there gets the chance to take this class--it's chill and enjoyable. Three midterms, one final, and a handful of other really simple assignments. Course was out of 275 pts (each midterm was 50 pts, final was 75 pts), but you also have the option to write an extra credit essay for 5 more pts. Content-wise, some of it is super interesting and some of it is a tad dry but overall still easy to follow and engaging. Also all of her exams only consist of short answer questions (but you write like 1-2 sentences max for each one); each midterm was one page front and back and final was two pages front and back. Final was not cumulative; half of it was content learned after the third midterm and the other half was questions regarding a virus of your choice (so you just had to pick one virus discussed in class and study it). She always spent the lecture before each exam doing a review Jeopardy game. No curve on exams, but exam averages would be like 85-90%. Scull doesn't make your life difficult in this class, and she's super passionate about everything she teaches you!
Margaret Scull BSCI437 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/17/2024	Dr. Scull is the GOAT!!!!!! She did an amazing job teaching this class, which reignited my interest in microbiology and virology. There are three midterm exams and one final exam consisting only of short answer questions. The course is graded out of 275 points, so every point truly matters. Additionally, she offers an extra credit assignment where you can write a brief essay about a research paper of your choice. This is one of the best courses I have taken at UMD, and I highly recommend it with this excellent professor.
Margaret Scull BSCI437 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/15/2024	Dr. Scull is amazing! She is definitely passionate about this subject which makes it so much more of an enjoyable class. It's also a very straightforward class, she doesn't give you trick questions and genuinely wants to see you learn and succeed. As with any bio class, there was a decent amount of content per exam, but nothing too complex, and if you studied everything you'd be well prepared for the exam. There wasn't much practice material provided this semester which kinda sucked, but I think it's just bc she switched up some stuff content wise. She also doesn't grade harshly, and exam averages are pretty high for a bio class (80s), so there is no curve. However, her cutoff for an A is a 94, so be prepared to still have to worry a decent amount about the final even if you've been maintaining a pretty good average the whole semester. Still, exams are super fair so I can't complain too much. She also doesn't teach new content for a week before exams and has a jeopardy style review the class before the exam which is amazing. Overall, totally recommend this class. Not only is she a great prof but the content is actually super interesting.
Margaret Scull BSCI437 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/17/2023	Dr. Scull is awesome. I absolutely love that she gives 2 class days before an exam to discuss every day applications of viruses and a jeopardy style review. She is very approachable and always so kind when you ask a question. The lectures are nothing too crazy and it’s obvious from the exam style that she wants the class to succeed. She’s super smart and knowledgeable and is always willing to help. I would highly recommend her for virology!
Margaret Scull BSCI437 Expecting a B+ Anonymous 12/15/2023	I absolutely love her!! The best professor I've had at this university. She is so sweet and the tests are extremely fair. She is clearly very passionate about the topics and she always is able to clear up confusion and answer questions when asked. If you have a chance to take her, I would 100% recommend.
Margaret Scull BSCI437 Expecting an A- Anonymous 11/28/2023	Love this prof! Really sweet professor and super smart. Very passionate about virology and can teach it well. When I did have some confusion she quickly explained it in office hours and cleared it up. 3 tests out of 50 points, avg is like 85-88% per so no curve. 20 in-class participation points but more than 20 opportunities to get them. Optional virus essay for 5 bonus points. Some other completion points (7.5 points before each test for review stuff). Doesn't record but posts all her slides and is very approachable. Would take her again.
Margaret Scull BSCI437 Anonymous 11/21/2022	Dr. Scull is a great professor! She really cares about virology and making her students understand it! She posts the slides before the class even starts and is very responsive to all of the questions she is asked. She is very nice and funny, and shares stories about her kids (better than any biology professor I have ever had at UMD). She provides easy one minute essay questions that tests your knowledge and allows for easy participation points. No homework, 3 exams, extra credit of a virus of your choosing, and exams are very fair. This is my favorite biology class so far and Dr. Scull contributes to that. My only complaint about the class (not Dr. Scull) is that the class is out of 275 points so getting points off affects your grades a lot but as long as you study the slides, you will be fine. I wouldn't worry about knowing each individual type of virus to a T because she tests on concepts and the overall picture. If you are looking for a higher level biology class, this is definitely one to take.
Margaret Scull Anonymous 10/31/2022	I LOVE Dr. Scull!! She's so clearly passionate about what she teaches and is a great lecturer. Very approachable and nice. Exams are fair, but make sure to study at least a couple days in advance - the content is interesting but can be difficult. She offers an extra credit assignment and we had 3 exams plus a final, no homework, plus some easy "one minute essay questions" at the beginning of each class. Would take her again.
Margaret Scull BSCI437 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/18/2019	Friendly engaging professor and very fair exams (all free response). Low workload - little to no homework, no projects, one extra credit assignment.