Chitralekha Zutshi - College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA

Professor: Chitralekha Zutshi

Department: History

College: College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST490
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Very rigorous, and expects only the highest effort from students. If you're diligent in her class, you'll probably come off as a better writer and historian. Her cool stories about traveling the world are also a plus!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Prof. Zutshi is, simply put, amazing. She will make you work hard for the grade, and you will have to learn how she likes things. However, if you go to her office hours, and listen during lectures, you'll get so much out of this class. She is so knowledgable, witty, and an amazing person overall. If you get a chance to take a class with her, do it.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Prof. Zutshi is probably one of the best professors at the college. Her lectures are clear, interesting, and give you all the info you need. Not many assignments, but you gotta do well on them. Would definitely recommend taking this class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Really clear lectures, not too much reading, and a great class overall. My go-to class to recommend when people want to take a 100 level history class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST334
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Prof. Zutshi is seriously the best professor I've had at W&M. Definitely not easy, you'll work your butt off, but it's totally worth it. Readings can be confusing sometimes but she explains them so well in class. Nice balance of lecture and discussion too. Take Zutshi for at LEAST one class, especially if you're a history major!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST161
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Very difficult professor. You need to have read everything, taken excellent notes in class, and worked extremely hard on your essays in order to get above a B.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

pretty tough professor, but she is very clear and helpful. If you are a history major or interested in india, this would be a good class for you

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST491C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dr. Z is awesome. She is smart, very funny, and she makes the daunting topics of imperialism and colonialism extremely interesting and engaging. She will provide some of the best lectures and discussions you can get at W&M. She is a fair grader, and will grade you down for low participation or sloppy work. But, she will provide great feedback.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Love this class. The readings are rather heavy at times, with upwards of 60 pages on some days, but Zutshi is witty, sharp, and knowledgeable about her subject. Don't miss her lectures because she explains everything clearly and start the review essay weeks in advance. It's not an easy course, but it is definitely worth your time.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Zutshi is a very clear, very funny, and a passionate professor. She can come off as a tad cold, but it really is just sarcasm. She knows so much and is willing to explain anything that is understood. She is insightful and appreciates interest in the subject. Exams are fairly easy, as long as you skim the textbook beforehand.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Its easy to see that Prof. Zutshi knows a lot about South Asia, but she frequently came across as unhelpful and condescending. The material was interesting but her attitude made me dread going to this class. AND if that weren't enough, our take home final was ten pages of additional research. Overall a very frustrating class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Surprisingly not a harsh grader but you HAVE to do the readings to do well on the midterm. Lectures are clear. Grades on participation but mostly lectures and can be a bit disdainful if you don't get what she's saying. A LOT of work for a 100 level survey, though very informative. gives you a lot of time for the essay but springs 2 papers on you

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Prof Zutshi was a difficult professor to work with. her lectures are long, she can be hard to hear/understand, and she is not always friendly. she can also be very pretentious. if you go to her office hours, you may find her snide and unwilling to help. i would not recommend her if you are a freshman looking to fulfill an easy GER 4.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

While her lectures may have been quite interesting, she is really not the best professor. I worked hard, and yet only got a mediocre grade overall- she is very hard to please. She is also pompous, and if you go to her office hours, is curt and not terribly willing to help. Definitely wouldn't recommend her!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Prof Zutshi has honestly been one of the best professors I have had at the College. She definitely stimulates the class' interest through her brilliant lecture style. Also, she is funny as hell. She makes everything very comprehensible. Be sure to go to every class though. SERIOUS TAKE A CLASS WITH HER COMING FROM A SENIOR HISTORY MAJOR!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Great professor. Dr. Zutshi is a great lecturer and never struggles to keep you interested. Her class is a decent amount of work, but she lays out what she expects very clearly. She is extremely helpful outside of class, particularly for the review paper. Definitely recommended.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST270
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I don't know about those last few comments. Zutshi was a friendly, approachable, and helpful professor. I would recommend her class to anyone. It was totally worth it.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST270
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Well, she is clearly smart, and she knows her stuff. I just wish that I knew what I or anyone else in that class ever did to her. I swear I've never met a professor (or any person for that matter) who was as rude or condescending as her. Do not take this class!!!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

VZuery intense professor who takes her class extremely seriously, to a fault. She's unapproachable and comes off as demeaning. Midterm, paper, and take home final, aren't surprising but difficult. Take this class only if you're ready to work your butt off for a teacher who seems constantly pissed off.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST270
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Cold and demeaning. Fine example of self importance in academia. Could be excellent, however.